Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-02-02
SHORT SHORT
STORY
Complete in This Issue

the Judge, would say" remarked
Whiz dryly. His thought shifted to
Mills thin, tired, busy wife, who
daily put across a round of work
that would tax many man. docs
Mis- Bramwen take a week off,
too?"
"That's jest it," said Milt. "She
says it's no more than fair that she
and the children should have hol-
iday, too. There's no accountin' for
women. She wants to 60 down East,
visitin' her brothers folks. Jim
Hartley's her brother. And so I
s'pose we'll 60. 'Tain't bad fishin'
country, and her folks have got a
fine farm, and a fiivver. Might be
a chance, but I amt anticipatin'
much"
Like the rest of us Yankees, you
hope for the best while expectin'
the worst" said Whiz, pushing the
bag of sugar across the counter to
young Clayt Andrews.
AS Milt wandered out, Clayt COM
mented laughingly:
"Mis' Bramwen must have done
some talkin'. Seldom that Milt al
lows anyone to interfere with his
pers'nal enjoyment. He's a very
consistent citizen"
"They do say" said Whiz absent
ly, "that bakin' pitch knot in a
pot of beans gives it the same flavor
all the way through"
"Meanin' that Milt's passion for
ease kind of colors his whole life,
like a red stockin' in tub of white
Clothes" grinned Clayt. 81 know
Jim Hartley. Good fellow. Wish
someone would put a flea in his
ear"
"Sho, now" said the storekeeper
gravely. "That ought to be easy.
I've heard tell the sand fleas are
mighty thick on the shores of those
ponds over to the Falls"
Followed two weeks of the best
fishing weather, when the men who
gathered at the store to do the fam
lily buying, get the mail, and, Incl
dentally, to exchange yarns and
bits of news, speculated much as
to Mills enjoyment of the family
vacation. Yet, when Milt re-
appeared in their midst, he was
greeted casually.
''Kind of vacation did you have,
Milt? You look as if your constitu-
ton was consid able undermined"
"Well, sir, it's a relief to git
home," said Milt, instantly respon-
sive. First off, looked as if I might
git pretty good time, fishin', while
the women was visitin'.
"The first day I started out with
plenty of lunch in my basket. My
wife's brother, he was too busy to
60 with me, but he directed me
where to go-drawed me little
map-an' had good days
fishin'. Great sport. Next day he
let me have the car, and I went
further. All that week was pretty
good. Best vacation there is-comin'
home to good supper after good
days sport But when I got home
that first Sat'day night, found Jim
had dropped rock on his foot while
he was mendin' the stone wall. Rest
of the time I spent hangin' round
the house doin' chores - milkin',
chopin wood, and such like. Wife
said twas no more than right-nev-
er knew her to talk so much. It
was long week. He was still pref
ty lame when I left. I didn't tum-
BILE even when he said 'Good-by,
Milt, I've enjoyed your vacation a
lot But jest as we topped little
rise a short piece from the house,
I heard someone clinkin' the milk
pals. I looked back and see Jim
walk across the yard spry as cat"
"What you need, Milt," said Whiz,
els to learn to be philosopher"
Expect So" said Milt, ambling
out.
"Been over to the Falls lately,
Clayt?" inquired Whiz, fixing young
Andrews with a keen, blue eye.
"Why?" inquired the boy, inno-
Gently. II was there last Sat'day."
Heard there was a scarcity Of
sand fieas on the lake shore since
them" returned Whiz gravely.
Clayt turned scarlet and met the
older mans look trifle sheepishly.
"It only took one to do the trick"
he admitted. "But he was a real
lively and accommodating flea, and
took a sight of satisfaction in his
work."