Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-21
STORY OF A SATURDAY

Inc place Wnere we flrSt met our hero
is gaass- plat about twenty feet square,
bordered on one side by barn SO wealth
er beaten that it looks black, on another
by the clothes-line, and on the third by
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
been plnk-tinted apple blossoms, sat
General Scott.
A queer position for that renowned
military individual, did you say? Well,
this General was little 10-year- old boy
named Scott by his grandfather, an adj
mirer of the original Winfield. The rest
of the family had, by common consent,
dubbed him "The General
1 said he was about 10 years old, didn't
I? Yes. Well, imagine a boy of that
age, with black eyes, nut-brown COM
plexion, ruddy cheeks, and white 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 blue checked shirt, a
pair of brown trousers worn to light
snuff color about the knees, and hat
which had little crown and less brim.
The only things warlike in the surround
ings were the little ak leaning against
the chopping-stump. and the pair OF red
flannel under drawers dangling from the
clothes-line with g-of-defance ali.
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 success. 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 voice
from the neighb bring white house called
out "Scot!' The maple sugar, now re-
duced to mass of sickness, was hastily
tucked into one side of his mouth, and in
a voice exceedingly liquid, the General
replied, ''Ma 'am,''
"Have you split any of the wood yet?'
and the questioner, "a small, slight wo-
man, with snowy hair and gentle brown
eyes, came down the path and paused by
the chopplng block. "Why are you not
working?" continued the little woman.
"You have been out rere a quarter of an
hour, and not blow have I heard you
strike"
The Generals black brows contracted.
81 don't care" he said angrily, ''it's no
use trying; I can never get this hateful
pile split.''
You might have had it done long ago,
had you not played with the boys so
much.''
"Well, Jack Hazard and Billy McEvoy
don't have any wood to split, not even
kindlirg!" he said, in injured tones.
"The wood is not hard to chop, and
think it much better for boy to have a
little employment than to idle away his
time.''
"I'm sure go to school, grandma!''
eyes, but surely one hours work on
Saturday will not injurc you, and that is
all the work you have to do that day.
said the lady, kindly. Then, as the Gen
erals face still looked sullen, she contin-
ued: "My dear, do you think that you
would be perfectly happy if you had a
! "hoiO OotUiUcy ~ yOulSCll!
"Rather guess I would" he said, en-
phatically.
"Then will give you next Saturday
upon one condition--that, as you are TO
do nothing for anyone, no one is to do
anything for you. Do you agreed"
GOT course But can I really do Just
what want, and go where please?"
eyes, provided you do nothing abso-
lutely rash.'
"Goodyp' And the General turned O
somersault, and uttered war-whoop
that made his grandmothers ears ring.
The next Saturday morning dawned
bright and clear. But Scott did not rise
very early. He lay long time in his
little white bed, making plans for the
days enjoyment.
"Grandma said might do just as 1
please; so I'm going to stay in bed as
long as I want to. How jolly, not to hear
Hannah yell out, Scott, get up' -
After awhile, however, the cravings
of hunger began to be felt, and he arose
and dressed himself.
"We most always have mullins, ham
and eggs on Saturday. he said, as he
went down stairs, smacking his lips in
anticipation. Entering the dining room,
what was his surprise to find the break
fast things cleared away and the table
covered with Its customary Turkey-red
spread. Going out on the porch, he
found his grandmother sewing.
"Good moralng," she said pleasantly.
"Good mornin'. Where's breakfast.
grandma"
breakfast. Oh, we had that long
tago."
"But it is all cleared away
81 presume SO. I heard Hannah wash
ing the dishes little while ago." quiet
ly.
"But can't have anything to eat?' in
aggrieved tones.
| eyes"
"Then I'll have Hannah fix me some
thing on the kitchen table-no, III have
her bring it out on the piazza; it'll be so
much more pleasant" said the General,
starting for the kitchen. But his grand
mother called him back, saying:
''No, you must remember that you're
not to ask any one to do anything for you
to-day"
The little lad looked crestfallen.
SWELL" he said, striving to speak I'M
concernedly. ooh! that's so. But then
r