The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-05-14
Our Young Readers.
THE sToRY OF A SATURDAY.

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square, bordered ON one side by q barn
SO weather-beaten that it looks black,
on another by the clothes-line, and on
the third by q path. The fourth side
was filled up by pile of apple-tree
wood. Upon large limb. gnarled and
twisted, and with dried leaves and the
remains of what had once been pink
tinted apple blossoms, sat General
Scott.
A queer position for the renowned
military individual, did you say? Well.
this General was little ten-year-old
boy named Scott by his grandfather, an
admirer of the original Winfield. The
rest of the family had, by common con-
sent, dubbed him "The General"
/ said he was about ten years old,
didn't i? Yes. Well, imagine boy
of that age, with black eyes, nut-browp
complexion, ruddy cheeks, and with
head closely cropped. after the manner
OF the lads of the day-to say nothing
of State Prison convicts. So YOU have
my hero. His uniform was not much
to speak of. 1t consisted of a blue
checked shirt, pair of bl own trousers,
worn to light snuff-color about the
knees, and hat which had little crown
and less brim. The only things war
like in the surroundings were the little
ak leaning against the chopping. stump,
and the pair of red flannel underdraw-
ers dangling from the clothes-line with
flag-of-defiance air.
AS for the General, at the time of
which speak he was deeply engaged
in the soul-absorbing labor of taking a
chip between his toes and laying it
upon the chopping-block. Several
times he had tried this, but with no sue
cess. At last the grimy toes deposited
the chip upon the block, and the brown
legs crossed themselves complacently.
Their owner then drew from out his
pocket bit of maple sugar. which he
began to MUNICH with great gusto. just
then a voice from the neighboring white
house called out. IS Scohr' The maple
sugar, now reduced to a mass of sticki-
ness, was hastily tucked into one side
of his mouth, and, in voice exceed
ingly liquid, the General replied,
"Ma'am!''
''Have you split any of the wood
yet?" and the questioner, a small,
slight woman, with snowy hair and
gentle, brown eyes, came down the
path and paused by the chopping-block.
So Why are you not working?" contin-
ued the little woman, You've been
out here quarter of an hour, and not
a blow have l heard you strike.''
The Generals black brows contract
ed. II don't carer' he said, angrily.
81 can mever get this hateful pile split
it's no use trying"
''You might have had it done long
ago had you not played with the boys
so much"
"Well. Jack Hazard and Billy Nc
Evoy don't have to split wood-not even
in injured tones.
"The wood is not hard to chop, and
1 think it much better for boy to have
q little employment than to idle away
his time"
"rm sure I go to school, grandmar'
eyes, but surely one hours work on
Saturday will not injure you, and that
is all the work you have to do that
day." said the old lady, kindly. Then,
as the Generals face still looked sullen,
she continued: '.My dear. do you think
that you would be perfectly happy if
you had a Saturday all to yourself
without doing single chore?'
Rather guess I wouldr' emphati-
,ally.
"Then I will give younex Saturday,
upon one ondition-that, as you are to
10 nothing for any one, no one is to do
tor you. Do you agree?''
"Of course. But can really do just
what Iwant, and go where pleasep'
Yes. provided you do nothing abso-
utely rash.''
"Goodyr' And the General turned
! somersault and uttered war-whoop
hat made his grandma's ears ring.
The next saturday dawned bright and
clear. But Scott didn't rise very early.
He lay long time in his little white
bed, making plans for the days enjoy
nent.
Grandma said might do just as I
please, SO I'm a-going to stay in bed as
ong as 1 want to. How jolly, not to
lear Hannah yell out, Scott! get |
lp!'"
After awhile, however, the gnaw-
ngs of hunger began to be felt, and
le arose and dressed himself.
eve most always have mullins, ham
md eggs on Saturday." he said, as he
vent downstairs, smacking his lips in
Entering the dining room.
What was his surprise to find the |
breakfast things cleared away, and the
able covered with its customary Turkey
ed s pread. Going out on the porch, he
ound his grandmother sewing.
"Good-morning''! she said, pleasant
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"Good-mornin'. Where's breakfast,
.randma?''
breakfast? o, we had that long