Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-11-14

place. The horse now began a frantic
gallop round the yard, and Ed, terrified
at this unexpected performance threw up
his arms to stop him. a~s
At this the horse swerved aside and
sprung at some high palings, caught his
hoofs in them, and crashed over on the
other side.
Fortunately for Lesley he fell clear of
the animal, Ind though the blow stunned
him for moment. he quickly sat up,
feeling very faint and in much pain. But
even dizzy as he was, it seemed strange
to him, that Ed. and Moore, after brief
glance at him, devoted themselves to get
ting up the pony, seeming hardly to care
whether he was hurt or not.
The pony was rubbed and commiser-
ated, and there was an animated discuss
ion as to who should be employed to at
tend HIM. The only word Ed. bestowed
on Lesley were,-
"What on earth did you drop the rein
and hold on to the pony's neck fora
You've given him scare he'll never get
over. You've come near killing the
horse, and I'm not especially obliged to
you for it,
Lesley was indignant. he struggled
to his feet and cried out as he imped
off,
sit doesn't matter whether I've been
killed or not, suppose. o no! I think
know now what your pretended friend
ship is worth. / was fool to come
here"
He realized this a thousand times over
before he reached the school house. The
scholars were in their seats, ana he was
obi ged to conceal all expression of pain
when every bone in his body was aching.
He felt bruised from the crown of his
head to the soles of his feet. With pale
face he went haltingily through his les
sons, knowing it would never do to ex-
cuse himself from recitation on the
plea of sickness, for then inquiries would
be made as to the cause Of it.
Fred. Moore had sneaked demurely in,
and every time he glanced towards Les
ley's desk he seemed struggling to re.
press burst of laughter. Lesley knew
we'll what it meant, and remembered how
often he had himself enjoyed Moore's
ludicrors pictures of the misfortunes of
some of his companions. A talent for
ridicule was the only one that young gen.
remain possessed and he did not allow it
to rust.
When recess came, and the boys troop
ed into the playground, Lesley remain
ed at his desk. he said he had head
ache, which was certainly true. His
head was very painful, but the dull, heavy
weight at his heart was worse.
AS he sat there he heard the boys talk
ing and laughing outside, and knew what
they were laughing at. In fact, part of
Frek Moore's conversation reached him,
for the window was open.
sit was rich, boys" said Fred's loud
voice. "You can coax him to anything.
No catching me in that snap. The min
ute saw that hog-eyed brute, said to
myself, "A softer head than mine has got
to back you, my fine fellow But, bless
you, the soft head was just there! We
put Les. on the chestnut to show off his
PAGES.
'Ha, ha! l reckon he went more PAGES
in few minutes than he ever dreamed Of ;!
He just hung to the rony's back like a
Dag of wool. You should have seen his
face; it was as white as sheet. He just
choked the horse he held him so tight,
and there he was humping up and down.
Well, the pony took the palings, and we
saw Lesley's heels fly into the air, and
that was the last till he landed head-fore-
most. 1t was better than any play ever
! saw. He knows something about horse
now"
Laughter followed, and Lesley half
rose, with the intention of inficting sum.
| mary chastisement upon the hooking
sneaker; but his aching head and limbs
forebada the attempt. In fact, before
school was out he was compelled to ask
permission to return home.
OF course he said nothing to his father
about the cause of his headache, but
quietly went to bed, and bore the pain
of his bruises as best he could.
He was rather pale the next day, and
when his father laughingly sale, -
swell, Lesley, can you make the rule
of pleasing work both ways,-satisfy
your friends and fulfill your duties too9''
Lesley answered rather savagely, "It
isn't worth while to please friends, sir.
don't believe there is such thing as a
true friend"
"Certainly one is never gained by a
sacrifice of right, my son. Distrust all
such.'
Now one would naturally suppose that
this lesson of the pony would not be for
gotten by Lesley. am sorry to say that
he thrashed Fred Moore at the earliest
opportunity, and then held himself aloot
from his companions. lie found no diff
ficulty, either, in uttering the obnoxious
word mo- so long as his relations with the
boys continued 80 cool; but natural de-
feet, or weakness, cannot be overcome
by one Lesson, however severe. He soon
fell back in the old way.
There was to be balloon ascension
near the town and the whole country was
in ferment. To add to the excitement,
James Curral,, one of Mr.. Turner'S school
boys. was to accompany Prof. Mayder (as
he called h:mselD in the ascent.
Curran had no father to control him
and his mother had unavailingly tried tc
dissuade him from the perilous uniertak.
ing. He was, however, vain weak fel.
low, with thirst for notoriery, and fool
ishly thought he would be hero if he
showed pluck enough for balloon ascen.
sion. But after while Curran got ner
vous and distracted, and was unwilling
to talk on the subject. The night before
the day appointed for the ascent, he put
his arms through Lesley's, and said -
"Come, Lesley, let's walk down to the
pond. I've got something I want to say
to you"
But when they had reached the pond, b.
did not seem to find it easy to speak. A
last, with an effort, he said
"1'm going to tell you something, Du
promise me you won't divulge it. l trus
you because I know you'll keep you
word,- and believe you'll help me
You're the only 10y in the world 1 would
ask such favor of. Will you promised
Lesley promised. ........-...
"You know I have agreed to 60 up il
; that balloon. Iwish the old thing woult
burst before I 60, though! Not that In
really afraid, you know,-but then,
can't help feeling little queer"
"Give it up" said LESLEY. Fathe
says it's foolish risk to run, just TO
nothing. Olly q love for science woult
justify any one in doing it" -