Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-02-21
WHAT SIX BOYS DID.
BY C. A. WICK.

"Listen to me a minute, boys" ex-
claimed Freddie Benton, suddenly,
"I've an idea"
"Hearl hear" shouted Merle Howard,
dropping his ball club; ''Fred's going to
make a speech"
Bats and balls were at discount. A
general rush was made, and circle
formed around Fred, and in spite of his
expostulations, he was lifted bodily to
the top of huge stump. Here he
Strengthened up with the gravity of a
judge, while boy in front held his
hat.
II see around me five youthful scions
of the masculine gender under the tut
ton of Miss Bates" Here Fred waved
his hand towards the little school house
close by. "And as you comprise all
the sizeable scions under the tuition of
the said Miss Bates, have a PROPOSE
ton to lay before you, which [ hope
will meet with your approval. None of
us go home TO dinner" continued Fred,
coming down to himself, "and with the
recesses we have considerable play
time. Now there is Mr.. Hill, poor
old man, as you all know, who lives
close by, and has plenty of land, and
propose that we rent an acre of him,
and mix little work with our play"
He went on to explain his plans, which
will appear hereafter. 1t was listened
to attentively and approved by all, and
the speaker was cheered till everything
rang. But another kind of ring, that
of the one o'clock bell, ended the con-
ference speedily.
Notwithstanding every boys head
was full of profound cogitations on the
plan before them, their lessons were as
perfect as ever, and afternoon recess
found them marching up to Mr.. Hills
cottage. lie lived close to the school
house, and the most of his land lay idle.
The boys found him in the garden busy
among his onion beds. lie was near,y,
if not quite, sixty-live years of age, and
having the chronic rheumatism so as to
need crutch, he found it hard work
to provide for his wife and little grand
daughter. The boys had done him
little chores at odd times for which he
was very thankful, and he brushed back
his gray hair and welcomed them kind
ly as they came up to him. Freddie
Benton acted as spokesman.
1--WE would like to rent an acre Of
your land, Mr.. Hill, !" said Fred, ''to be
planted with whatever crop we shall de-
termine upon, the rent to be paid when
the crop is harvested. There a-o six of
US, and we intend to take the time from
our play hours for the work"
"Bless my souli" exclaimed Mr.. Hill,
regarding them with beaming smile;
''gcing to turn young agriculIurists, eh?
Well, well, well! 1t fairly does my old
rheumatism good TO see you get up such
a llan, boys. Yes, yes, I'll rent you the
land, and glad Of the chance, for you
see there is more than can work, and
l don't like to see it lying idle, growing
up to weeds"
The old gentleman gave stool of
parsley mild spurn with his foot,
and Immediately leaned on his hoe to
rub the twinge that had come in his
leg.
The bargain was made without delay
and the boys focked back to the school
house. They had not told Mr.. Hill all
their plans; they preferred waiting till
their crop should be harvested. 1t was
now about the first of May. The boys
held solemn conclave before the week
was out, and decided to plant their acre
to potatoes. The next Saturday they
repaired in body to a neighboring
farmer and worked hard at his wood
pile ali day, while he, in turn. plowed
and narrowed their ground. They de-
termined that the balance of the work
should be accomplished during play
hours at school. They succeeded In
purchasing seed of farmer living a
quarter of a mile from the school house,
working moons in payment, and then
one file MOI aing, six shining hoes were
brought to school and stood up in the
corner, and considering that it was the
first time the hoes had ever attended
school, they behaved in a very com
mendable manner indeed.
Moons and recesses after that found
the boys busy. The ground was marked
and the rows planted as straight a
lines. Mr.. Hill had hobbled out t
where they were at work two or thre
times, and had commended them YER
highly ON their systematic manner o
performing the work. Andso the tim
ran along till the first of September
There had been vacation in August
but school days were resumed agail
now. The boys had been as good