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Show 68 unco-operative with the law. He probably had a better upbringing in the reform school than he would have had at home, because he was an intelligent boy. When Papa caught him stealing grain after he got out there was an unholy row, but Papa didn't send him away, just withheld his wages until the grain was paid for. Papa always paid honest wages to those who worked for him, no matter how closely related they were. When Evan, who was a good-looking (something like Red Skelton when he was young) kid, popular with the young people in town, got married Papa advanced the money for a down-payment for a farm, a sizeable amount. This was to be on shares with Uncle Will, who went away to work to keep up the payments. It was a mortgage like he would have had from any business man. Uncle Will kept his share of the bargain, sent the money, and Evan intended to make the payments, but his pretty little wife deflected them for clothes and household goods, a fancy carriage to ride to town and see her mother. When Uncle Will came home there was a show-down. He refused to go on with the partnership and told Papa Evan was on his own. Evan had a session with Papa and told him to foreclose the mortgage, which he did, but when Papa went for the deeds, which should have never been in Evan's possession in the first place, Delia threw a tantrum and dashed them into the fire. Evan rescued and gave them to Papa. It was his first lesson in the business world into which he had come, and it served him well. He was industrious, and eventually had a good farm of his own adjoining our seven acres. |
