The price of a pair of shoes

In the past 50 years, many lawns have been mowed, hillsides have been plowed with Jeremiah's nod, the same plums have been maintained for more than 50 years, and the meat has been broken with his wife's nod-now the whole meat of meadowlot Farm has been passed to William, his only son, William's wife Sarah Allen.

"That would be much better, Mom-you're not careful!" Sarah Elam announced.

"So it's easier for your father," William said. "This is your time to rest. As for money-of course, we should save clothes, which is what many banks do. Anyway, you won't need much, "he finished. "You will get rid of farm life as usual."

So the problem was solved and the document was executed. Have you ever thought that, after all, William is the only son alive and has no daughter?

I had a good time. Jeremiah and Hester are special, just like letting children drop out of school. They tell themselves that there are idle people now and force themselves to stay in bed half an hour later than usual every day. How long did they spend collecting their treasures in the old attic? They talked about gardens and barns without fear. Maybe it's time to eat or feed stocks.

However, gradually, the situation has changed. When a new agitation enters their lives, irritability soon becomes the worst kind of homesickness-homesickness is the person who is already at home.

The extra half hour was spent in bed as before-but now Hester listened to the layman with one ear to make sure that Sarah Elon wouldn't let her breakfast cat and Jeremiah's ear lie in the barn, and the creaking listening door would tell him whether William was early or late in the morning. The time in the attic was as long as that in the garden-but she found her precious Hester wax wreath (the nearest one on the living room wall) in the attic, and found more Jeremiah in the garden than he had ever allowed weeds to grow, he was sure.

When Huntsville Savings Bank closed, the farm had been in the hands of William Allen and Sarah for six months. This is an old story about dishonesty and disaster. When Hilton's finance director's pistol was exhausted, few depositors were found there. Perhaps no one has benefited more from the astonishing decline in the influence of rice in Bieri.

"Oh, Hester," he groaned, when he found his wife and said, "I am only seven or eight years old here-1'and have no money! What am I, Bryant? "

"I know, dear," comforted Hester, "but it didn't destroy us as a paradise of freedom. We own the farm, you know; A'-"

Our farm is a disaster. "Her husband is dwindling sharply." William-Sarah Elam has it. "

"Yes, I know, but they-ah, they are us, Jeremiah," Hester reminded, trying to keep her voice trembling.

"Mabel, Hester, Mabel," Jeremiah admitted, but he turned and looked at those gloomy eyes and windows.

Shortly after two letters from farmers from Nathan Bank appeared, the favorite nephew suggested that "uncle and aunt" pay them a visit.

"Your things, Dad!" William shouted. "Go ahead-it will take care of you!" After some small discussion, it was decided that the invitation should be accepted.

Nathan Road lived 30 miles away from the bank, but it was not until the night before that Hui Puls started to do so. Suddenly Jeremiah said that he didn't have the money for the train ticket now. As the color of his old face deepened, he mentioned this fact to William.

"You see, I'm-I'm sorry, there are three of me," he apologized. "They won't lead us!" He looked dejectedly at a man who took some coins out of his pocket. "They are all mine, the rest of the cash."

William frowned slightly and stroked his beard.

"Of course that's enough!" He muttered to himself. "I forgot my ticket and my father. It's embarrassing-the bank went bankrupt, didn't it? Oh, I'll tell you all about the right, of course, and happiness, but it just happened to me-uh, how much? " He suddenly came to life.

Why, I guess the dollar will take us to "more lovers, mebbe," the old man stammered, "but, of course, it's back, and-"

Oh, we haven't estimated this part now, "William interrupted impatiently, because he put a pair of hands into his pocket and took out a bill and some change." I can give you more time. Here, here are one or two. If you don't take all these away, what's left for you to come back? "

He handed the bill and gave up the change in his pocket.

"Thank you, William," the old man stammered. "I-I'm sorry-"

"Oh, nothing," William interjected happily, waving his hands. "I'm happy to do it, and so is my father!"

Mr and Mrs Xu will stay with their nephew for a few weeks. However, just as they were enjoying their visit, one day, the family came-regardless of the presence of weeds and the lack of wax rings-as if they had only one place in the world, and if it were not for the railway fare, they would go there.

William didn't issue more money. Although his letters were always in kind, they kept talking about a warm welcome and whenever they wanted to wait for them to go home.

It's a good idea to come the fifth weekend.

"We're going to cousin Abby's house," he announced happily to his wife. Nathan said he was with us at any time last night. We will go tomorrow, one, and we will never come back here-it will be 10 miles away from home, and one' won't cost us three cents,' and he has won. Abby and cousin's. They went.

Therefore, exultation is the result of Jeremiah's plot. He concentrated his wisdom and worked hard. Compared with one, he made a trip and accepted two other cousins, an aunt's family was in Bisalla last week, and a niece's brother-in-law. The latter is only three miles from "his own farm"-or, more accurately, William's farmhouse. He changed his mind and cried. Another month passed, and after a round of visits, the little old man and the little old woman-every case they had worked on, their destination finally reached the door of the farmer's house. They are exhausted, penniless, half sick and half entertained, but they are glad to realize that there is no one, and they have to beg for their travel price.

