The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-07-04

obedient they could go to the street |
parade, and they promised unlimited
wisdom and discretion, and withdrew to
the road, where they sat down in row,
and talked of thu lions and elephants
till they hardly dared 60 home.
The next morning Davie was up
bright and early. AS soon as breakfast
was over, his father said: Nov, if l am
to give you a pleasure, you must do
something for me in return. You can
take basket and pick up the chips in
she wood yard, and when that is done
we will start"
Cant do it when come back?"
"No, you can do it now, or you
needn't CO."
Davie resigned himself philosophi-
cally, and went out to work with the
biggest basket he could find and
shovel. But the chip business became
WEAKNESS to the flesh and vexation
of spirit before it was finished. Atlast,
however, he ran in to get ready, while
the horse was being harnessed. We
have already mentioned that Davies
father was deacon. He was q believer
in the ''here little and there a little"
system, and, as the boys climbed into
the buggy, he saw an opportunity too
precious to be neglected, to Impress
them with sense" of-well, their total
depravity as much as anything. Ac-
cordingly they were profoundly admcn-
ished and counseled during the drive
to the city, regarding "the evils OF that
form of dissipation known as circus
going"
at has cerrupting influence on the
manners" said the deacon, as loftily as
if addressing a convention of Cohgre-
gational churches. sand it debases the
morals to an unlimited degree. It Gre
ates taste for low and sordid amuse-
ments, which, once formed, can never
be wholly eradicated. Intend to hitch
the horse at the upper end of the town,
where he cannot be frightened, and SO
injure himself, by the noise and hustle
of the parade. An evil tendency cnce
implanted in the mind is like noxious
weed. It will grow and spread and
eventually crowd out all the good.
This street parade will no doubt draw
many who should be better employed,
and will cause them to long for the in
tenser excitement of the circus itself,
thereby causing them to waste money
as well as time. I hope that none of
you boys will ever be tempted to waste
your time, energies, and money in that
way"
This last was said so pointedly that
the boys felt that an answer was neces-
sary lest he should turn around and
take them all home again. Rabbity
spoke up loudly:
Yes sirl"
ed like to JUS find money enough
to git into the big tent" said Ted; at
which Johnny shook him and whis-
pered:
"You dry up your CAB. He's tellin'
us not to-"
ct amt dom to dry up my CAB. Dry
up y'own. He amt dot nothin' to say
bout it, any way"
"Oh shut upl Be still" whispered
Johnny, in terror. He'll take us home
if you don't look out. You keep still. y
Dess I've dot s much yite to say
suthin' s you n Dave has to be talk
in to yerselves all the time," muttered
Ted, half crying.
Well, we won't. Well keep still,
won't we Dave?" said Johnny, willing
to do anything to keep Ted's contrary
little tongue quiet.
The sermon was resumed again, and
Dave and Johnny, who sat on the back
seat with Ted between them, nudged
each other occasionally, and tried to
smother their giggling at the sight of
Rabbity, who sat on the front seat be-
side the deacon, and listened attentively,
apparently drinking in every word
which so encouraged the speaker that
his discourse soon began to sound like
some of the columns of "words of four
syllables" in Webster's old spelling
book.
But the drive was not .ong, ahd, once
out of the buggy, the boys gave their
whole attention to the sightseeing, and
the admonitions they had received had
the fate of the seeds which once fell by
the wayside. The deacon had his hands
full when the panoramic pageant APP
peared. The three older boys forgot
all their promises, and wormed their
way through the crowd that made the
street almost impossible to the curb
stone, where they stood "rapt in aston
ishment," as the old anthem has it. Ted
could not follow, his hand being firmly
held by the deacon, who vainly tried to
attract the attention of the boys, of
whom he now and then caught a
glimpse.
I can't see it," shrieked Ted, Jump
ing with all his might, as he heard the
music.
The deacon held him up to stop his
noise, but without success, for the
shrieking was changed to shouts of de-
light.
eff ever 1 get these boys home
said the deacon, vengefully.
But there seemed to be a possibility
that he would not get them home, for,
when the last chariot passed, the boys
started with the crowd, and the staid
deacon had to trot along, too, whether
he would or not, with Ted in his arms.
The day was very warm, and Ted was
heavy, and the deacon had not taken off
his fannels, and he felt like ignoring
his position, dropping his oratory, and
indulging in sulphuric oath. To tell
the truth he did saw "Godfrey" with