The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-03-13

A story for the Young Folks.

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"
81 ought to study my Latin" said
Bert, reluctantly, as he remembered the
long, dry lesson.
''Bother the Latin; it's no use, any
way. I'd like to see any body getting
those irregular verbs out of me-" said
Will Moore.
Bert laughed little at the idea of
getting any thing out of Wills brain,
that never had much but mischief in it,
and then he slowly opened the gate,
drew long breath and went out. 1t
was a 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 sun
shine.
"Where are you goingP" asked Bert.
"Oh, Just around town." said Val
carelessly, and at that moment they
came opposite to DIR. 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"
laughed WILL" and Bert laughed, too,
though he felt ashamed of himself, for
every body liked DIR. Parker.
A few blocks further on were some
wooden steps at the edge of the side
walk. Will gave Val nudge, and
with one stout tug the steps were
upset.
"That's too mean," said Bert.
"Suppose some one should step off
there?"
"Pooh!" said Val, 1T is light as
day, and nobody ever does 60 down
there except old Bijah, when he is in a
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 ex-
element of the adventure, and when
Will proposed that they should carry
off the sign from little shop, and
fasten it to the horns of Mrs. McPher-
sons COW, he was ready to lend a hand
himself. Old Whitley, who was peace
fully chewing her cud, was easily coaxed
into an alley with handful of turnips
pulled from her owners garden; and
before she realized that any mischief
was intended, she found herself blum
dering about with board fastened over
her face. The sign read, Dressmak-
ing and Fine Sewing; all kinds of Hair
Work. Ladies' Hair Dressed in the
latest styles"
The boys laughed so much over this
that they were in danger of being found
out. But at last Bert said he must 90
home and that ended the frolic for the
night.
In his own room he tried for 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 morn.
ing, when, with Bert's first waking
thoughts, came consciousness of the
unprepared lesson, and dismal fore.
boding of failure, that brought him to
the breakfast-table in any thing but an
amiable mood His father was moi
there, and Aunt Margaret explained
that he had been called away to see g
patient.
ats that smart little Johnny Col
Inns; he's twisted his ankle dreadfully
worse to managee than broken bone
your father says, and may lay him up
half the winter"
"How did it happenP" asked Bert
absently..
"That's the worst of it," said Aunt
Margaret; "some mischievous boys
that ought to be sent to the Reform
School, upset the steps in front of the
house,"
Bert was wide enough awake now, and
staring at Aunt Margaret with fright.
ened eyes as she went on.
"Bijah went 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 that they were gone till
he pitched down the bank with his foot
twisted under him. He must have
tainted and lain there some time before
he managed to crawl back, and they
didn't send for your father till morning
1t does seem too hard for that poor wom-
an. Johnny was her only dependence,
and such nice boy"
Poor Bert was fairly sick with horror
at the unlooked-for result of the mischief,
for though he had made feeble protest,
he had really sanctioned it by his
presence, and he knew that his father
would say he was as much responsible
as any one. His father! must he
know itp Could he ever hold up bis
head again if such disgrace came up
on him?
"I'll never tell him." thought Bert
sit would not do the least good now,
and it would nearly kill him. I've done
with those boys, though, and with such
frolics as they are up to-"
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