The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-20

90 bv d. Walsh.l
NTELLA LEE smiled with antici-
49, patton as she descended from the
pullman at Craig station. The
air was fresh from a recent
shower and the countryside seemed
friendly and inviting. A neat, shin
ing car slid to stop by the train
platform and a tall. sun-burned man
jumped out and approached her.
Cousin Stella! I'm so glad to see
your
cousin James! This is pleasure
Where is Rose?"
"Frying a chicken for your supper"
James answered. "These yours?"
1t was seven mile drive to Clear
Spring farm. Stella was glad that
she had come She was fond of Rose
and Jim. Her middle-aged childless
cousins. 1t had been a hard year al
the office and Stella was sick of hurry
and noise and jazz. She would sleep
late every morning, take long walks
through the woods and pastures and
rock on the front porch.
That evening was all Stella had
anticipated and more. First came a
delicious supper of fried chicken and
gravy, hot rolls and honey and iced
milk Stella talked little but her
cousins hung on every word. eager TO
learn moro about the new sound pie
lures, which they had never seen, and
TO glimpse big business through tie
eyes of an efficient secretary.
Later Stella went with Rose and
Jim after the cows and when they re-
turned the purple and gold of sunset
shades. She watched Jim turn the
separator. helped Rose feed the pOrtly
white cat and then sat in a comfort.
able old chair and watched the moon
climb the sky. Quiet and peace; no
noisy neighbors or shrilling radios or
changing traffic.
Next morning Stella was awakened
at six o'clock by strident voice: "One-
two bend left; three-four, bend right"
A radio? Horrors! But Rose re-
ferred to the innovation with frank
pride Jimmie just got new bat
teries. Now we can have music
and programs all day long. He likes
the stock reports and the jazz, but ]
enjoy the cooking chats most of ALL"
"Things might be worse" Stella was
thinking optimistically, and before
noon they were. She heard an ex-
cited telephone conversation and gath
cred that Silas Smith, the nearest
neighbOr, was i'll, and his wife ter
ribly worried. Leaving Stella to pre-
pare herself cold snack. Rose and
Jim hurried over to the Smiths. They
returned late in the afternoon and
when the car stopped it seemed as if
a dozen children tumbled out.
"Silas has acute appendicitis" Rose
said br .athlessly. doctor Carr took
him to the city for an operation. Bes-
sic went along, of course, and we are
going to feed the stock and look after
the children"
"You are certainly good heighbOrs,"
declared Stella. "Come here, little
gill, anu tCli lHC youi
"Jiggs." answered the six-year-old
towhead, land l want to go with my
daddy"
She began bowling Justify and it re-
quired the combined efforts of Rose,
Stella. and the len-year-old twins,
Dick and Bob, TO comfort her.
"Turn on the RADIO" Jim suggested.
THAT will drown her out"
From that hour bedlam reigned.
The boys raced shouting through the
house and Jiggs and Tramp, monde
script dog chased the terrified chickens
from the front yard to back. Stella
peeled a mOuntain-high pile of pota
toes to the accompaniment of an anna
teur jazz orchestra some fifty miles
away.
"How long will you keep the chill
dren?" she inquired of Rose, who was
baking pies.
Until Bessie and Silas get home,
probably ten days or so. You'll get
used to their noise before long"
That evening Stala and Rose
washed dishes, while Jim went after
the cows. The portly cat did not
come for her evening milk: she had
disappeared. Later the twins rocked
vigorously in Stellas comfortable
rocker while the cold, chaste moon
climbed the sky and looked down dis
approvingly on the noisy group. Jiggs
sat in the squeaky porch swins beside
Stella and Tramp was close oy scratch
ing fleas.
Stella lose YEARLY. 81 have head
ACHE" she said; 81 believe I'll retire"
Let me sleep with her. Mrs.
Bibbs?" ooaXed Jiggs loudly.
"Well. you do have to sleep Some
where, that's fact" smiled Rose.
"HOw about it Stellar"