Evening star., 1934-09-23
= l. FENDERuoN MAlkEs HAY
Star magazine
Frst-Run Story

Fenderton's interminable speeches. THE lawn
mower is in the garage
The Digby lawnmower was not sharp
it might have been and the grass mad been
permitted to grow too long, and crab grass and
other tough growths were having their way on
the old lawn, and Fenderton found it not
a mere matter of walking from end to end of
the lawn with the mower rolling jauntily ahead
of him.
Before Fenderton had cut one-eighth of the
big Digby lawn he wanted never to see lawn
mower again. He dripped perspiration, his
face was red and he painted for breath because
of the unusual exertion. He knew now that
the man who wouldn't cut the Digby lawn for
50 was the wisest man in America.
In the meanwhile the raggedy grass cutter
who had relieved Fenderton having his
own troubles. He had cut but two swaths
when large and muscular Negro in a sleeveless
undershirt and khaki trousers entered the yard
and approached him belligerently.
who's you?" he demanded. What you
don' stealin' my job? You gets away from
here before I washes your face"
"Aw, lay of, won't you?" answered the
raggedy man. st got this job. The young
gent who going to cut it give it to me-
Who you say?" asked Silas with immense
surprise. "Fenderton? You tell me Fenderton
was goin' to cut this grass? Man, you is
har-Fenderton he don't cut no grass ne ocnt
do nuffn"
"I don't know what his name is; he hired
me- He says, Cut it and mother will pay you.
That's all know.
With that the raggedy man began pushing
the mower again. Silas followed him.
Man" he said, that Fenderton amt got
no right to hire nobody. is Mr.. Roper's reg
ular grass-cutter and I cuts this grass every
week and gets paid regular. see what Mis-
Roper has got to say about this"
/HEN Mrs. Roper heard what silas had
w to say she said, "Oh dear!" in an ex-
tremely distressed Tone and then Dear ple!
Did Fenderton go away? His father will be
furious" and picked nervously at her handker-
chief and said:
well, never mind that now, Silas. Send
that man in and I'll pay him, and you can
finish the lawn. And Sias, perhaps you'd bet
ter not say anything to Mr.. Roper. I'll pay
you for today Silas."
Thus will mother protect her young, right
or wrong; it has been done million times and
it will be done a million times more.
1t was past noon when Fenderton, dripping
wet, hot and tired, reached home and ate the
lunch his mother had saved for him.
I've been cutting grass that's what I've
been doing" he said, in answer to his mothers
remonstrance because he had disappeared. L
guess man has got to have some money, hasn't
he? I guess if your hands were all blistered
like mine you wouldn't be scolding me because
a mans father Is a tightwad old pirate so that
he has to go and cut about a million miles of
grass to get $2."
I'm sorry, Fenderton. You know I would
give you some money If your father had not
absolutely forbidden it, I didn't want you to
tire vo,Irself all olt cutting grass"
well, guess you needn't worry about that,
said Fenderton. 1--WE cut all the grass I'm
ever going to cut If you ever catch me cutting
any grass again you can make up your mind
I've gone crazy, because I've cut enough grass
to last me the rest Of my life"
Poor tired dear!" said Fenderton's mother.
sympathetically and she kissed the top of his
head. "Now, go up and have nice bath and
take nice long nap"
Il will take a BATH mother" Fenderton
conceded, "but I've got to rush away"
May Middleton was even more than usually
pretty as she waited at her gate for Fenderton.
She could not have been more charming If her
9O-cent hat had cost $40, and she hurried to
meet him with little cry of delight.
"Oh Fenderton!" she exclaimed. Il was SO
afraid you wouldn't come. was afraid maybe
you wouldn't have money for the movies and
would Just send word you were sick or some
thing, Fenderton, because I know how proud
you are that way. And If you haven't enough
money, Fenderton can lend you dollar"
THANK you very much Fenderton said,
sbut have quite sum of money. You don't
need to think all the time that I am dead
broke May. AS it happens, I earned this
money
"Oh did you, Fenderton!" cried May,
squeezing his arm. "Tm just awfully glad you
did, Fenderton. Because I was awake almost
all night-part of the night, anyway-thinking
about what you asked me if we could be.
You know, Fenderton.