Chinook High School - Breeze Yearbook (Chinook, MT)

Page 14 text:

12 THE CHINOOK BREEZE “Wei” he said as his wife hung up the dish-pan after supper was over and the dishes were washed, “I see the kids hev writ home sayin’ they was cornin’ as usual. I kin hardly wait till I see George. I’ll bet he looks fine in his uniform. He alwus was a nice lookin’ boy. And Sal’s girl, I kin mind when she was as cute a kid as y’ ever saw. My —” “Yes,” broke in Mira, “you ken alwus mind them times but y’ never ken mind all the work they made me. It’s alwus, ‘I’m so, so glad they’re comin! I want t’ see ’em!’ You never oncet think o’ the work that makes me, no never. I almost wish they wouldn’t come. I ain’t as young as I used t’ be and can’t work so hard, and those children are so thotless. They never think of my work. Yes, I wish they wouldn’t come.” “They wouldn’t come! Don’t want t’ see George in his uniform and Sal’s gal and hear how little Joy is gettin’ a-long teachin’ school and not see all th’ rest of ’em ? Y’ don’t mean it, Mira!” “Oh, I don’t? I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, would I?” Mira’s voice, naturally shrill, grew shriller. Silas had doubted her word and she was terribly angry. “I do mean it,” she repeated several times. Silas’ gray head bent over the letters and letters and figures on the red tablecloth mixed. For half an hour he sat still, trying to think Mira did not mean what she had said. She was harsh sometimes and always scolded, but rarely ever meant anything by it. Yet this time he could not help thinking she did mean what she had said. The scornful, angry glances she cast his way made him think that she was more than just angry. Silas had forgotten the scornful glances she had given him five years ago. Finally he got up and went to bed. Mira picked up the letters and put them

Page 13 text:

THE CHINOOK BREEZE 11 Slljtf ©ih Jffolks’ Christmas Silas Jones sat on the manger, stroking Betsy’s black head and telling her, “Those kids o’ mine will be home two days after tomorrow.” His meditations were interrupted by a shrill voice calling him. He immediately went to the house for he seldom went against his wife’s wishes or contradicted her—not more than once in five years. And the five years were almost gone since Silas had told her John might go to school as long as he pleased. As he neared the house he saw Mira out feeding a very fat goose and an equally fat turkey, which were to be killed in one or two more days. Mira saw Silas coming and had a scolding ready for him. “Here y’come t’the house without an armful of wood and there ain’t a speck in the wood-box. If you ain’t the most unthinkin’ man I ever saw, I’ll eat my hat,” snapped Mira as Silas stepped on the porch. “Sure Mira, I’ll go an’ git y’ a big armful, if thet’s all what’s botherin’ y You should hev told me thet before.” “If thet ain’t like a man,” soliloquized Mira. “Alwus thinkin’ they’re not t’ blame. Silas! You lay thet wood right down on the step there and take off your over-shoes ’fore y’ dare walk in on thet floor I’ve been breakin’ my back scrubbin’.” While supper was being prepared, Silas read one of the yearly letters, saying all the children would be home for Christmas. His honest face glowed with pride when he read them. They (the children) were all such good child- ren.

Page 15 text:

THE CHINOOK BREEZE 13 away, wishing all the time she had not said she did not want the children home. However wishing did no good. At 11:30 the next day Silas drove up to the barnyard. His eyes twinkled as he cautiously put away his numerous packages in a shed. Then dropping into a look of the saddest melancholy he went slowly to the house. “Where y’ been,” asked Mira suspiciously. “Town.” “What for?” “Send a telegram.” “Who to?” “The kids.” “What did y’ want to do thet fur?” “Tell ’em not to come for Christmas.” “You did? You told ’em not to come for Christmas? You did?” “I did.” “The only bit o’ joy I ever hev and you’ve deprived me of that. The pleasure o’ seein’ the children is all I ever git, and you, you told ’em not to come. Why ?” “ ’Cause y’ said last night ’twas too much work.” With these parting words Silas went out leaving her murmuring to herself, “They won’t come”, again and again.” All preparations for Christmas were dropped and Mira sat around in a most dejected attitude. Silas sometimes thot he had better tell her that the children might come anyway. Yet he said to himself, “She shouldn’t hev said thet last night. ’Twont hurt her t’ suffer a little fur it. I know she was just plain, downright cranky.” For, you see, Silas remembered that time five years ago. During the afternoon Silas brought a Christmas tree to the house. Mira threw it out on the back porch.