Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-10-31
THE POTATO CANDLESTICK.
BY c. W. FLANDERS.

from the celiar-way In muff1ed voice
aren't you early"
"Guess mott The masters gone along.
What are you up to down thereG"
Making potato candle-hclders."
"Well, won't one do?"
Somebody always forgets to bring his
candlestick the first night; so l carry an
extra holder to accommodate"
"Nonsensei What's the use of bother
ing your head about other people? I've
new lamp. You can get beauty, wick,
and oil, and all, for thirty-seven cents" !"
but l haven't any thirty-seven cents, I"
laughed Mark, rasping away at the pota-
| to.
'Get trusted, as did," says joe
mo, sirl / don't train in the Trust
Company returned Mark, making his
appearance at the cellar door, looking
very much as If he was in earnest.
Then I'll run home and get candle
stick for you," cried Joe, darting away at
full speed.
"StopI' shouted Mark, 81 don't wish
to borrowp
But Joe was deaf. The truth was, he
was ashamed to go to writing school with
a companion who carried a potato can
dlestickl Directly he returned with
what Mark knew to be part of the par
lor finery of the Bright farmhouse He
could not remember when those silver
plated candlesticks had been off the man
telpiece, unless to be admired or burnish-
ed; and it was past belief that Mrs. Bright
could allow one of theii to be taken to a
country evening writing school
Mark wiped his hands carefully on the
roll behind the cellar-door before
he presumed to take the treasure into
them.
''Your mother is very kind, Joe; but
should not have thought she would have
lent that candlestick to anybody-espe-
cially me. / shouldn't, reallyn
Joe tossed up his head, partly in con-
tempt at Marks simplicity, and partly in
exhultation at his own cunning.
Lent it? 1 guess she didn't lend it.
She'd as soon lend the eyes out of her
own headT
"Then how did you come by its"
81 just went in the front way and help
ed myself"
"Ohr'
The warmth and glow were gone from
Marks voice now. He placed the candle
stick on the table. close to where Joe was
standing, and put the potato-holder in
his pocket.
81 am ready" he said, moving toward
the door.
"But you haven't Tgot your candle
stick"
81 don't want it. I'm all right Come
onr
"why don't you take its 1t has cost
me trouble enough; and ten to one it does
not cost me more yetT
II would rather not say it to you just
now, when you intended to do me favor,
my dear fellow, but the truth is, / prefer
not to use what is not honestly come
by;n .,,,, s -, .,a;,,,,. hail.
and giving him an indignant survey from
head to foot. "You must take it along,
to get rid of the confounded thingp
mo, am not willing to have any
thing to do with it. Comel It's time to
be off"
Mark took up some candles, wrapped
them in paper, and opened the kitchen
door, waiting to close it after his COM
panion.
Joe thrust the candlestick under his
arm, muttering, sullenly:
"Blast me if I'll go to writing school
with fellow that uses potato dig outsl"
Mark laughed pleasantly, as if he
thought his friend was making believe to
sulk. But when they reached the road,
and Joe stalked off by himself, he became
cCAlOuc, anu. PAaSAhS Lis Ao-10 NROa
the boys shoulder, said:
"Come, Joe, what's the use OF growing
about such trifie?"
Don't patronize mem said Joe, break
ing away from his light grasp. Every
body wonders why / associate with you ="
"Who is everybody" asked Mark,
| looking up at the stars that were begin
ming to appear.
"Clara Sand, for one"
"Did she really?" asked Mark, turning
to Joe, with an eager, doubling expires
sion in his frank face.
"Yes, and she said you wore patched
boots, and shabby clothes, and"
Never mind the rest. The less one
good or bad. I'll deserve to have the
world speak well of me. So, goodnight,
joe"
As his companion did not choose to re-
spond, Mark put his hands to his ears, for
the night was sharp, and started toward
the school room with a brisk run.
'I've cut him at last - Joe said, kick
ing at little piece of ice in his path, as
| if to vent his malice to better advan-
tage. "He won't get over that in a
hurry"
Just then Clara Sand tripped past, in
company with her cousin.
Joe nOQOeu anu sIlllcQ III I1tdH way,
as one does when he feels like slanderer
and traitor.
Clara did not return the salute.
so she is mad ~ thought Joe, and he
gave the ice another kick, that sent it
S, inning to the fence.
When he reached the school-room he
found the writing exercises had COM
menced, and the teacher standing before
the blackboard with a bit of chalk in his
fingers.
Clara Sand was warming herself at the
stove, with her fur tippet over her shoul-
ders, looking very animated and lovely
after her brisk evening walk
"You will take your seats as soon as
you can," the teacher said, impatiently
as Joe came in, closing the door behind
him with a slam.
Clara moved toward the desks, and
placed her copy-book upon the one she
YVES to occupy. Then it occurred to her
that she had brought no lamp, as the 9TH
ers had done.
"Perhaps some one present can share
their light with you," suggested the
teacher.
Now Clara, besides being a compare
tive stranger to most of the scholars
present, was possessed of degree of
mental and moral culture that often tends
] to keeping the multitude aloof from the