Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-03-02
GRAN'THER
WAS RIGHT
AFTER ALL
10 by d. J. walsh.)


decidedly. Marvin Webster, farmer,
was usually decided after weighing a
question. That was why the neigh.
borhood elected him to positions re.
quiring judgment and honesty, "Prej-
udlce has nothing to do with It," he
added 1--WE thought the matter over
fairly. It's luxury we can't afford"
"Why?" asked Gran'ther Webster.
Because every dollar put into in
surance would be taken from the chill
Gren's clothing or schooling or some.
thing equally important. You know
how hard the times are with us,
gran'ther. | work from fourteen to
sixteen hours day and yet every
dollar that comes crawling In has to
go flying out"
81 know, son, know. But we've got
Insurance on the house an barn"
"a little, yes. They might burn
and leave us or the cattle homeless"
Seems to me life insurance Is pref
ty much along the same lines"
Maybe" calmly. "I'm not against
life insurance for those who can af-
ford It."
"You might die"
"There's chance Of It, certainly"
admitted the farmer. But it's only
chance, while the money necessary
to provide against 1t would be an i'm
mediate and positive loss to the chill
dren. A good education and fitting
for some profession or trade, as they
seem inclined, is the best insurance I
can leave them"
But gran'ther didn't seem convinced
"There's good many ifs an ands
an butts" he said, gently. you're a
better argufler than be, son, an can
make things stand out your way. But
I amt sure. I've lived good while,
an in my eighty years have seen
heaps of times when little outside
help would have prevented trouble.
Sound sense an hard work are most,
but not all. They're liable to have
gaps an, so far as we can, them gaps
ought to be provided for. At least,
that's my idea"
"Why not empty that stocking heel
or tin box or wherever it's kept, into
the ldea?" suggested his son, teasing
ly. "Provide for gap, gran'ther"
The old man chuckled. slave your
fun, son." he said. Boys will be
boys. You're only forty and I'm
eighty--an' that makes me think
must go right out an cut over my
'sparagus bed"
He rose and went out, and his son
after few words with young Mar
win and Alice about their school
books, went back to the planting he
had left at sound Of the breakfast
bell.
All the Websters were workers. The
children, with their two or three hours
before and after school; Mrs. Webster,
who looked after the poultry and
dairy and superintendent the kitchen
garden in addition to doing the regu-
lar household work; her husband,
with his fourteen to sixteen hours a
day, and gran'ther, who was always
"puttering" about.
Gran'ther was something of q mys-
terry to the others. II was evident
that most Of his puttering had direct,
tangible results, as with his asparagus
and scarcely less profitable ROBBERY
patch" and strawberry vines He
doled out enough fruit for table use
and took all the rest into town him
self, hltching the old horse, which had
long Outlived field usefulness, to
buggy even more ancient He never
took the new buggy or one Of the best
horses Old companions were most
suitable, he chuckIed. They were three
of kind.
What the children and their father
and mother earned could be seen In
food and clothing, few school books
and other things. The money their
labor brought In could be accounted
for In visible objects, almost to a cent.
When gran'ther's fruit and asparagus
disappeared ut bend In the road II
was the end He never brought any
thing back. He had given up the use
Of tobacco years before because II
"cost too much"
But not one Of them ever thought
of Gran'ther Webster as a mIser
Dear no! The gentle-volced old man
who always had a CHEEKY word or
kindly act for others, with never
thought for himself, was the last man
In the world to be misery. Some
where In stocking heel or tin box
n n0rhanq nndar N lAOga hoar In
little hoard waiting for sometime
that gran'ther had in mind.
Prosperity was not smiling on the
little rocky farm these days. The
fourteen or sixteen hours, the moth
er's diversified labOrs, the chlldren's
help, all went up to make trlne less
than the living and mortgage inter.
est and taxes. The rest went to swell
the mortgage. There was only one
apparent way out. II occurred 10
Marvin Webster more than once ard
was dismissed with repugnance. Mrs
Webster thought Of It. and her face
clOuded Even the children knew
and Il was young Marvin who FIRST
spoke the thought aloud.
even have to sell or rent the falri
and move over to the factory village
father" he said. I'VE can all get job
In the mill At good pay The Phillips
have gone and the Wilburs. The
boys say lis easier than farm work
and better pay"
"And n life sentence, maybe nti
ed his father ''No no. my boy ~,
wont think nt ~ There's nm apt