The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-09-17
THE BOYS AT BEECHWOOD,

"The little chap needs breaking in
That's what he's born for-wants tough
ening, you see, and feel it's my duty
to help on that part of his education
myself"
"Duty !" and Kit gave little sniff
He was standing against maple, who's,
trunk was not straighter than his firm
boyish back. 81 wish, Rique Ramon
that your duty would make you take
some fellow of your own size; you're
always pitching into the small fry"
Perhaps you'd enjoy my pitching
into YOU"
6" If you think so, try IT,"
Anyhow, Kit, didn't have set-to
with the deacon last year2 And he
wouldn't fight me didr't dare to do
it p
ct don't know about the dare"
"Well, [ do" cried Henrique. "I
tell you, the d.acon's a regular muff.
He's a covert. That's why he wouldn' t
fight"
Perhaps you think it looks like a
coward to dive into twenty feet of water
to fish out Tom Murphy's little boy.
The rest of us didn't see it that way.
Nonsense You always hated Charlie,
and you know it."
(Charlie and the "deacon are one),
Kit and Henrique were the two old
est boys Of the twenty pupils in DR..
Vose's school. I suppose you might
pick out couple like them on the side
walk of any city when the nine O'Clock
school-bell rings.
Kit was gray-eyed, frank faced, and
always in motion Rique had pale
face, very red lips, and flash OF the
eye which matched the jet black of his
curls. He had figure all curves, which
fell naturally into indolent graces of
posture, figure as flexible as that of a
Japanese contortionist. Kit had joints
of steel, had long, clean-cut limbs, and
a spring in his gait.
exit jumps over; Rique crawls
through" said younger boy, one day
at fence.
This was Just the difference between
the two. Kit was frank and open /;
Rique, though not really bad boy, was
greatly spoiled by rich mother, and
was in danger of becoming a self-in-
dulgent and not wholly trustworthy
character.
ST say, youngster," he exclaimed, as
a small boy stepped down from the
piazza, and stood near, "where did you
drop from?"
1t was pink. and-white face, which
grew less white and more pink at the
question. Thereupon, Rique grasped
the small white arm, as he went on,-
"Look here What's yonr name
Where did you come from? Speak
out. You can talk, I suppose ?"
"Tm Appleton-Bernie Appleton.
My mother lives in Philadelphia"
Philadelphia ?" Rique replied, to
the quiet, well-bred little voice. "Well,
now, / take it Philadelphia isn't good
place to raise infants? Is that why
your mother sent hers here? Hope she
sent high chair along"
Cirque p
Kits indignant protest was flung out
in this interiection.
"Well, what ?"
"Let the little fellow alone, can't
you?"
"Why, yes if you make such fuss
about it. There, go along then. If
you're in need of anything you've only
to go to Kit over there. He's nurse to
all the babies in Beechwood."
"Hush up !" and Kit looked after the
little retreatlng figure.
"I'll be whipped if the child has
been taught to walk. Don't you see ?"
sneered Rique.
81 see he's lame," Kit answered,
coolly.
"Putting on airs" Rique muttered.
"Now, 1 suppose he'll go off and cod
die that baby up. He'll adopt him di-
rectly, and we shan't any of us be able
to touch a hair of his head from this
time forth. Never mind I'll have my
chance with the young cub yet"
Bernie was the child whom Henrique
declared needed toughening," and
his gentle reply to his questions only
gave his tormenter a stronger desire to
undertake this "part of his education"
AS for Kit, Rlque was right in imag-
ger under his wing. From the hour of
this afternoon, when he found Bernie
moistening his cambria handkerchief
with hot tears, curled upon the hay, |
beside the nest of an astonished ban. |
tam, and comforted him with rough,
kindly boy-comfort, from that hour the
child had strong defender. Bernie
was home-boy. He had been ill a |
great deal, and the widowed heart |
whose treasure he was had bled sorely |
at sending him among strangers.
4" 1 should mind it less," Mrs. Apple |
ton had told DR.. Vose, "was my boy
strong. But fall last year caused this
lameness, besides giving shock to his
whole nervous system. He is an excep-
tionally sensitive child"
The good doctor smiled and consoled