Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-27

1t was a disturbed night for all.
Patrick on the hay below was sure their
tongues never stopped at all. The long
sleep in the afternoon and the unusual
supper made them restless, and it was
almost morning when they fell into 8
sound slumber.
All was still in the barn when they
awoke. Even the horse was gone.
| Ally took up pail of fresh milk
which stood near them.
They don't expect us home, but
should think mamma would miss us, !"
he said.
Sitting in their hay bed. they drank
the milk and ate the remains of last
nights feast. 1t was quite unlike the
CHEEKY home breakfasts. They did not
feel sure it was as pleasant.
''Do you suppose, Ally, that your
Uncle Ned's clothes made him tired
nightsP" asked Otis. milne feel as
though they belonged to some other
boy. l am more tired than when i
began to rest. My papa says that every
BODY needs occupation. and think we
had better find some"
Down in the barn the door of closet
stood open where Patrick kept his tools.
There was pail of paint on the shelf.
cit is to paint the doors, Ally" said
Otis. 81 asked Patrick yesterday whe n
l was over here to let me paint Billy s
portrait on his stable door, and he SAL 4
must practice on a board first. But [
think | shall do it on the closet door. |"
The artist had not commenced his
work when Patrick came in. "Good-
morning." said he, putting up the paint
and locking the closet door. "Have
you any engagement this morning? If
not. Mrs. White sends her compli-
ments, and she has heard some strange
young gentlemen are camping out near
her place, and would they be kind
enough to call at her house?''
"Mrs. White" exclaimed Otis.
''Yes, she is your mother, / be-
lieve
"No," said Otis, thinking of Mrs.
White, the invalid lady who kept a
small store down the street; but he
added, after moments thought: "My
mother is Mrs. White, l suppose"
''She saws aunt Jennie and little
Eddie are there, and would like to see
YOU" continued Patrick.
Mrs. White received them very
politely, offered them seats, and in
ouired if the camp was comfortable.
Did they expect friends to join them?
or would they remain there alone? The
strange young gentleman were too much
surprised to speak.
They looked so funny, sitting up
straight in chairs. with unwashed faces
and hay sticking in their hair, that aunt
Jennie had 70 look out of the window,
and little Eddie was afraid.
Nora came to the door with a mes
sage for Mrs. White; and, when that
lady politely asked them to excuse her,
the little campers could bear it no
longer.
Ally put on his hat.
1--WE will CO." said he, land see if
my mother knows u.s."
But Mrs. Greene had gone out for the
day, and there was no dinner.
The boys went back to camp.
Your fathers barn is a lonesome
old place." said Otis; CLOCKS like an or
phan asylum"
"What is thatp" inquired Ally.
"a place where they shutup children
who have no mothers"
But. ascending to the "camp." they
found that there was a dinner of fried
fish and bread on board, which they
relished.
The afternoon was very long, for they
had not the courage to call on Mrs.
White again.
1t was almost night when Mrs. Greene
came into the camping regions, smiling.
Ally bounded down to her, exclaim-
ing, Mamma, can we 60 homer am
tired of this old camp"
Il hardly know how to answer you,
my dear" replied Mrs. Greene. "You
went away without asking papa. He
may expect you to ask him if you can
return. But you can go with me now
and see him if you like.''
The little culprits were so unconscious
of doing wrong Mt first, and so peni-
tent when they knew what trouble they
had caused, that Mr.. Greene at once be-
came willing that they should break
camp and come home. Before Mrs.
Greene had them washed and brushed.
they had recovered their spirits, and
were ready to forgive the White family
and aunt Jennie.
Nora received them with open arms.
She made quite little feast in honor of
their return, and they both supped at
the Whites. She Rugged them sep
arately and in bunch.
They are still trying to help, and tell
the story of their one night in camp. as
old soldiers tell the history of battles
from which they barely escaped with
life.-L0uis Hall, IN Wbte AcdEe.