Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-05-05

lglrls looked mystined, hut was ~
fraid then no tumbled iaio something.
and couldn't help getting rod. 70 save
my life. That's tho vossl OF ny
plagued skIn--it's % thin tho blood
shows right throughgk.
There was more Of the boys houses
In our avenue, and pretty soon We oil
went to bed, Islept In tho little room
on tho second floor of the hall II
was an easy thingte climb out OF the
window, and down by the Virginia
creeper to the front garden, ! went
around to our place Of meeting, and
there they all were, The wind had
sprung up pretty brisk, and there was
q thin coating Of loo over tho mud
but that was all the better for tho
gates wo wanted 10 bury, We owed
a grudge to old Jack VANCOUVER and
We made up our minds he'd have a
nice time getting his gate back Tho
miserable old caboode was rusty, and
nearly tore our nails of, but We got II
loose at last, and hauled II OF to q
marshy lot, where We sunk II IN the
mud, Then We changed the
doctors gate to the jadge'a aad to a.
vert suspicion we took our own gates
Off with the rest. We were getting
pretty well tired out and ready for
home, and had laid my gate up against
a neighboring fence, when who should
DO standing right there 10 tho shadow
OF the wall but Popl We were all 80
thunder struck that wo didn't move,
and 10 my surprise Pop began to laugh
and bcckon to tho boys 10 come closer.
They were not 10 DO caught by that
bait, and stood of pretty considerably
when Pop whispered over to US, In
quite jolly tone OF voice "Dont DO
afraid, boys. like to see You enjoy
yourselves. | was aboy once myself
Bless your hearts ! like fun yet as
we'll as anybody.
Then he laughed ready TO split,
bent himself double, and we-all began
to feel easy and laugh too. Tom
Jones said he wished his father was
like mine, and Pop began to encour.
age us to do more. We were 80
spurred on by him'that we hardly left
a gate in the place where 1t belonged,
Pop going along with US, acting as o
kind of scout, he said, and seeing that
nobody was near to disturb US. Once
Or twice he gave a signal OF alarm,
and we all crouched down as still %
mice, Pop stiller than any OF US. I
never was so dumbfounded in my lite,
for I'd never seen Pop very jolly that
way before. The boys we're delighted
with him; they oil agreed to make
him president ofour club, and Pop
said he'd take the position when he
got back from the Legislature.
Well, we'd come to the conclusion
the place was completely done. and
Jim Clancy proposed we should 60
home. Jim had torn his hands rather
badly on Uncle Jakes gate, and did
MT feel very good, when suddenly
Pop said.
eyes, boys, of course we'll go home
pretty soon, when we're through, you
know; but we must put all the gates
back IN their places again first.
We alllooked at'each other aghaat for
a minute. swell, I guess MOI )" "Not
much!" "Hardly!' and all sorts OF
derisive refusals went round.
Pop stood among US, whirling his
cane, smiling all the time, and said
"Oh, yes you will, boys, when you
think Of it n minute. You've had
your fun. you know but it won't do
to go too far. I'm justice OF the
peace, you see, and this innocent little
racket comes under the head OF NAL
icious mischief You could all be
sent to Jail; and no matter how badly
I'd feel, I'd have 10 act under the law.
There's where it is, you see; people
are so hard on boys they won't let
them enjoy themselves. It's too bad
but never mind, we've had our fun
anyway Now let's get to work in
earnest. Here we'll begin with this
gate. Lift it up there, Jim hold on
the other side, Bobby, my boy. Now
we have tall together" And as
true as you live, We actually found
ourselves walking along with the gate
between us. From that gate we went
to another End another. / don't
know how it was, but we just plodded
along, and did what Pop said. He
was laughing, and joking, and flourish
ing his cane but, oh how tired we