The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-05

Shnu anu seth were great crUnies.
though Chad's father was lawyer. and
Seth's was blacksmith. but then. the
one was very good blacksmith and TIE
other very poor lawyer, and this les
sened the social gap.
There was an opinion floating about
the village that Chad and Seth were bai
boys. But the evidence for this was
very intangible. People were ready
enough 70 pronounce them . ..pair II
precious young rascals." but when a
man was asked for an instance OF their
rascality, he could assert nothing more
definite than they were always M 10
some mischief.
The truth Of the matter was that Chad
and Seth We're two young democrats.
full 70 the brim Of life and spirit. who
liked fun better than any thing else.
Indeed, they considered fun the chief
end OF boys. They sometimes pursued Il
thoughtlcssly, perhaps recklessly. and
often violated the prophecies in il pur-
suit. But there was nothing mean about
these two boys To use Chad's favorife
word, they we're not sneaks. They were
fair on the play ground, often generous,
and Seth, especially, had a soft spot un-
lHUUrT
with all the weak. Little bows and
"them girls" knew very well their
knight.
Chad and Seth were near the same
age-just turned thirteen.
The worst thing knew about seth
was that he didn't keep his hands and
face clean. As for Chad. the greatest
fault found with him was that he per
sisted in his companionship with Seth,
when he knew that his mother would
have preferred him TO look higher for
friend
His neither had raised no serious OBJ
lection 10 the association. but Chad
knew her preferences, and should have
respected them. But Seth had a great
fascination for Chad. He was a more
important factor in Chad's enjoyment
than all the other boys in the village
combined.
.But his fathers a blacksmith
Chad's mother said one day.
How can Seth help what his father
s?' Chad asked warmly. IF we boys
had the bossing Of our fathers, Seth
might have had his q lawyer. and I'D
had mine blacksmith. I'd rather be
blacksmith any day than a lawyer. A
lawyer don't do any thing that l know
Of except to read old papers, and then 60
20 the courtroom and speak
piece. l hate TO read writ
ing, and don't like 70 speak
pieces, any way, il there are girls. But
a blacksmith's works jolly-blowing
his big bellows till the forge is red and
splendid. l love 10 see the red-hot
L.. L..
the anvil, and e. zee the sparks fly. and
the strong iron bend just the way it's
wanted to. It's better'n fire-crackers
and rockets makes a fellow feel like
giving three cheers and tiger. And .
blacksmith works with horses. My
sakes! / just wish could be black
smith. Say, may 60, mother?-
Chad was teasing to 60 and play with
Seth.
"why, Chad, 1 should think you'd
feel mortified TO be seen with Seth. His
clothes are dirty and sometimes rag
ged." the mother said.
/ amt goin' back on Seth for that
said Chad, stout.y. - lie cant help il.
His mothers the one to haul over the
Goals for that ANY way, I'D like 10
wear dirty clothes myself sometimes,
stead Of being kept all the time starch
ed and ironed. l could play lots better
in old clothes. You ought 10 see Seth
play; he just pitches in-rumbleiy
tumblety. He car turn the jolliest
somersaults THAI ever l saw. I've seen
him turn 'em, one after another, all the
way from the top to the bottom Of the
big red sand-hll--don't you know?-by
Square Bowers's. Tell me, mother, II
may go.-
I'm afraid Seth's bad boy; Pec-
pie say he is
+" Ne amt lad said Chad, warmly.
{" He amt any sneak. Folks think II
fellow don't stay in the house and
read all the time, he's bad. Seth amt
any Of your sickly kind. Hes the jclli-
est boy In this town, and cant have
any fun without Seth. That's all there
Is about IL. There is mt another boy 10
play with Now"
There's Frank Finley" the mother
suggested
"Frank Finley exclaimed Chasl
with tone Of contempt. why, moth
err, he's the spoonicst, the dumbest- the
finnikiest, the chickenest milksop that
ever saw. He parts his hair IN to-
middle, and wears curls stringing tcSn
his back All the fellows call him Fanny
all except "-snd Chad : cheeks flush
ed and his eyes frightened with tie tri-
umphant vindcation Of his friend. All
except Seth, mother; Seth never calls
him names he always stands up for
Frank. Hetakes Frank in his lap on
TIE sled, Just like baby, 20 keep him
from tumbling of. And SetA'sthe best
skater on the pond; but he often loses
the race, when we boys race because
he's got Frank Finley, Juggling him
along. And Seth always chooses Frank