Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-08
MAKING UP.
BY VIRGINIA p. TOWNSEND.

DOlNG ny the mousse tnaJ morning, Syu-
ney Powers looked up at the windows and
unconsciously dropped into slower gait,
for the boy did his walking as he did al
most everything else, at sort OF double
quick"
There the house stood, looking natural
as the face of an old friend that we like all
the better for its homeliness-a large, COM
Portable white house, mounted with some
what faded green blinds and wide veran-
dab, and a green lawn in front with
sprinkling of fruit trees and strawberries.
Sydney Powers listened too, as much
from old habit as anything else He al
most expected to see Joe Ripley's round,
cropped head at the window or in the
door, and hear his loud, hearty shout
Halo, there, sgd Can't you hold up a
minute until fellow can get up with
your for Joseph Ripley was habtually
slower than Sydney, whether at books,
work or play; but he was not lacking in
parts, for all that.
But this morning there was no shout
nor rush of feet along the gravel walk.
How strange, and silent, and almost sol
emn it seemed Perhaps Joe was there,
peeping behind the blinds. AT that
thought Sydney Strengthened himself up
and trudged on.
There had been quarrel between these
two boys, who had been like brothers from
their infancy it had been miserable af-
fair, springing out of Just nothing AT all,
as great many grown peoples quarrels
do, and take to themselves huge proper
tons. If people would only hearken TO
those wise old words, 1.-THE beginning of
strife is as when one letteth out waterI'
The trouble commenced in some paltry
dispute about respective rights on the
play ground. Neither of the boys would
give up his side, and the dispute grew into
high words, and then both suddenly famed
into fierce and bitter rage.
Such dreadful names as they called each
other--each striving after the coarsest and
hardest words-until at last, by natural
process, they went from words to blows.
Each had given the other a regular pound
Ing. There was more than one black and
blue spot on Sydney's limbs, and his bones
had generally stiff feeling, and he was
certain that he had dealt AS heavy blows as
he received; but he didn't suppose that
Joe minded the stiff, bruised feeling any
more than he did.
But to think they should never be
friends any more 1t was like some ugly
dream that Joe and he had quarreled for.
ever. Why, what jolly times they had
had as far back as Sydney could remem-
ber Somehow all his sports and pleasures
were in some way bound up with Joe.
Where had he ever had good time or
Any real fun without that boy was in for
a share Of it9 How many times they had
gone nutting and fishing together how
they had coasted and skated and snow
balIed through the wintersl What frolics
they'd had climbing the trees and shaking
down the heaps Of ripe fruit in the golden
autumns what glorious hours they'd had
in the woods in the long summer days
when they used 10 go out for berries and
to hunt for last years nests; what capital
sails on the river; what scrapes tossing
the fresh mown hay In the fields, and rid
ing on the great piles to the barn; how
many lessons they'd learned how many
nights they'd slept together. Why, he
knew Joe by heart almost, just as he knew
his old Robinson Crusoe, for instance,
with It's battered corners and dog cared
pages.
And all this was over He never knew
before what gap it would make in his
life to slip Joe out of It, And to think
they would never have any Of the dear old
times together again-Joe Ripley and he !!
hadn't they vowed never TO speak to each
other AGAIN. II was all very foolish and
wieked-Sydney was sure OF that, now
that he came to think over the whole
thing; but then boys must keep their
word, and he wasn't going 10 be the first
To come round and try TO make up after
that talk and fight-not he his cheeks
tingling and his short, round, reddish
locks of hair seeming TO bristle q. the
thought.
AS for Joe, he'd answer for him Joe
was good fellow, with heart as soft as
girls, if you got on the right side of it;
but he was stubborn as mule when his
will was up, and Sydney was morally GER
tain he make no concessions OF any sort
in this case. So il was settled that his
and Joe's good days were over.
Why, what was thaty A sudden striC-
ture Of pain across his heart and some
thing wet on his eyelashes The way that
boy dashed it off! He. Sydney Powers,
almost twelve years old, just going to turn
girl and cry because that he and Joe Rip
ley had got mad and wouldn't speak to
each other! How the boys would laugh
and shout Cry baby"
While he was red TO the roots Of his
hair thinking of this, the boy caught sight
of a we'll known figure coming up the
ROAD boys figure, with an easy, loung-
ing sort Of gait, straw hat and blue
jacket He knew 1t all as well as he knew
any one thing in the world.
Joe Ripley must have caught sight OF
Sydney at that very moment, for he
seemed suddenly to bristle all over. He
Strengthened up-the halfshambling gait
was suddenly exchanged for formality Of
step and movement which, 1t was apparent
enough, was not at all natural, but just
assumed for the occasion, and sat rather
comically ON the round figure and light
cropped head Of the boy.
Sothe two went by silently, with averted
faces and lips representatives boys who
had been plsyfellows from their infancy,
who had Lowell each other like brothers
and who, now that the strong passion OF
the moment had cleared away, saw all the
folly and wickedness Of which they had
both been Sqailty. And yet neither had the
courage aid the true manliness TO confess
his share Of the fault, and say TO the other,
I've done wrong, and I'm sorry for it"
But each thought 1t was nobler and
Drawer TO keep up the semblanCe
OF anger after the fecliu0 had