The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-25

no! you mustn't 90 near those rocks
it's the most dangerous place around
here. Remember"
Grandmother didn't hear any more,
for she was going down the road Just as
fast as she could, to get home in time.
She t0aS there when Jack came along
with his biz. old. fish-smelliDg basket.
Grandmother always make him set it
as far off from the house as he could. in
the tall grass, while he stopped for
goodies cause it smelt so bad And
she petted him up | tell you she can
pet fellow up real nice. ! know,
I cause I've tried it-and told him how
sorry she was he couldn't have fun
along with the rest. Sc Jack went of,
feeling a little bit better, with his old
basket slung on his back.
About four o'clock, L know twas,
cause grandmother told me so hun
dred times, the big clock had just done
/ striking, when, all of q sudden, she
heard the greatest noise and racket
over at the school. Such screaming
and commotion. she said she knew at
once something must be the matter; and
she flung up the window, and was just
putting her head out, when Jim Fetch
err, great big fellOw-one of the big
gest there-who could run like a deer,
was streaking it off cross lots to grand
mothers house, lively. Mercy says
grandmother. That whatshe says she
said But don't believe she stopped
\ to say anything. But, anyway, she
pulled Jim Fletcher in, who was pant
ing dreadfully, and made him tell what
he wanted
"Oh, do come. Mrs. Dole" he
| begged. He wants you so bad. Herb
was dreadful heavy pull. and
"Is Herbie hurtP,' asked grandmoth-
er, stepping back bit.
.'Hurt?' screamed Jim as loud as he
could for his painting. :" No, catch HIM!
Don't we fellows wish he VaSi But
butts Jack" and he turned abrupt
ly away. .s-.. tf f.l
4" BoyF' grandmother says she
pinched him bad Just then, and guess
maybe she did. for he said "Owr Just
as did when Jane used to pinch to
make me let 90 of the raisins. That was
years ago. though, when l was little.
'Do YOU just tell me quick says
grandmother, still keeping hold of his
arm, though letting up little on the
pinch, whats happened-in few
words nOw-and then shall know what
I'm wanted for" s. 49, vt "a
"Why, Herb did go for gulls' eggs
said Jim, gazing up into grandmother
eyes. I'VE all did; and he said we'd.
put some into Jacks basket, and make
believe he'd got 'em, SOS to get him a
beating We heard him come whistliny
down the road. He whistles to the
birds. you know" .t.
go on" said grandmother, "and
be quick ~.
We'll. the first thing we knew, Herb
was up on the topmOst rock; and before
any of us could turn round or anything,
we heard splash, and there he was
foundering in the watef'--
Grandmother frightened her grasp, so
he had to 90 on. And-and--I guess
Jack heard us scream, for he dashed
right past. and''-
'.He didn't jump inP' said grand
mother, hoarsely.n
" Yes he did-r' said Jim, his eyes
flashing. I'VE tried to hold him, for
| twas black and deep. but 'twarn't no
use, and'-
But grandmother never heard the
rest, for she was off just like the wind,
speeding over to the big school They
had Jack on a sofa there. amongst
them, and they were all .crowding
round, and fussing over him; and the
doctor was there, and everything was
lust as dreadful as could be. Jack
opened his eyes and smiled at grand
mother sis Herbie all right?' he tried
to say.
''0h, my boy-my boyr' said grand
mother, hugging him close; and Mrs.
Higginson Just tumbled down in heap
on the foot of the lounge. GrandmOth-
or didn't feel like hating her then; and
all the bows didn't look ut each other,
not once. And Herbie, who'd been
standing in his dripping clothes. peep
ing in the door, Just skulked out, and
nobody cared where he went.
And the doctor sewed up Jacks head,
where he'd struck on the rock, when
the boys had pulled Herbie and him in,
Just as the cruel old water was going to
swallow them both. And then he said
he must be kept very quiet, or he
wouldn't get well.
Now" said grandmother, getting
up where. she'd been holding Jacks
a blessed word shall | hear against it,
from any one-he's going to my house,
and I'll bring him back to life and
strength, please God"
1.-The very thing. Mrs. Dole" said
the doctor So the master couldn't say
word; only he mumbled something
or other that nobody heard. And then
the four biggest boys-Jim was one of
them-took up Jack. They couldn't
LOOK at him very well. for something
was the matter with their eyes. And
they went, OH so softly, until he was
laid in grandmother own bed.
l tell you, then he had good time,
if he did have a cut head. And all the
boys used to beg nice things of Mrs.
Higginson, and come over to, grand
mothers back door; only they didn't
dare to come in. And Herbie came
aud begged Jacks pardon for all the
ugly things he'd done. He, didn't
want to, only Mrs. Higginson made
him.
And then. Jack didn't go back to that
school; no. not once again. Grand
mother sent him-I thought told YOU
his folks were all dead; and Lie didn't
have much money, | guess not more n,
hundred, or NAV be seventy-five,
dollars-so grandmother sent him to a
splendid school far away. laAna he grew
up into big, smart man. Why, he's .
professor now, and lives in New York,
he does. And he comes TO see grand
mother. end he brings me candy. andE
once he brought me a gun, and like
l. L