"We didn't write about our journey," Jeremiah apologized slightly, because he stumbled over the threshold and fell into the nearest chair. "We threw away the third book written by Quercia, but we were so tired that we arrived at the right home." The third best is here, isn't it, Hester? "He said, he settled down in the back of the chair.

"'good'!" Hester cried trembling and tugged at the strap of her hat. "Nice is not without a name, Jeremiah. Why does Sarah Elam seem that if I don't want to do it for a whole month, there is nothing just to set a joke in my room that looks like a whole day!

"Poor dear-that's all you can do!" Comfort Sarah Elam; Hester sighed contentedly. So much, now many weeks later, she is sitting in a chair strangely, looking forward to being in a strange world!

"Three percent of the people have new news, Hester," he cried, staring gloomily at the ominous only flaw. "I know, Jeremiah, but there is William," murmured Hester. "I believe him-oh, of course, he will give it to me and say," Jeremiah will soon, "but-I-I don't want to ask." Come on, I wouldn't have thought of that, "Hester announced firmly, but as she spoke, she rolled up her feet in the chair again. We gave them the farm, and they understood that they were taking care of us in the process. "Hummy, yes, I know, I know. I would ask him, "Jeremiah muttered-but he didn't ask him until the only ominous place in the ultrathin has become a hole, big and round, which can't be mistaken." "All right, William," he began to joke, trying to stabilize his trembling voice. I guess they can't stand it anymore! "He held up his shoes, the only thing he cared about." Well, I should say no! "William smiled, and then his face changed." Oh, of course, your local employees must have new income. By George! It beat all about how to make me forget the bank! "

"I know, William, and I'm sorry," the old man stammered sadly. "Oh, I can let you have all the rights, father and happiness," William promised, still frowning. "It's just that I'm a little short of money at this time, and-"he suddenly stopped and stuffed his pocket into his hand. "Hum, rice," he said a minute later. "Well, I'll tell you-I don't have anything, but I'll take you to the village in a day or two to see if Skinner's acquisition will suit you. Oh, we will have some shoes, father, not afraid anymore! " He smiled. "You don't think I'll let my father go barefoot! -Really? " He smiled again. Wearing old clothes is the most irresponsible thing in winter fashion-at least it belongs to Hester and Jeremiah, especially underwear. They mended one by one, and they mended their Hester 1 one by one until the rest was almost the original thread. Once she asked for money to buy a new William, and it happened again. William is short. Although she asked Hester for money, she didn't ask for the same.

When things go bad, the most irresponsible fashion in winter-at least Jeremiah and Hester's, especially underwear. They mended one by one, and they mended their Hester 1 one by one until the rest was almost the original thread. Once she asked William for money to buy a new one. As a result, William was short of money. Although she had asked for money, Hester did not make the same request. There are two things that Hester failed to mend-her shoes. She was sure to mend them, but after her trembling rough thread was knotted, and the leather drill bit-cut or old shoes-fell off, her poor old left thumb was faced with a sharp needle, so she finally gave it in despair. These days, she hid in a chair near Jeremiah and pieced together two skirts with her feet or beyond, so that they could always touch the ground. Nevertheless, one day, Jeremiah saw it and understood it.

"Hester," he cried sharply, "put your feet away." Obviously, Hester did not hear. She lowered the file reading and laughed at her for being hysterical. "Such a good joke, yeah!" She was trembling. "As long as I have seen it. Loneliness-Hester, did their best shoes kill you? Ask Jeremiah. And Hester's voice, especially born in 50 years of wise experience, put down the paper and her excuse and said gently, "Yes, Jeremiah." There was a pause, then Jeremiah stood up, rushed into his pocket, reached out and paced from the end of the last small bedroom. "Hester, the 1 of this thing has strangled me!" He finally blurted out. "I am seven or eight years old here, and I have enough money. God bless, my wife bought a pair of shoes! "

"But the farm, Jeremiah-""I told you, the farm is not mine," Jeremiah said savagely. "You see, Hester, how can you feel that way about such a person who pays in his own way, because he is a child, bought a farm with his own money, and proposed a child's' education time'-in case you think fur is the third, man is the third and son is the first, you will say,' Please. Shoelaces? How do you feel, if any? I tell you, Hester, I can't stand it-I can't joke! I'm going to work three. "Jeremy. "Well, I am," the old man stubbornly repeated. "You threw a few pairs of shoes, I want to earn it back. Look at me. No! " He straightened his shoulders, bent down and straightened his back, as if he felt a gratifying burden on his weight.

