The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-20
Two Sides to a Frolic.


the gate, but he had not quite made up
his mind to open it.
ooh, 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
II ought to study my Latin" said
Bert, reluctantly, as he remembered the
long, dry lesson.
Bother the Latin; its no use any way.
I'd like to see anybody getting those ir-
regular verbs out of me-" said Will
Moore.
Bert laughed little at the idea of get
ting anything out of Wills brain, that
never had much but mischief in it; and
then he slowly opened the gate, drew a
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 revealed the
colors of the naples that had been fam
ing all day in the hot sunshine
Where are you going?" asked Bert.
ooh, just around town." said Val,
carelessly, and at that moment they came
opposite DIR. Parker's gate which stood a
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
everybody liked Dr. Parker.
A few blocks further on were some
wooden steps at the edge of the sidewalk.
Will gave Val mud ge, and with one
stout tug the steps were upset.
&c too ,ooo,
pose some one should step off there?"
"Pooh!" said Val; it is light as day,
and nobody ever does go down there, ex-
cept old Bijah, when he is in hurry for
his grog. Serve him right if he pitched
over
Bert knew that he was in bad com
pany; but he was beginning to enjoy the
excitement 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 McPhersons COW, he
was ready to lend hand himself. Old
Whitley, who was peacefully chewing her
cud, was easily coaxed into any alley
with a handful of turnips pulled from
her owners garden; and before she real
lied that any mischief was intended, she
found herself laundering about with a
board fastened over her face The sign
read: "Dressmaking 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 a 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 his 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 anything but an
amiable mood. His father was not there,
but Aunt Margaret explained that he
had been called away to see a patient.
cts that smart little Johnny Collins;
he's twisted his ankle dreadfuliy; worse
to manage than broken bone, your
father says, and may lay him up half the
Winter"
"How did it happen?" asked Bert,
absently."
"Thats the worst of it," said Aunt
Margaret; some mischievous boys that
ought to be sent to the reform school up
set the steps in front OF the house"
Bert was wide enough awake now, and
staring at Aunt Margaret with frightened
eyes as she went on.
Bijah was 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 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
It does seem too hard for that poor
woman. Johnny was her only depend
ence, and such nice boy.
Poor Bert was fairly sick with hor-
ror at the unlooked-for result of the
mischief, for though he had made fee
BILE Drotnat ha hod roo11vr 90 ioroJ -