Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 10, 2025
"If that Pepper man would only come for'ard and say what he was going to do!" sighed Mother Atterson. That was the continual complaint now. As the winter advanced all four of the family bore the option in mind continually. There was talk of the railroad going before the Legislature to ask for the condemnation of the property it needed, in the spring.
"We've got to haul up enough logs by March or earlier to have a wood sawing in earnest," announced Hiram. "We must get a gasoline engine and saw, and call on the neighbors for help, and have a sawing-bee." "But what will be the use of that if we've got to leave here in February?" demanded Mrs. Atterson, worriedly.
This waterhole was deep enough for all purposes, and was shaded by a great oak that had stood there long before the house belonging to Jeptha Atterson had been built. Here Hiram struck something that puzzled him.
Peebles acknowledged the invitation with thanks, but adding that he hoped Sister would not forget he must "eschew any viands at all greasy, and that his hot water was to be at 101, exactly." "The poor ninny!" ejaculated Mother Atterson. "He doesn't know what he wants. Sister only poured it out of the teakettle, and he had to wait for it to cool, anyway, before he could drink it."
Atterson, bruskly. "I know; mebbe we be," admitted Sister, slowly. "But it don't feel so." And perhaps Hiram had some such thought, too, after he had driven the girls to the big boarding school in Scoville. For they all got out without even thanking him or bidding him good-bye all save Lettie.
So it was agreed, and before day, while the mist was yet rolling across the fields, and the hedge sparrows were beginning to chirp, the two set forth from the Pollock place, crossed the wet fields, and the road, and set off down the slope of a long hill, following, as Henry said, near the east boundary of the Atterson farm the line running from the automobile road to the river.
"Then he has left that threat hanging, like the Sword of Damocles over Mrs. Atterson's head?" "I don't know nothin' about that sword, Mr. Strickland, nor no other sword, 'cept a rusty one that my father carried when he was a hoss-sodger in the Rebellion," declared Mother Atterson, nervously. "But if that Pepper man's got one belonging to Mr. Damocles, I shouldn't be at all surprised.
Indeed, the job he had lost now loomed up in his troubled mind as much more important than it had seemed when he had desired to change it for another. Mother Atterson was at home. She hadn't more than taken off her bonnet, however, and had had but a single clash with Chloe in the kitchen. "I smelled it burnin' the minute I set my foot on the front step!" she declared.
"I told you we were not well matched, Peter," spoke Hiram, calmly. "Why fight about it? You have no right on your side, and I do not propose to see Mrs. Atterson robbed of this water privilege." Pete climbed to his feet slowly, and picked up his coat. He felt of his neck carefully and then looked at his hand, with the idea evidently that such a heavy blow must have brought blood.
"And so, that much is accomplished," ruminated Hiram, as he drove home. "But I'm not sure whether hostilities are finished, or have just begun." "The old Atterson place" as it was called in the neighborhood, began to take on a brisk appearance these days.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking