Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-19
The Gray Road.
Y v YHY. Father, it's enough"
a The praY-haired little

| nam OTGSS pressed IcT
hands together, only half
believing her own words.
ut is isn't it. father?"
Just six dollars more. mother. And
we will have that when take the po-
tatoes to town tomorrow. And I'll pay
over the money and get the deed then. y
| "Oh!" She threw her arms about his
grizzled head with all the impulsive-
ness of her girlhood. Our very, very
! own home. after all these years of
being renters!"
Lord, mother. you're putting out my
eye! Let's go out and look at 1t to-
night"
"Why, we were there Just last night"
Il know, but I'd sort of like to look
over the west pasture again"
And 1 have about decided that 1
will plant chrysanthemums, perennialS,
you know, along the front walk"
The man rose from his chair. stiff
ly, for life spent on the farm doesn't
leave much resiliency in the muscles at
SIS. But he was laughing.
"Oh, you have! Last night it was
iris and tomorrow it will be"
Never mind! You have moved the
COW barn six times that I know Of
Father, is 1t really and truly true? Our
home!"
There is the handbook, mother
Was that the mail carriers whistle?
He's late, today"
He's way down the road, yet. Do
you suppose that that east room will
be big enough for Ella and the chill
dren if she should"
yes, mother. But let's hope, instead
that Ned will straighten up and 60
to work" ....t-.
And maybe Davy will come for a
little visit. father. He's been gone so
many years"
II expect he will, mother. It's not
the children. though, that l am think
ing about. IT will seem so good for you
to have a house of your own, after
all these years 1t looks as if I should
have been able to get that for you a
long time ago"
Nov. father, you're talking foolish
ness I've had one thing a lot of wom-
en- haven't" and she gave him look
that doesn't often shine in the eyes of
women after 80 years of married life.
do you think" she continued after
pause in which each was busy with
his own thoughts, that we could put
window in that pantry?"
at believe we can. 1 am glad there
are lot of things to be done"
Yes. 1t makes it more our own. /
must sandpaper and varnish that din
ing room floor before We move thing"
Her husband nodded.
you'll work yourself sick. fixing up
that house. And. do you know" re-
fiectively. about the COW barn"
The little woman laughed merrily.
then sobered quickly, that she might
taste their JOY to the full.
"Oh, father! Is it true?"
Now it was hts turn to laugh.
But it is hard to believe" he ad-
nitted. when you wait and work so
long for a thing, it just doesn't seem
possible when it does come. Remember
the stones We picked UP on that West
fall place."
"Graciousl Weren't there lot of
them? And We picked them up in
buckets-20 wagon loadsG'
And the time we had $500 saved
and then had two graSShopper years. "
Those grasshoppers Let's forget all
that, father. just Think We don't owe
a cent in the world and we won't have
any more rent to pay and week from
tonight we will be eating supper in
our own, our very own house"
But taxes, mother. Don't forget
that there will be taxes"
THAT is different. When we pay taxes
we are helping to support our country,
but rent---that just goes to some one
else, There's the mail man. I'll go out. I"
She returned with happy face.
"A letter from Ella. 1t has been so
long since we heard"
She read for few minutes and the
room grew very STILL Her husband look
ed up, then rose slowly from his chair.
why. mother--why. mother!'
She handed him the first sheet
nnutely.
Just the ordinary heading, just the
ordinary pointless remarks about the
weather, then
IT don't see why things should al
ways be so hard wasn't going to tell
you that little Frank had to be oper-
ated on for appendicitis last week
just think, only Z years old! But the
doctor had said that he would wait for
his money. and it just had to be done.
Now complications have set in and he
has to have a special nurse. Then