The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-03-29
Young Folks.
just for Fun.

Willie Goodwin, whenever he was deep |
In mischief or had to plead guilty when
accused Of some boyish scrape, that 1t
was done just for fun.
Many time he resolved to try to
be more orderly and let boyish pranks
alone, but the next prospect of fun
would Danish all his good resolutions,
until the penalty recalled him again.
He was nearly fifteen when the tragedy
l am about to tell you sobered him for
life. He was middle-aged man when
he told me the story, but even then he
could not speak without em otion of his
last piece of "fup."
1--WE had been out for walk" he
told me, "Frankie Ford, Tom Lee and
], and were coming home at twilight
when we met Sammy Willets, who was
rather favorite butt for teasing with
all the boys. He was very timid,
rather sickly boy of fourteen, peevish
and easily irritated, and the rougher,
stronger boys said coward. AS soon
as we saw him coming the spirit of
mischief seemed to possess us all, and
each one planned how to tease the poor,
timid boy.
"Let's hide and jump at him. one
suggested.
"Let's tell him his house is on fire,
and see him rum cried another.
"I'll tell you what We'll do said.
We'll coax him down to Ruthlan DE
barn for game of romps, and shut him
upp
"Ruthland's barn was o large barn
standing alone at some distance from
any other building. The farm house
to which it had belonged had been de-
stroyed by fire, and the great barn had
been left standing when Ruthland d g.
serted the place and went West. If
was favorite play.room for all the
village boys, who spent long Saturday
afternoons in it, making 1t a gymnasium
and recitation hall, as occasion required.
Although it was twilight, the sum.
mer evenings were long, and Sammy
was not surprised to be told we were
going to Ruthland's barn for an hour of
play before bedtime. He was quite
willing to join US, and we were soon in
the old barn, making it ring with our
shouts and laughter.
"The hour passed rapidly, and 1t was
getting quite dark, when we sent Sam
my into the hay-loft on some errand,
ran out ourselves, and drew the big
doors after us. 1t was harder work to
fasten them with the rusty iron latch,
but we accomplished this too, and then
ran Of.
"Just as we were at the edge Of the
| field we heard enc fearful scream, but
we only hurried on, laughing at the
thought of Sammy's discontinue.
81 must say, in our defence, that
passing one night in the old barn would
have been no great misfortune to any
of US. We were all hardy, country
boys full of life and health, free from
superstiuous or morbid fears, and we
could none of us realize what the dark
loneliness was to timid, sickly boy
with rather O weak mind.
"It must have been after midnight
when we were aroused at home by a
violet knocking at the door. My
father spoke from the window, asking
what was wanted, ,and 1 heard our neigh.
Dor, Mr.. Willets, asking anxiousIy:
"'Is Sammy here?'j
"No. Is he not at home?'
"'He has not been home since SUM-
set I am very much worried, because
he is not well.'
"'I'll ask Willie if he has seen him.
"In another moment father was by my
bed, and 1 told him where they would
find Sammy. Never shall forget the
fathers cry of horror:
"It will kill him! My poor. timid
boy. He is afraid of the dark, and
the doctor has told US we must humor
him, because he is not strong enough to
bear fright. Will you go with me, Mr..
Goodwin
II was dressing as rapidly as I
could, and was by my fathers side
when he lighted lantern and joined
Mr.. Willets.
"'Let me co. 1 begged. Il never
meant to hurt him. would MT mind
staying there all night a bit, and l did
not think it would really hurt him.
Oh! sir, do you think it will kill him ?
1t was all q joke, just for fln.'
"'God forgive you, boy, he answered
me in choked voice. Il am afraid it
will be dear fun for us all. Sammy,
my poor boy! Who viii tell his mother
if harm has come to him ? Our only son
our poor, sickly boyv
$50 he lamented as we hurried across
the fields, every word increasing my
terror and remorse. 1t was my pro-
posal, and ! felt myself the only guilty
one, though the others had helped me
carry out the cruel joke that seemed
anything but fun now. reached the
barn at last, and undid the heavy
fastenings Of the the door. Mr.. Willets
called his boy by name every moment,
but no answer came. 1t seemed to me
hours before the heavy doors swung
back. One of them would not open
wide, and, looking for the cause, we
found poor Sammy, white and senseless,
lying on the floor behind it. His father
lifted him.
"'He is not Dead" he said. Can we
get water?'
II hurried to the well and brought
water, but the boy was too far gone for
that. Oh! the long distance it seemed
to Mr.. Willets', and beyond that to the
doctors, where / ran at once. Never
shall l forget the face of Sammy's
mother as she took the boy's face in
her hands and looked into it. 1t was so
white and still / dared snarcelv haliaya