The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-07
MRS. SKILLINGS SECRET.


fastening the last buckle, cherry voice
called out:
''Hallo, Robl you're just the fellow l
wanted TO seei"
Anything special?" asked Rob.
Yes; we're getting up fishing party,
and want you TO join us.
when is it TO be?"
Tomorrow. We're going to Beam
Pond. All the fellows are going; we've
chartered Smiths big wagon, so we can
all go together; it viii be Jolly fun; you
will go, won't you?"
II wish 1 could, said Robert, but /
don't see how can spare the time. I've
got to go to the mill to-day, and to-mor-
row my potatoes must be hoed; I've put
it off till the last minute. No; L don
see how L can spare the time, anyhow,
Tim"
But it viii be only one day. said
Tim; ''you can easily make that up.
81 could if there wasn't something just
as pressing the next day, and every day,
said Robert. mo; it's no use, Tim, l
shall have to give it up, but hope you'll
have a first rate time Now give me
lift at these bags, will you?"
with all my heart; here goes, said
Tim, and the two young men loaded the
wagon with the corn which was soon to
be ground up into meal Then Robert
mounted after it, and seated himself on
the board which answered for a seat.
Perhaps you'll change your mind
when you've had time 70 think it over,
said Tim.
Not unless my potatoes get themselves
hoed while I'm gone to mill, said Rob
ert, laughing.
Then You won't even say you'll think
of it, said Tim.
Robert shook his head. my idea is
that when YOU ought not TO do q thing,
the less YOU think of it the better.
Thank you all the same for wanting me;
there's some comfort in that.
well, good-by, then. "
"Good-by, Tim"
''First-rate fellow; it's a shame he
should have to work so hard, " said Tim
10 himself, as Robert drove away.
Robert was only eighteen, and 1T was
indeed heavy burden his young shout
ders had TO carry His father had died
the year before, leaving large family of
children-how many ! will not under
take TO say; but it was a current saying
that Mrs Shillngs, the mother, had TO
call the roll every night to see If they
were all present and accounted for. OF
these Robert was the eldest.
81 don't know what's to become of
ms. said Mrs Skilhngs, the night after
her husbands funeral; ''of course we
shall have TO give up the farm.
Not if l can help it, said Robert.
Il have thought it all over, and, with
your consent, L am going to try and car
~ it on"
"But you can't do it child; you don't
know what you are undertaking."
II think | ought to know, mother; I
have worked on it ever since / was
hoy, said Robert, cheerfully.
You're nothing but boy now" said
Mrs. Skillings. looking over her spect-
acles at the audacious youth who pre-
sumed To offer counsel TO his mother;
his mother who but yesterday, as il
seemed, had trotted him on her knee
and fed him with pap. and besides,
she added, ''you forget the mortgage.
NO, 1 don't forget it, but Mr.. Carew
is a good man; he'll give us all the time
we want; he was here this morning and
said so, said Robert.
s'Well, well, so you've got it all ar
ranged; who'd have thought it ?" said
Mrs. Skillings. and from that time she
began to look up to Robert with that con-
fidenee and pride which, perhaps, q
woman never so readily accords to any
as to her first-born son, when he shows
himself at all worthy of it.
He had been lone of the children
before, now he was head OF the family,
and henceforth to be treated with the
eference which belonged to his posi-
ion.
The year which had passed had in no
wise diminished her confidence IN him,
but rather increased it. so that now few
things were done in the family without
first consulting Robert.
After Tim had seen Rob drive off to
the mill, bright thought entered his
head; one which he Immediately pro-
ceeded to carry into execution.
The result was that as Mrs. Skillings
was standing at the kitchen sink washing
the dinner-dishes, she saw six persons
come into the yard with guns over their
shoulders-that is, she at first thought
they were guns, but on nearer view, they
proved to be hoes.
This was scarcely less alarming, for
why should six men invade the premises
armed with hoes unless they meant
violence and plunderl
They came straight to the door which
she was about to shut in their faces.
when she recognized IN the leader Rob's
friend, Tim Nolan.
Then Tim explained to her about the
fishing party, and Rob's refusal to join
1t because the potatoes were not hoed
g So If you don't object, said he, " we
propose to get them all hoed before he
comes back"
well, neverl that beats all, " said
Mrs. Skillings, laughing "Obiect? of
course / don't object. TIM only too glad;
1T isn't many holidays Rob gets, poor
fellowl"
"And Mrs. Skilhngs, we want you to
keep it secret; let him puzzle over it
awhile, said Tim.
81 won't say a word, not ], !" said Mrs.
Slillings. "And I'm sure, you're all
very good, and thank you from my
heart"
This was quite true, still, in her heart
she also thought that Robert deserved il
all, and that it was no wonder people
put themselves out to do kind things for
him.
Mrs. Skillings kept her promise faith
fully not to tell Robert what had occurred
In his absence, and for fear somebody
else should tell him, the first thing she
said to Judy and Sammy when they came
home from school was:
"Histl mind now! You're not to tell
Robert"
"Tel him what?" exclaimed they.
"What you saw in the field as you
came past
"What field?" asked Judy.
1.-THE potato field to be sure" said
Mrs. Skillings, impaiently.
I'VE didn't come past it, said Judy.
1--WE came the other way"
What is there in the potato field?"
asked Sammy.
Nothing" said his mother.
"Then why mustn't we tell Robert?"
For mercy's sake don't ask me so
many questions, said the bewildered
woman. 81 meant nothing particular. :"
''Iu find out" said Sammy, darting
through the door. Mrs. Skillings fol-
lowed, but all she saw of her hopeful
son was the soles of his boots, as, one
after the other they disanneared oyer