Spring is coming, long sunny days, and the taste of green things is getting bigger and bigger Jeremiah began to miss the farmhouse day after day. That is, he finished several tasks every morning, then disappeared and didn't come back until evening. William wanted to know a little, but said nothing. Other more important things are full of ideas. Only Hester noticed that the old man's steps became lazier and his eyes became duller; Hester knew that only at night would he sometimes be so tired that he couldn't sleep-he couldn't "seem to hit the bed", he said. At this time, Hester began to go to their farmhouse frequently in the process of solving problems. She began to be extremely busy, knitting socks and gloves, quilts or joints. Sarah Elam sometimes asks her what she is doing, but Hester's answer is always so optimistic and cheerful. Sarah Elam didn't realize that she always avoided and changed the subject.

This is inevitable in May. One day, when William came home, he found his wife crying excitedly and hurried back to his room to live in seclusion. "William, William," she groaned, "what shall we do? Its father and mother; They-oh, William, how can I tell you! " Her hand, she faced her. William is wearing his light brown coat. He grabbed his wife's arm and hurt his finger. "What is this-what is this?" He asked hoarsely. "Won't they be hurt or-dead?" "No, no," Sarah Elam choked up. "I didn't scare you. They are all on the right path. They-they went to work! William, what shall we do? " William whipple grabbed his wife's arm again and hurt his finger. "Sarah Allen, wash my hands of it, cry, for God's sake! What does this mean? What are you talking about? " He asked. Sarah Elam covered her eyes with a handkerchief and looked up.

"This is this morning. I'm going to find Maria Weston, "she explained intermittently. "Maria dropped a quilt and asked her mother to pick things up. When I asked her what she meant, she looked very strange and said that she should know me. Then she tried to change the subject, but I wouldn't let her. I finally learned all about her. "Yes, yes, go on," William shouted impatiently, and Sarah Elam stopped. "It seems that her mother came some time ago, and-she also went to other people's homes. She asked if there was any knitting or mending that she could do for them. She said she-she wanted to make some money. " Sarah Elam's voice interrupted the last sentence, and William muttered something in a low voice. "She said they would lose everything. They are in the bank," then Sarah Elam said quickly. "And they have no money. You have to ask." "Why, I always let them-"William began to defend, and then he suddenly stopped, with a slow red stain on his face.

"Yes, I know you do," Sarah Elam interrupted eagerly. "I said this to Maria. But mom told her. She said that you were always willing to give it to them when mom said they wanted it, but my father's self-esteem was hurt to beg, so he went to his own efforts to get some of his. " "Dad!" William shouted. "But I think what you said is the mother of the Third World Academy of Sciences. Father is certainly not knitting socks and gloves, is he? "No, no," cried Sarah Elam. "I came here as soon as possible. You see,' the father of the Third World Academy of Sciences goes to work first. He does all kinds of odd jobs, even with Si Nuo, while their children live in the city and go to the villagers to shovel dirt for her. But it has put Nancy Howe's flower bed on him, and he makes everyone tired. Only it thinks, William-make-father and mother! I can't keep my first time forever! What should we do? "

"Dad!" William shouted. "But I think what you said is the mother of the Third World Academy of Sciences. Father is certainly not knitting socks and gloves, is he? "No, no," cried Sarah Elam. "I came here as soon as possible. You see,' the father of the Third World Academy of Sciences goes to work first. He does all kinds of odd jobs, even with Si Nuo, while their children live in the city and go to the villagers to shovel dirt for her. But it has put Nancy Howe's flower bed on him, and he makes everyone tired. Only it thinks, William-make-father and mother! I can't keep my first time forever! What should we do? "Why, of course we will stop," William announced savagely. "I feel that I can support their working life without my parents!" "But what they want is money, William. Don't you understand? " "Well, we will give them money, and then. I've always been, no matter what, when they ask, "William completed a grievance voice. "

Sarah Elam shook her head. "That won't do," she sighed. "Maybe once-but not now. They have reached the point where they can't accept such charitable funds. Why, just think, not all at once! " "Well, also called the present tense. I know.-but we won't take action. I understand now, but it's too late. ""We'll put it back, and then, "William shouted, his face fixed." All on the farm! "Sarah Elam frowned. She shook her head slowly, then stopped, and a question appeared in her eyes. "Don't you think-William, but what shall we do? "She suddenly burst into tears with longing." "Well, we can do our best," the man retorted coldly, but it's easy for us, Sarah Elam. -No dereliction of duty. We already have some spinning lines, which will not be broken and have no weakness; Of course, as far as real farm work is concerned, we will still do it But this place is theirs. Goodbye? -It's theirs! Work. -Oh, my God! "

Jeremiah must have rushed into his wife's room a week later. Hester bent down to sit at the window, and the pink calico wasted countless blues and reds. "Let it go and bring it up, Hester," he gasped happily. "The sky is not more than 1'. I'm not wrong. The farm is ours! ""Why, Jeremiah, what-how-""I don't know, Hester, nothing can do such a thing like you. "Laugh at Jeremiah happily," said William, who was just tired of running things alone and wanted me to catch him. The third piece of paper they threw away was ready at once; One, said Hester, her bent shoulders straightened proudly, and the other, I think we are going to look for some shoes at Huntsville No.1, three lanes above my house this afternoon. You know you always need help from others! "