The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-15

swell, I nivverl" she exclaimed. can
so it is. But it wor as like our Pincher
as ivver you see, and our Frankly drord
it."
"Ay, ay, Missis; but don't you let un
wayste his time in drorin';" and he
tempered the severity of the rebuke
with lusty kiss. ''Thers amt no good
to be got out of drorin'. Let's hey ma
tea."
Good or no good, there was no keeping
the little rascal from it. With bit OF
chalk he would draw on the fences or
gates, men, houses, dogs, trees and How
ers, and he would even make sketches in
charcoal on the neatly-kept kitchen floor.
Waste-paper there was none in that
household; every scrap was duly con-
signed to the sack, the contents OF which
were sold in due season. Little Frank,
however, borrowed a large percentage OF
these scraps, conscientiously returning
them with the counterfeit presentment
of the architectural, human animal and
vegetable attractions OF Horksmead and
its neighborheod. Often weuld be steal
out with his pencil and some scrap OF
paper with fair inehage OF black space
upon it, and his primer as drawing
board, to indulge in his favorite pursuit.
On one of these occasions he had selected
as his subject the rectory, quaint old
gabled house, with chnging ivy and
picturesque porch.
The low-growipg shrubs and plants
intercepted his view, and he had almost
given up his design in despair, when it
occurred to him to Chamber the fence,
and scale one Of the trees Of the reetory
grounds. Here, astride on convenient
branch, and backed by the solid bole of
the tree, he had an excellent view, and
soon became absorbed in his work. The
report of q gun somewhat startled him,
but he only set his lips close and went
on with the sketch with redoubled en-
ergy. There was another report, still
nearer at hand, and then third, which
was as nearly as possible simultaneous
with a sharp, stinging sensation in a
feshy part of his anatomy that made
him involuntarily drop his pencil and
book and tumble to the ground with a
shrill scream. Before he had time to
recover himself two young men were
bending over him, one of whom, drop
ping his gun and raising him tenderly,
exclaimed:
"By Cad, Gerald, IT'S little Frank
Farthing. Ihope you are only fright
ened, not hurt, Frank, eh?"
II don't think am much hurt" said
Frank rather ruefully, putting dimp-
led hand to the injured quarter, and not
without sense of shame at having made
SO much noise over triAe, "but it hit
me-"
Clemont Chope was much relieved to
find that no serious harm had been done,
and he could not help laughing at the
mingled expression Of pain, shame and
alarm on the little fellows face.
"By George, Glenn" said his friend,
who had picked upthe boys half-fhished
sketch, and was scrutinizing it care
fully, "the youngsters a genius"
| What is a genius? wondered Frank, as
many wiser folk have wondered before
and since. He has seen picture Of
genius in an odd volume of the "Arab-
| ian Nights" that belonged to a school
fellow. He did not think he was like
that. But in a vague way he was con
scious that his work was being praised
by the gentlefolk, and he flushed with
pride.
Just then the worthy old Rector, who
who had heard the boys cry, and hsd
hastened from his study, came up.
"What now, boys? what now, boys
What have you been doing now?' Thi,
was given with somewhat petulant
emphasis on the last word, for the old
gentleman had more than once during
this brief vacation of his son and hil
sons friend tried hard to console himself
with the thought that "boys would bt
boys" but rather inconsistently adding
"and I wish they wouldn't" "Why
bless my soul, you haven't been taking
Frank Farthing for bird, have your
"No, SIR" said Clem; "but little Franl
has been putting himself in the way Of 1
charge, and fear he Is carrying off some
Of the shot,"
Why, bless my soul, Clem, you ar
not fit to be trusted with gun, upor
my word you're not. Run in and tel
Mrs. Corlass, and fetch DR.. Heslop. W.
must have the boy looked to-"
eff you please, sir" interposed Franl
shyly. at was all my fault, sir, and
hadn't any right to be up in the tree
sir; and I am not hurt, sir--not much
only it startled me-"
DAY ay; ay, sy," said the kindly Ole
to. Are you sure you can walk?'
The boy laughed merrily, and SHOWED
that he could walk, and briskly too, thu
relieving the worthy parsons mind con
siderably.
The doctor was soon in attendance
and found that three shots had beer
lodged under the skin. They were soor
removed, and Frank wondered wha
they were making such fuss about, fol
they would not allow him to 20 ohome