The Grange advance., 1874-07-29
ny ~FiTstaRsuts. 4
By Cox CRINGLB.
Prom tho Boys and Girls Weekly.

but somehow mother did not keep her
word, and ragged on in semi-girlish
costume, until one day in June father
took me down to Mr.. Burns, the only
tailor in our place, and said:
Burns, make that boy suit. I'm
tired of waiting for his mother to do it. -
The tailor pushed up his spectacles
until they rested on the top Of his bald
head, looked at me attentively for mo-
ment, then said:
Rather small, isn't he?"
The fact was, Mr.. Burns owed father
some money, and my parent wished to
obtain something for it.
Twas between five and six years old,
and the height of my ambition was to
wear pants.
"Small 2" replied father. "No, we
consider him rather big for his age.''
IL don't think I have any suitable
material, murmured the tailor, looking
perplexedly at my parent.
"Oh," said father, anything will do"
livery well,' sighed Burns, taking
bunch Of paper strips.
remember that I felt half scared as
the old man banded me all over with
these pieces Of paper.
SNAKE 'em long enough" said
father.
"Oh, III allow for his growth"
grumbled the old fellow, pinching me,
under the pretence ofmeasuring my arm.
After much argument for Burns OBJ
jected to make me suit Of anything /
fancied, we hit upon what he termed a
good stout pilot-cloth that would wear.
"Oh, wear like forty" he said.
cts awful fuzzy" observed, ''aud
it will scrub me dreadful"
It was rusty black color, and rough
on the in, and hard and shiny upon the
outer side.
"Better line the pants" I suggested
BE too warm," insinuated Burns.
II can line 'em in the fall Nobody
wears Innings in the summer"
Haven't you anything lighter than
this? inquired father. "Seems to me
that this is very heavy for boys
suit"
Nothing that'll wear" answered the
tailor, decisively. IF you want any
thing thin, that he will jag out in a
week, l can give it to you"
"N-oo!' replied the father. Il
want something strong, and them slea-
sey cloths of yours wouldn't last day."
"Jes' sc" mumbled the tailor.
In due time the suit was made, and
on blazing Fourth, hot as an over
from the moment the sun peeped oven
the horizon, | was introduced to my
new garments.
Throwing my former garments aside,
l thrust my limbs into the pants, and,
after wrestling for about twenty min
utcs, succeeded in encasing myself.
They were as stiff as stove-pipe iron,
prickly as bed Of thistles, and smelt
horribly; but what cared I? Was
not a man? Columbus felt no greater
Joy when he discovered our continent
than 1 did upon beholding the tips Of
my toes protruding from beneath the
bottom Of these pants.
"'Rah !" I shouted: "I'm man
now!"
After struggle, mother buttoned the
vest, and holding out the coat, said:
Nov, my son, try this on."..
1t was an elegant coat, with pockets
like mans; but it was too tight across
the back, and I couldn't get my arms
down to my sides.
Spite Of my prayers, mother insisted
upon taking off the garment, saying:
"Tailor, indeed! l could have fitted
you better. Con. can you breathe in that
vest?"
"Yes," 1 replied, although the gar.
ment pinohed me fearfully.
(" Put on your old froek," " continued
mother.
NO." pleaded. "Let me go out
as l am. 1fs warm enough"
Bless her heart. she little dreamed
the torture that 1 was about to unde1go,
and rs she kissed me, and slyly slipped
dozen ooppezs into my pocket, she
said:
Con, you must not be proud Of you.
new clothes, or tell folks that 4 tailor
made them"
"No, mother" I said, and in another
moment was exploding crackers in our
garden.
Ny skin being tolerably hard, I did
not feel the rouehness Of the cloth until
later in the day. 90. beyond find;no