The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-05


you and Ethan viii be circumspect, and
enjoy the day.
Ethan kicked the pebbles in the path,
and laughed low laugh that Ty inter-
preted as self-gratulation that for once
he was ahead. Ty did not feel COM
Portable. Now, he would much prefer
the one shilling, and did wish he had
not deceived. But it is so much easier
10 find a way into sin than to find a way
out, that Ty and Ethan started for the
training without undoing the wrong.
! When near the village, it seemed to Ty
I the drum did not have its usual musical
beat. but instead uttered "Sneak,
sneak, sneak. sneak, sneak, coverrrrr-
uverrup-rrrupP, rrupp, rrup," and
piles of hemlOck bark confronted him
at every corner, aud hemlOck dust was
strewn upon the streets to lay the sand.
Ethan stood by until the last of the
two shillings was exchanged for cider,
gingerbread and stiek-candy, then he
was off 10 have ''some fun" What
the fun" was, Ty did not take the
trouble to inquire. and he cared less.
He sat down under an old elm which
seemed to'reproach him with its gener-
Gus shade. For years and years it had
gone on spreading out its thick foliage
on the village green without a muir
muir, standing wind and storm, reach
ing down its long, slender branches
caresSingly without discomfort. These
were some OF the thoughts in Tvs
mind, in spite. of the marching and
concentrating, the calls of the drill,
from important officers, to shoulder
arms! ground arms! left, right, march,
haltr' and the glitter of bayonets and
buttons. After the silent reproof of the
old elm came the question, what kind
of soldier would | make?" and the
drum answered vigorously:
"Sneak, sneak, sneak, sneak, sneak,
sneak - coverrrrrruverrupp, rrupp,
rrup."
Ty jumped to his feet; he could not
stand the drill his conscience was put
ting him through. "rll 90 home and
do my work right, and see if there'l be-
any peace" he resolved.
"Why, what is it, my boyP" cried
Captain Russell, coming up unobserved
behind Ty, and startling him half out
of his boots. "You look as serious as
though real battle were going on, and
Having good time? Want another
shilling?'
Ty shook his head.
"Wen, that beats me- said Captain
Russell, turning to answer u call. How
nice he looked, blue coat, brass buttons,
white vest and pants, and the wonder
full nodding plume on his hat.
"No," Ty thought, 81 am not fit to.
be a soldier. L should get wounded in
the back"
Yet he had thought it would be a
grand time when he could carry all the
quipment-musket, bayonet, KNAPP
sack, canteen, cartridge-box, printing
wire, brush and two spare llints. He
turned his back to the training and
walked quickly toward home. He felt
better the moment he started, though
every chattering bird Knocked him,
while saucy bObOlink followed him
halfway, singing, WillyOJdoitagain,
Willyoudoitagain, DoitdotdOitagainP"
Ty wondered how the brook could sing
so Dlerrily, when it had to thump aud
dash against stones all day. Then as
he walked closer to the bank he saw it
was not all stones there were MOSES
and ferns and flowers that dipped down
and let the brook run against them it
was not so bad, after all, he thought,
and cast about to see if there were any
flowers in his path, and foremost for
that day was the bright tWo-shilling
piece, the offer of another and his
fathers kind words; there was his
good home with plenty to eat and wear,
and sometimes, if not often, he had
nothing to do but play. He was near
ing home in this subdued, grateful
mood, very different from the morning.
He jumped the low stone wall of the
pasture and Old Stokey gave neigh of
welcome.
GOOD old fellow" said Ty, starting
toward the horse, when his foot caught
in clematis vine that clambered the
wall and threw him down, ut the same
time dislodging a birds nest of tiny
birdlings.
"PoOr little things" said Ty, pick
ing them up, and, propping the nest
firmly, he put them tenderly back. He
could pity now those not 50 well off as
he. Tying Old Stokey to the fence, he
ran in to change his clothes. His busy
mother was spinning at large wheel.
"How now, Tyrus, what has brought
you home so early?" she asked.
''Oh! had some work to do" Ty
replied, bounding up the stairs. His
little chamber under the rafters never
looked so pleasant to him.
al do say father is too severe on the
boy. Now what possessed him to send
Ty home before he was ready to come
himself is what | want to know" Mrs.
Russell still held the long roll of wool
between her thumb and finger when Ty
again.
''Did father send you home?" she
asked.
1" No ma am" and Ty was gone
The mother was disturbed, and stood
Not often in her busy life
did she take time for this important Oc-
cupation. She finally hung the white
roll on the spindle, and went out to.
find her boy. Ty was scraping off the
top of the ground bark under the mill.
She did not understand, and her look
was tired and anxious.
. don't do it to save licking,
mother. I'd rather have dozen than
go through what have today"
Still Mrs. Russell was silent, but some-
thing in her face made Ty tell her
the whole story at once.
g It's the first time ever tried to de-
ceive, and l think it viii be the last"
he concluded.
Old StOkey was going around and
around, when Captain Russell came
home. The old mill creaked and
groaned, and he was turning toward.
the tannery when his wife called:
Father"
whats the matter with the little.