The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-03-11
SHORT
STORY

nv huSDdIlu Was uSdO.
0BON Law, now, Mr..
Dobbs," she smiled
as she took her crutches from I'M
der her arms and dropped into a
chair. 1t would be just as easy for
me to pay in advance as it would
for me to pay in six months, fairs
that's concerned, cause I can't do
either. l haven't got a thing in
this world except some bills for
poor Jim's last sick spell, an his
lodge is goin' to pay them, Lord
bless en-
well, you know, Mrs. Wilkinson,
It isn't my house, or I'd say stay
where you are, but an agent has
to carry out the wishes of his eli
ents."
"Oh, I'm not blamin' you at all.
Fact is, Pm not blamin' anybody.
That's all right. I'll look around
and try to think up somethin' I can
do. If you could give me a week"
why, dear Mrs. Wilkinson, what
could you do, crippled as you are?"
~ WIS PIC4lilJ SIIOShSO'
That's what I got to think out"
she said calmly, "an' I reckon I'm
not on charity yet"
The agent ignored her words and
raising his hat walked out the front
door of the shabby little four-room
house.
Lord, that vine out there's like
a child to me. Won't nobody love
it the way I do, an my Gamma bed
an all the work I done inside
this house. Me an Jim put that
wallpaper. on-every bit of it." Her
eyes swept the familiar walls at a
glance. She felt warm tear roll
ing down her cheek.
''Myra Wilkinson, you're gittin'
plumb sorry for yourself" she said
! it with vehemence of one address,
ing another person, habit she had
formed through nearly 40 years of
days spent alone. ''Now, the Lord
meant you to have a home, an this
is the home He meant you to have,
so get to work and find way O.
keepin' it,"
Children playing in the street
stopped and called a friendly greet
ing to her. Strangers passed and
looking up and seeing her sitting
there apparently so calm, smiled
unconsciously. She was such
pleasant sort of person.
A young couple, evidently from
the country, strolled by looking long
at the waving wisteria blooms and
then at Mrs. Wilkinson and the neat
little house. She watched them out
of sight and wondered who they
were. About five minutes later they
came down the street again and this
time they stopped, and coming up
her steps asked politely for drink
of water. Mrs. Wilkinson liked them
at once.
you'll have to step IN the kitch-
en- and get it yourself, honey. I'm
cripple an it's such a bother to
move. Glasses in the kitchen cab
met, up in the right hand corner.
Amt been in town long, have your"
she asked when they came out
again.
mo-" said the girl; "we-we'r re
we slipped off an got married last
Tuesday, an Wills got job at the
foundry, an I'm goin' to work at
the ten-cent store. If we could only
find a place to stay where we
wouldn't have to pay too much
Boardin's so high" she ended sad
ly.
1t was then that an idea popped
full-fedged into Mrs. Wilkinson's
head.
''Why couldn't you let me keep
house for you an you stay here?"
she asked excitedly. 81 wouldn't
charge you nothin' 'cept the house
rent an what I'd eat. The rents
only $12 month"
81 think it would be wonderful"
said the girl, "but we'd have to
pay you something"
Lam now, child, hush. Well
start thataway anyhow, an when
your husband gifts a raise we can
talk about somethin' else. Just step
right into the bedroom to the left
and lay off your things an then we
can see about gettin' supper. l ex-
pect Willn have to go get some
steak an butter. l got everything
else an a cherry pie already
baked"
The girl joyfully threw her arms
around the older woman's neck.
Mother Wilkinson" she said
softly, Il been so lonesome since
left home with nothin' but strangers
everywhere, an now l know I'm
goin' to be happy"
CarVant pnnr ToIkap