Life's Boomerang

As they drove into Hartley, Mrs. Bates drew forth the deed.

"You are right about the bank being a safe place for this," she
said. "I've had it round the house for two years, and it's a fair
nervous thing to do. I wish I'd a-had sense to put it there and
come after you the day I made it. But there's no use crying over
spilt milk, nor fussin' with the grease spot it makes; salt it
down safely now, and when you get it done, beings as this setting
is fairly comfortable, take time to run into Harding's and pick up
some Sunday-school clothes for the children that will tally up
with the rest of their relations'; an' get yourself a cheap frock
or two that will spruce you up a bit till you have time to decide
what you really want."

Kate passed the lines to her mother, and climbed from the wagon.
She returned with her confidence partly restored and a new look on
her face. Her mother handed her two dimes.

"I can wait five minutes longer," she said. "Now get two nice
oranges and a dime's worth of candy."

Kate took the money and obeyed orders. She handed the packages to
her mother as she climbed into the wagon and again took the lines,
heading the horse toward the old, familiar road. Her mother
twisted around on the seat and gave each of the children an orange
and a stick of candy.

"There!" she said. "Go on and spoil yourselves past redemption."