The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-01
Youns CoviIIe and the Farmer Boy.

You've Cov1LLE was out looking for
ride Friday afternoon. He had his sled
with him, and he wanted to fasten it to
horse-sleigh. An opportunity finally
presented itself. 1t was farmer who
was driving, and he had two good horses,
His son sat in the back Of the sleigh,
watching the various village boys. He
was q pale boy, with broad forehead
and soft brown eye. No one can read
character as well as children, and when
Master Coville looked into the open
countenance of the farmer-lad he put
after the sleigh with all his might, and,
catching up to it, threw himself on
the tail-board, keeping his eye firmly
fixed on the farmer boy. Then the
farmer boy suggested that young Coville
get on his own sled and he would hold
the rope for little way. The offer was
accepted at once, and Master Coville
mounted his own sled, where he rode in
triumph, to the envy Of every boy he
passed. Getting toward the suburbs the
farmer, who was quite deaf, hurried for
ward his horses, and Master Coville tried
to look ahead without smiling, but it was
impossible, the speed was SO exhilarat-
ing. When the party got by Granville
avenue young Coville told the farmer
boy that he guessed he'd be gong back,
and if he'd kindly drop the rope he'd
confer favor. The farmer boy smiled
rural smile but did not relax his hold
on the rope. Young Coville smiled too,
but rather feebly, and again repeated the
request. But the soft brown eye was
musing, and the rope still remained in the
owners grasp. Young Coville began to
look scared. 1t was after five o'clock,
and would be dark in an hour, and here
he was sailing out into the country at the
rate of eight miles an hour.
Let go of there, why don't your" he
asked.
The farmer boy smilcd-one of those
poisoning smiles which told of green
dells and moss fringed brooks.
IF you don't let 60 of that rope I'll
just get into that sleigh and mash yer
blamed old snoot" suggested young Co.
vile, which was very imprudent state.
ment in view of the fact that every
muscle was engaged in keeping his seat.
But the farmer lad did not let 60. He
kept his hold of the rope and kept up
the smiles, the waving grain and bloom
ing daisy smiles.
"Oh, III make you laugh on the other
side of your mouth if you don't let go Of
that rope" shouted young Coville, as he
saw the paved sidewalks give way to
foot-paths, and gardens dissolve into
broad, snow-clad fields.
On they went, the farmer lad smiling SC
beautifully, and young Coville grating
his teeth and shouting the awful things
he would do in the future.
| About four miles out of town. and as
they were passing through heavy wood
the farmer boy smiled broad smile and
let go of the rope, and as the sleigh
darted away the rope passed under the
sleigh, bringing it up SO suddenly as te
throw young Ceville heels over head into
the snow. When he got up, the sleigh
was going over a hill and his tormentol
was throwing agricultural kisses at him
1t was late at night when Master Co
vile reached his home, but when hi
went to bed there were thirteen snow
balls, soaked with water, freezing slowl,
but surely on board in the back yard
I-Danbuyy Neacs.