Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-06-30

| llkc an Indian scout, his bright eyes peer
ing on every side for opportunities for
pranks. Now, just for the sensation of it,
he hides behind brush rs pedestrian
passes, and then, pretending TO himself
that he is scouting him, he glides stealth
| lily along behind the unconscious object
of his espionage, with an immense affecta.
ton of caution, till the latter turns In at
some gate. Now he secs another lad ap.
preaching, and, tingling with excitement,
puts himself In ambush See him
guivering like cat about to spring.
| Now he Jumps out; there is little
scrimmagc, and shortly the two fall TO
comparing notes rs TO their exploits OF
the evening, and plotting new ones. Oh,
1t is rare fun to be a boy on such evenings
as this in village where policemen are
unknowni
Mr.. Phelps was reading his paper be.
fore the cheerful CRATE fire which the cool
evening yet made comfortable. Mrs.
! Phelps was sitting opposite, her chubby
person comfortably filling an eGsy char,
her small CATERS resting on the fender
and serving her eyes as points d'dppui for
a Complacent reveTy. Kate could be seen
through the open door fitting about the
table in preparations for tea. Reginald
stood looking out at the window, absent
ly drumming with his fingers on the pane.
| At this moment there was q ring at the
door, a short scufilc in the hall, and an
instant later Tot came running into the
parlor, crying out, with much agitation
and immense eyes:
Oh, papa, Will has got him, and it's
| Freddy Patterson, and, OH I'm afraid
he's hurting him." and with this she be-
gun TO whimper.
What Oh oartb ai1a iho child nv.
claimed her father. " What is she talk
ing aboutT"
!" It's those everlasting boys at the bell
again. l hope Bill will shake him well, I"
answered Reginald.
Bless me, had forgotten all about 1t, :"
said Mr.. Phclpe, jumping up. lie must
bring him right in"
"Now, George, don't do anything dread.
ful, y protested Mrs. Phelps.
They're coming now," said Reginald |;
at which Mr.. Phelps took his scat again
and resumed his paper.
A moment after, Bill hustled little
fellow about twelve years old into the
parlor by the shoulders, and stood in the
door barring his escape. He was a
bright, sturdy, spirited d-looking lad, as,
painting from the resistance he made to
his captor, he stood lingering his cap, and
looking crest-fallen, frightened, and yet
half defiant. Ut is the very same little
imp who was playing those pranks on the
street a moment ago. He has played one
too many.) Tot stood in front of him, her
hands on her hips, staring at him, expect.
ing something tragical, and ready TO cry.
Kate peered into the room over Bills
shoulder as he stood in the door, TO see
what was the matter. Reginald was non
chalantly looking on. Mrs. Phelps's
motherly heart at once warmed toward
the pretty little rogue, and she turned
toward her husband, ready to intercede.
But there was no need. Bill began:
Here's the little - but father,
without giving him Il chance to finish his
speech, put down his paper with an air
of smiling patronage, and welcomed the
small prisoner with the words
"Why, Freddy how do you do? Glad
to see you. It's good ofyou to make us a
call Sit down, my boy"
The little chap was more put out by
this mode of address than if he had been
trounced. He looked wild. Mrs. Phelps
and Kate took the cue at once. The form
or asked him how his mamma was, and
Kate took his cap and got him into a
chair in the middle of the room, sitting in
which his feet barely touched the ground,
an attitude which completed his embar.
rassment.
Let's see. Do you go to school now,
Freddy?" asked Mrs. Phelps, with an ap.
pearance of interest.
" Yes ma'am," he replied, in fright
ened whimper.
"Who is your teacher?" she asked.
Miss Smith, sir-I mean ma'am."
What do you study, Freddy" asked
Kate.
Rifmetic, jogrify an readin'," he an
| swered. falling into the school hoy sing
song.
do you like to go to school ?" asked
Mrs. Phelps.
pretty well, thank you, sir"
| And then they asked him what he liked
best of his studies, and whether he liked
his teacher, how old he was, and great
many more questions of that class, and all
with an air of so much affability and in.
terest, that he became entirely bewildered.
Did they know, or didn't they? Were
they fooled, or were they fooing him
Boy nature has very little faculty for
adapting itself to false position, and he
kept getting redder and redder.
Finally, summoning up all his resolu-
| ton, he slid off his chair, and mumbled
out that he guessed he must go home.
Must you go so soon? Pm so sorry!"
said Mrs. Phelps graciously. "You have
made us ever so nice CALI"
He stood moment, getting very red =,
and then blurted out indistinctly:
Mr.. Phelps, l rang your bell for fun,
but Pm sorry" and with that he slid out
of the room.
81 fancy he won't trouble us again, I"
| cot q Tc ~
Goals of fire, tits tolerably effective treat
ment."
Isuppose it's called Goals of fire be-
cause it scOrches ones cheeks so. |
thought he would burn up" said Kate
I'm afraid it wasn't exactly Goals of
fire in the Apostles sense" said Mrs
Phelps, " for Freddy thought we misun.
derstoOd him all the while"
. 1t was much more effective kind
than the Apostles, for that very reason. :"
Why, Reginald" said his mother, for
it was he who had spoken.
"There's no why Reginald about it, I"
answered he. "When you act as if you
didn't know a person had intended to
harm you and do a kindness TO him, it
makes him five times as ashamed as if he
thought you knew what he had intended
and were being good in order to shame
him"
80 The boys right enough there" re-
marked his father. "In fact for my part,
| think nothing is more impertinent than
being good in an ostentatious way toyour
enemies. Returning good for evil is fine
when you don't seem to know you are
doing it, but that is the only thing that
excuses it, either as point of manners or
morals, for believe Goals of fire are ca
pable of being used as Extensively as any
carnal weapons. l have often answered
an ugly speech in sharper tone than
otherwise would, because thought /
should less anger somebody that way thel
by assuming to be better than he"
4" Oh, by the way, what was that Joke
between mother aud you last nightY"
asked Bill, lounging ON the sofa.
Oh, yes, TO be sure; you know YOU
said you would tell u.s." said Kate, "and
now Reginald is at home, it would be
good time. Please, do"
Would you tell them, Adap
suppose they will not give us any
rest till we do, - Mrs PhelDs rpnlied with