The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-09

all nOlNIN ITOoltN
Hollo," exclaimed Willie Bruce, as
he saw the vines.
"Whut is it, phiI?' asked Ben Hmm
mona, aunyiug up |
"Whnt have You found, Pml?' in
Vuircd half dozen others.
"Jack a-lnntcrns, fellows he an
swcrcd, "iust twenty five, one piece,
4" fIunahl Good for Won, Phil. And
dozcn Of the thoughtlcss youngsters
were among the vines half the pump |
Itins plucked off and ono or two IN
process Of transformation, before n hoy
among them had yenturcd this sage re-
mark.
"Scc here, they don't belong TO us, "
"WhO do they belong toe" asked
Phil.
Nobody knew.
Who do the woods belong to-
Nobody knew Tint
well, any way, anything we find in
tho woods is ours"
"Is w. laughed Willie Bruce, "thcn
I'll keep this jack.knife--i just found
it."
"Anything growing, | mean cried
Phil, quickly demanding his property.
" guess these sprnng up here, just like
the nut trees"
Nonsense" sud Willie Bruce. "You
can 500 tho pillow tracks. These pump.
Rims were planted and tended; SEQ the
line round them We've no right TO
touch them"
Findings arc hayings," said Phil,
~ ~ & ,l,,l
And he rushed for the biggest one, try
ing to stlc his conscience by adding
"Pumpkins arc not worth much thls
year, anyway.
His bad example was quickly followed
The ruthless band soon dcspoiled the
pntch Willie Bruce, | am Bory to add,
unable to withstand the temptation,
Welding ut Inst mud taking one too
Nov, said Phil, "I'yo just twenty
five cents. I'll make yours. Bon Ham
mOnd, nR soon ma mine Is done, if YOU
will run to the vilngo, aud get twenty
five candles, Make them throw III u
bunch Of matches, too"
OF went Bon and 10 work went the
boys. If their fathers and mothers had
given them such Job to do at homo III
two hours, how they would have gronncdi
How tho chips ilcwl How tho seeds
wore scoopcd ont and scattered Some
did doublc duty for those who had no
knives, and those who got through first
went for poles.
In little more thNn two hours the
lack-n-lantcrns were set upon the poles
md the cnndlcs wedgcd safely in. rcady
for lighting They hid their bags Of
nuts and waited till dark. Then the
grotcsquo procession marched through
the village, shouting and hurrnhing
md cheering for the presidential cnndi-
date
Massey sNkcsl' cried old Aunt Betsy
Leeds. "Look ut them boysl what u
wicked waste Of good food"
40, pumpkin or two from patch is
not missed, said the minister, kindly.
az like TO SEQ them enjoy Themselves
IIurrah, boys--that is right cheer for
honest mon like honest boys"
An uncomfortable twinge of consci- |
cnco smotc their hearts. am glad 10 say, |
aud they felt themselves unworthy To |
cheer Tor honest mcu However, they |
kept up the procession till their candles |
went ont. md then broke up
When tho fun mud excitement were all |
over and they wore alone in their re. |
epcctivc homes, they wondered, with |
misgiying and pualms Of conscience. |
who was the owner Of that patch in tho |
woods, and wish they had not robbed |
IT.
The next day Phil and Willie returned |
la Bear Hill to get tho nuts they had |
left there. As they drew near the place |
they heard n most mysterious sound |
Leaving tho cart they had brought for |
the nuts. and creeping cautiously for |
ward they soon discovered tho cause.
On the ground near the pllnlcrcd vines
lay Minnie Shaw-ihe minister's pretty |
little daughter. Her face and hands
were buried in a tuit of moss, and sho
was crying and sobbing in most pitiful
manner; herwhole attitude showed hope
LEGS grief
"Whv. Minnie, what 10 the natter"
cried Phil, anxiously, ARE You hurt?"
No-o-o," abe sobbod
"What is il them"
"O-my-pumpkins-- are. all gone"
Your pumpkins?" cried both boys in
n breath.
Eyes. WANTED - take-musio
Lessons; and papa couldn't afford it. and
Mrs. West said if Cuthburt would plant
her some pumpkins, she would give me
lessons all winter, and Cuthbert planted
them for her and / tended them. and
they were all good, and just-ready--to
4 Al 1