The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10
Two sides to a FroIic.


Emily Huntington Miller. in Church and Home
Bert was on one side of the fence and the
boys on the other His hand was on the gate,
but he had not quite made up his mind to
open it.
"Oh, come on" said Val Morton. What
Is the use of moping in the house such
splendid night as this? Come on and have
some fun"
II ought to study my Latin" said Bert,
Reluctantly, as he remembered the long,
dry lesson.
s'Bother the Latin; it's no use, any way.
I'd like to see anybody getting those irregu
bar verbs out of me" said VIII Moore.
Bert laughed little at the idea of getting
anything out of Wills brain, that never had
much but mischief in it, and then he slowly
opened the gate, drew a long breath and
went out. 1t was glorious night, with just
enough frost in the air to make it cool and
crisp, while the white moonlight almost re-
vealed the colors of the naples that had
been flaming all day in the hot sunshine.
"Wfere are you going?" asked Bert.
ooh, just around town." said Val, care
lessly, and at that.monent they came oppo-
site Dr. Parker's gate, which stood little
way open. In an instant Val lifted it off
the hinges and laid it in the gutter.
Teach him to keep his gate shut, laugh
Ell VIII, and Bert laughed, too, though he
felt ashamed Of himself, for everybody liked
DR.. Parker.
a few blocks further on were some wooden
steps at the edge of the sidewalk. VIII gave
Val nudge, and with one stout tug the steps
were upset.
That's too mean," said Bert. Suppose
some one should should step off there?'
~PoohI' said Val, sit is light as day, and
nobody ever goes down there except old
Bjah, when he is in hurry for his grog.
Serve him right if he pitched over"
Bert knew he was in bad company, but he
was beginning to enjoy the excitement of
the adventure, and when Will proposed
that they should carry the sign from "a little
shop, and fasten it to the horns of Mrs. Nc
Pherson's COW he was ready to lend hand
himself. Old Whitley, who was peacefully
chewing her cud, was easily cOaxed into
an alley with a handful of turnips
pulled from he owners garden; and before
she realized that any mischief was intended,
she found herself laundering about with a
board fastened over her face. The sign
read, "Dressmaking and Fine Sewing; all
kinds of Hair Work. Ladies Hair Dressed
in the latest style.
The boys laughed so much over this that
they were in danger of being found out.
But at last Bert said he must go home, and
that ended the frolic for the night.
In his own room he tried for "A little while
to fix his mind upon his lesson, but soon found
himself laughing at the thought of the figure
the COW would cut, and wondering where
they would find her in the morning; so he
tossed the book aside, and went to bed. This
was one side.
The other side began the next morning,
when, with Bert's first waking thoughts,
came consciousness Of theunprepared les
son, and dismal foreboding of failure, that
brought him to the breakfast-table in any
thing but an amiable mood. His father was
not there, and Aunt Margaret explained
that he had been called away to see a pa
tient.
sits that smart little Johnny Collins; he's
twisted his ankle dreadfully; worse to man.
age than broken bone, your father says,
and may lay him up half the winter"
"How did it happen?" asked Bert, alb
sently.
That's the worst of il" said Aunt Mar
gsret; "some mischievOus boys that ought to
be sent to the Reform School, upset the steps
in front of the house"
Bert was wide enough wake now, and star
ing at Aunt Margaret with frightened eyes
as she went on.
"Bijah was off on one of his drinking
sprees, and his wife was so anxious for fear
he'd lain down somewhere on the track that
she sent Johnny out to look him up. He
ran out of the gate, boy fashion, and made a
rush for the steps, never noticing they were
gone till he pitched down the bank with his
foot twisted under him. He must have tainted
and lain there for some time before he man
aged to crawl back, and they didn't send for
your father till morning. 1t does seem too
hard for that poor woman. Johnny was her
only dependence, and such nice boy"
Poor Bert was fairly sick with horror at
the unlooked.fo result of the mischief, for
really sanctioned it D. This presence, and he
knew that his father would say he was as
much responsible as any one3 His fatheri
must he know it7 Could he ever hold up
his head again if such a disgrace came upon
him7"
"Ill never tell him." thought Bert; at