
In a quiet Colorado hamlet, Hiram and his wife Marthy enjoy a child‑free life that feels almost like a small, self‑contained colony. Their days drift by on a porch swing, swapping gossip about neighbors whose households are crowded with babies, school‑age worries, and endless expenses. Through warm, colloquial narration, the couple’s contentment is painted with gentle humor, as they compare their carefree routine to the frantic lives of those around them.
When Marthy mentions the rare sight of Mrs. Hemingway’s silk dress, the conversation takes a playful turn that hints at something deeper beneath the surface. Their banter about the “expensive luxury” of children suddenly carries an undercurrent of tension, suggesting that the seemingly simple pleasures of their life may soon be tested. Listeners are invited into this slice of small‑town existence, where ordinary chatter may lead to unexpected drama.
Language
en
Duration
~49 minutes (47K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
2013-11-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1869–1937
Best remembered for the wildly popular comic story "Pigs Is Pigs," this American writer brought a quick wit and an everyday warmth to hundreds of stories, poems, and essays. He was a remarkably prolific magazine author whose humor helped shape early 20th-century popular fiction.
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