Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-06-13
How Dan Found q Home.
BY MRS. NJ. LEONARD.

Skating match, too! How could he
have slept so7
He xaa -thnnary, nevertheless, and
though the family were nearly done eat
ing when he appeared, he managed to
fortify himself with sgood supply OF
beefsteak, potato and biscuit, giving of
his directions between the mouthfu1s.
Mother do hurry and get my lunch
put mp, ind please put in plenty OF
mince-pie, sandwiches and donghuuts.
We shall be hungry as Turks" helping
himself t. more lbeefsteak.
30, Allie! left my skates in the
woo.lshel,. where was fixing them.
won't you get them for me please-I'll
DO as much for YOU"
Another potato.
Having thus dispatched his mother
and sister, there was no one left but lit
tie Kitty, who was calmly dressing her
doll and giving It instructions as to its
mornings duties.
II say, Kit, you're just tho little
tie chick to run up and get my mittens
and scs,ff-I left them in my room
there's good girl!
One more biscuit and now the re-
Turns begin to come in.
Generous lunch basket, we'll filed.
skates beside him, mittens and scoff
sn1gly aljusted.-
"Now, I'm OF! Sha'n't we have a
jolly time Thought 0, Allie, there's
that Sunday School book to be return
etQ Tomorrow. I couldn't find it the
other day. Don't forget to look it up
Il shall 10 too tired tonight. Wish
it wasn't such a walk out there and
back =;
The boyxhai selected a large pond
several miles fronI town, where they al
ways wont If they possessed a whole
skating day.
Twelve Of tho best skaters were to
try their skin, and three prizes were to
hc given. One to the boy who couhl
make the quickest time in going across
the pond ut Its longest point four sue
csssivcs times and1ops to him who
should cut the most1lif1cult fantasy, in
fhe way of Aourishes aud, tricks in skat-
i&ee rhese-Mere toe be@performed by
each one separately, and the exercise
WIS called by the boys. the <: solus ="
performances. These were to- conclude
the morning games, when they would
find II cosy nook in the sun, Just by the
,%sc OF. a wood, and there build a fire
tn~arp their fingers and toes, and re-
fresh themselves, over their lunch bas-
kets. - =: :.
In the afternoon when they had rest:
ed Sufficiently, they were ready to try a
SLOW match at perfect and steady skat-
ing, in which n fall or loss of balance,
or~Dy awkwart1ness would mark out
the boy5to whom twas charged, from
thelist of competitions :; :.
In short, the most graceful skater,
who could, without giving up from
mistake or weariness, retain his motion
tho longest, Or until the hour set for re-
turning home, was the winner. This
gave them an-afternoon of general fun,
and was Just what they wanted.
''eWe're alE here now but Dan Bolton,
He's always behind!. Where's the use
in waiting for him a. cried Hal.
proposed Ben Wesley
Its full ten O'clock and he knew
exactly the time we set for starting. y
said John Moss. :.
"He ougllt-notto expect us to put
everything back" Hal continued, i'm
mo, lets start; he'll catch up, very
likely" chimed in Ed Campbell.
iH4e's one of the best skaters we
The rest of us will stand all the bet.
ter chance without him." said Hal,
leading off.
"Shame Hal II You wouldn't like to
be 16ftAh lha way. said. Fred who
hung Back for Dan.
They arranged themselves at the
starting point. and at signal from the
msrer;of ceremonies they were of
fD4,ktaa= they verb HALF across the hrs,
time, Dan came running down the hill
at full speed. But before he reached
the group of spectators, his glowing
face had grown very sober with disap'
pointment, and he walked quietly ur
to rscaiye their Se1ttations and excuse
himself as best he could.
Then he put on his skates and took 6
quiet turn by himself, evidently in {
thoughtful mood.
By this time, the boys were once
across the pond and coming back-nt
use to try this time. Whether he wa.
uxrysnn not We will not venture K
say. We only know that when his turn
came for "solus he put spirit ant
daring enough into his capers to hav,
worked off any amount Of anger, re
caiNflg great applause, and in the enc
the prize for that exercise.
The last prize was awarded, and Ha
received IL with the usual three cheers
hut he did not feel altogether satisfied
in his mind, although he could not owl
to himsbfh&hy he did not.
They were alt tired enough with thei
days sport tp take tile shortest cut TO
home, SO ey-jumpedS bitches, boltet
fences aud stone walls, till they CAM
to the straigLt-resd near the town.
Iu jumping from one Of the fences
LARS foSt sstfack 'afeand stone, turnia,
his ankle and c41siigs him no it'll
as bna%elJ as he' could, but as the,
came into the town Dan saw he looked
pale, and imped, good deal, and 81
persuaded him to let him help hin
awhile. After several of the boys hat
s.3Itterad in various directions for theil
homes, they reached one Of the mai1
streets, where all were to go in one di
rection except Hal.
<&Gpofl-hi9,< boys! We've had !,
jolly dat} of it, ali but this provoking
foot Of mipe1 afbank. yo9 DANE That'l
do. slRMget along the rest of tn,
way.
"Eean:jaat;as well! &, round ~itl
you," said Dan.
" NGi Iwon't> let you. It's late an,
you're hungry, besides your folks !
wonder what s, keeping yoI. > answered
Hal, not having liked very we'll 10 re
ceive Dams help. .,.,a
~ Havcf1t any folks Is worry c,r abou
MIN going any way,''' Dan added
a. Hal tried to step off strongly alone
and erred pnt. with phin.- :
"7l1lerc now don't say word al3or,
it., 9;,nd Dams strong arm half CARRIE
to his door, Hal, who was SO faint an
weary 10 was glad to submit. Whe
they reached home, Hal was equal
determined that Dan should stay t
supper and rest. himself.
After he had eaten his own suppt
aud they were talking together, III,
asked, ':What made you say you ha
no folks to worry about you?"
Because twas true. It's general
mothers or sisters that do the worryin
ifyou're ont late you know" -
"You have some one to take care
the house, for I've seen her."
ooh yes, Father hires u girl to cool