The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-16

/ garden, and Billy was quite reconciled
| to his Punishment the moment he caught
the rustic Of the lilac leaves, and met
the familiar nodding Of the tall, good
natured sunfowers. He seated himself
on the grass, dug his bare toes into the
warm earth of poppy-bed, and leaning
his small elbows upon the patched
knees Of his small trousers. settled his
round chin between his palms, and
| dropped into a fit of childish medita-
tion. With no past to remember, no
cares to make anxious, and small knowI-
edge Of possibilities to curb him, his
dreams and plans had wild, free
range; and he had quite decided where
he would go when he came into pos
session Of his coveted wings, besides Sc
lecting a particularly soft, feecy cloud,
in the far-of. blue, to serve as his bed
at niSllsss after it got too dark too fly, -
when a voice interrupted him.
"Why don't you play with me, Billy
Murray ?" A little blue dress was
crushed against the fence, q pair of tiny
hands grasped the pickets, and from
under a white sun-bonnst merry brown
eyes laughed at Billy.
'Cause-I guess-Tm thinIin' what
III do, p" he responded with slow grav-
ity, neither disturbed nor astonished by
her sudden presence. .-
Z" What you'll do when you're big? I
know all that now, and I guess I won't
wait to grow, either! p ratified the little
damsel, her nimbIe tongue crowding
in the words so thick and fast that she
contrived to utter a dozen in the time
Bill would have required for one.
" What? 2" asked Billy, slowly, but
with an awakening CLEAN of curiosity.
" Keep a gate-tbat's what. 7
know all about 'em, for me and papa
rode through in a carriage, and [ did
see it my own self. You have a gate
clear across the road, so folks can't get
through, and then they pay you to open
it and you don't have anything to do
but just live in nice funny little
house, and get lots of money.
Bnly's blue eyes frightened. Down
from his airy heights, at the prospect
of gaining earth S shining dust, he came
as readily as though he had been older.
Il guess I'll do that, too, " he an
nounced.
"'Long of me p.
YES" said Billy, accepting the
partnership as cOndescendingly as
though the patent-right for the inven-
ton had not belonged to the other
party.
g Well, Let's do it now, " proposed the
vivacious small lady, anxious to be
making her fortune at once. 4 guess
lots of folks go long the road down by
the end Of the lane, and if we have it
there then they'll have to pay US.
Yes" said Billy, once more, and
lifting the latch Of the gate, he slipped
out.
Maggie had ears for nothing that
morning but q footstep that did not
come, and Aunt Polly was too busy il
looking after the whole of creation to
pay any special attention to her own
small corner Of it so there was nobody
to observe the new firm, as they trudged
off to seek a favorable locality for Gheir
enterprise. 1t was no long search, how
ever, since the road at the end of the
lane was the only one they knew any
thing about moreover, it was narrow,
and well suited to their purpose in that
way.
q don't know how we'll stop it up,
though" Billy remarked, surveying it
doubtfuIIy. But Garlic was fertile in
expedients. Her quick eyes rested
upon an old unused cart standing lit
tie distance up the lane, and she pro-
posed that they should draw that down
across the road, to begin with. Tt was
hard work, with all their united strength
and most vigorous efforts, but they per-
severed until the task was accomplished.
''I thought it was big enough to
reach ever so far, and it don't" said
Garlic, disappointedIy. anybody
could just go around the side of it If
they wanted to, and never pay a cent. -
Billy expressed a valiant determine
ton to "knock any feller down that
tried it." but Garlic was unsatisfed.
Presently a pile of bean-poles in a
neighboring lot suggested an idea of
relief, and the children, in high spirits
once more, proceeded to appropriate
them. They could carry but one at
once, but gradually they piled them up,
with one end upon the fence aRd the
other resting upon the cart, quite for
getting, in their zeal for a thorough
barricade, to make any arrangement for
opening their gate when the required
toll should be paid. It vas slow, toll
some building; but the two little faces,
though flushed and perspiring, were
also triumphant as they gazed upon the
completed structure. with its last pole
standing nearly upright against the
cart. Partly for GOODNESS to herself,
partly by way of ornament to the edi-
fee, Garlic removed her sun-bonnet
from her head and hung It upon this
highest point.
Bet nobody can't get through that p
exclaimed Billy, pantingly. How
much do you s'pose weIl make?"
Dollar, may be, J." replied the san
guine Garlic, her eyes growing round
with the stupendous prospect. "Pm
too tired to build any little house to
live in, to-day; let's stay outdoors"
Out-of-doors was very pleasant. They
sat down on the soft grass that edged