The Worthington advance., 1879-04-24
THAT BOY.

"Husbandl there's somebody out in
the yard saving wood. Who do you
s'pose 'tis2"
Farmer GrAngex turned himself in
] bed, 1isteped ,amelA Aent hhds then, with
the SLEEPY sigh OF one Who realizes tnat
the time of dreaming is over and work
hours are at hand, replied:
"It's Old Warner, likely. He's had
time to get over his 'tentrum:: 1'l see. ~
The farmers toilet was not one that
required hours to perfect, and before Mrs
Granger, had concluded that it was time
for her to "be stirring,,"itke brown trous.
ers and blue frock Of her husband could
have been seen at: the ttlrther end of the
; big kitchen, while! two keen gray eyes
peered through the half opened blind
), >, No ged nQsed, ,b,e4gaEdsfeckd old man
met Ills gaze, but pale checked, bare
footed boy whose low histle kept time as
he worked, while tho'heap of sticks at his
feet gave evidence that his saw had made
quick pace since sunrise. -
"What are you about, boy?' was the
: farmers salutation, as heneafed the wood
pile. ~: i ',!1 -
"Ithought, maybe. you'd give me some
breakfast ii sawed, awhile, answered
the lad, looking UP as il TO note how his
proposition would be received.
''Breakfast! Of course! We never
turn folks away hungry: Whered you
come from2"
"Over east" was the indefinite reply
"Whered you sleep las nightS"
ii, :'"Under. the b,isheS l0rn The road a
piece" the boy answered.
"Well, you're great onel shoul dn t
wonder, now, if you'd run away2"-half-
in*crrogated the farmer, with pleasant
twinkle in his eye: '':Do sou mind tell
ing me your nameS"
''Jap, sir"
:';s; :Fs.;: es!1' zs.. ID l.; : lin, ,s,,
names Jasper"
.Who are they your father and moth
err"
II haven't any, sir
"Brothcrs and sisters2"
"Not one,n7 wes he cVet reply.:s
The farmer looked sharply ut the boy
from -ander his h&0ah- bfi iAiniod liat,as the
saw piled to and fro; and, doubtless, he
would, have, pushed his inquiries still
further had not The impatient lowing 81
Whitley and Doll reminded him that i,
was milking time. .
"Well, you don't look over and above
st,ongish: YOU'D better let that wood
alone till you got s01ge 'vctQa's down.
nd rather keep 6n,,' was the only an
swer; and the work proceeded. wit
no further interruption till Ethel, the
three year.old pet of the family, came
<Eo -
to announce in her baby fashion thai
"b'e'k'ast" was ready.
"Come right in, come right IN. You've
earned good meal of victuals;" ano
Farmer Granger led the way, with hi
little girl perched upon his shoulder.
The lad silently took the place assign.
ed him at one end of the square table ,op.
posltc Ethel and her father, while Mrs
Granger and happy faced old lady oc.
cupied seats on either side.
The first supply Of broiled ham and
baked potatoes had disappeared from the
boy plate, and the second installment
was vanishing bit by bit, when Mrs
: o1eostr sudda4ly discsegyeii!!d!ii tnat he he'd
mo, maam; L don't care for it-this
breads good enough without any," was
the reply when the plate was passed.
Mrs. Granger received this compli
mcnt with pleased smile, a1d an extra
large doughnut immediately found itf
way to accompany the BUTTERFLIES bread
I'D like to work awhile longer to pay
for that breakfast" remarked the boy a
he followed the farmer through the wood
house. II haven't tasted anything sc
good in long time" and the saw wa
taken up without waiting for permission
"Well,. if you're mind to cut and pile
upa spell, you can stay and get you
dinner. We always mean to have gooG
victuals and plenty of 'em here"
SNOW, where are you bound for2'
questioned the farmer, as the lad .picket
up his bundle after dinner and seemed
ready to take his departure. ~'
II don't know, sir" he replied, diggins
biz bare toes, into the, dirt II suppose
'1'n'stopeaBy where can work."
"What's the matter with this place2'
with little twinkle of tie gray eyes
"That woods to cut, and it'll take thre,
or four days, at the least calculation III
agree to give you enough to eat and ,
Jol1I VIII tqs1n H0e haspJ
The boys eyes flashed; but he set hi
lips tirmlyftogethei,' and made no answe
for q minute. Then he said: e. i
~, yo4.al 4 i:s is; E3sI '|55I111Ff l'''
Solomon Granger, you're crazyp ex
claimed the nervous little woman, whe,
her husband related the foregoing con
versation. 1.-THE idea of having that bo::
in the, house all night shan't sleep
single wink. Likely as not he'll kill u
all before morning. and make off will
: everything there is here."' .,a;
"Ohl no;1 I guess he's all right" wa
the farmers reioinder; while sweet voic
came from over the Knitting.
<"I never see a boy with such a fac
that had. anything i'm him but good
honest blood. Depend omit, Lowly, ther
Amt nothip''t wrong about that boy" 80
=, Two days passed. The lad kept taith
fully at his work, saying little and Ire
veaIing nothing In regard to himself. Th
farmers wife, meanwhile, worried an
fsetted, turned dozen KEYS at NIGHT. an
Mus srfprfsad seaikk hahisk ! +dawned i
find everything untouched. 1f
net PIG yOu kOlnS 20 90 ABOUT gOln
to church," she asked, anxiously, on Sun
''iday morning. "Thsre's that boy 7" -
-; "There's room enough in the e|wagon,
I responded her husband, serenely: :"
y: "IrknowA- but atsin'tya' bit likefv he'l
want. to go. Ard ,don't dste to lesy
.'' him home. There1 no telling what hel
a. do. -, ".&'.2 21i1 1,':':l" 7EI7.'f'W
,. "1wouldnt' 'vo'rnyy; aBodt thst boy; b
Amt going to run of with the house. :" Il {
~ The profsred ..eeat however, was dc
clined, 1.-The bayzeayi1g: ..i!it h-5s 81
my clothes amt fit. I'd 1sther ~
round here" -.
So Mrs. Granger, with numberless mil
givings, clambered into the high wagon
tucking little Ethel in beside her, and o1