26O A COMPOSITE FAMILY 



would 'a' been overlooked and he been guided into 

 a story -writer, as yer say, but here around Lone- 

 town he was just plain liar. The minister had 

 proved it by Scripter, and that ended it, and folks 

 was shet of Eph, for ministers was dreadful unre- 

 lentin' those times, and felt it their duty to keep 

 God stirred to wrath constant. This minister in 

 particular was one o' them that did n't even approve 

 o' parts o' the New Testament, thinkin' * Suffer 

 little children' led to breach o' discipline, and 'Our 

 Father' too comfortin' and free a way o' speech 

 to be advisable. 



"We never heard o' Ephraim for nigh two 

 years, and before we did his mother died. The 

 doctor called it lung fever, but it was just shame 

 and sorrow, together with opening the winder a 

 crack at night, when the wind made queer noises, 

 to hear if be was comin'. 'If ever he comes 

 home,' she said, 'don't raise the past. And if he 

 don't come, back him up all you 're able when- 

 ever you can.' 



"Then I rented out the farm for ready money, 

 and moved down here so as to save a little to help 

 him if the right time came. I knew he 'd never 

 come back though, and I was content he should n't, 

 for I felt her grave between us. Then like Job 



