Connecticut western news., 1881-11-02
WHAT NED DID.

'sI don't know but what Susie is right when she says she reckoned I'd better be an angel, and out of this wicked world, than to be forever knocking down somebody, or bein' knocked down myself. It ain't clear to my mind why things are forever putin themselves in my way when I've set out to be good.
 "Do you suppose I had the least idea Firefy was a-goin' to run away with the buggy when I put the stiff bit on his bridle Of course knew he wouldn't like it, and that he always made fuss when they tried it on him, but then I wasn't drivin' him. I thought he'd only rear and back little, and it would be fun to hear Susie squeal, and that I'd conquer himseasy enough.
 "Why, I've fed that horse ever since he was colt, and didn't suppose he'd play me such trick.
 "Besides, did I ask Susie to take 8 ride? Of all aggravating things, girls are the worst, for they just do things as they please, and they wheel round on 8 fellow as bold as brass, and say, 'Wha do you mean by such conduct, you wicked scamp r
 ''Of course, poor pa is bound to fog me when they keep telling him how wicked am, and how soon I'll come to the gallows; but he feels it, can tell you, for he said the other day.
 ":Ned, you won't leave 8 sprout on my peach trees, if I have to keep on cuttin' switches off 'em to get the wickedness out of you.' I'd feel rigkt sorry for him if wasn't taken up with feelin' sorry for myself.
 "But I must say for every stroke had to-day, Susie ought to have had three, though she is seventeen, and has got beau. It's that very beau, Prof Hiram Preston, that got me into this scrape. He's one of the solemn kind The other day he said:-
 Edward, I hope you have beer diligent in your studies to-day. Hav' you? Here's sum in arithmatic fol you. If Ihave eighty five acres of lant to sell at three dollars and quarter al acre, how much will I get for tn
 whole? Don't stop, but answer righ
 off,
 "Now, I hate arithmetic, and quar
 ters and fractions always bother me ]
 they don't give me time to think. Bn
 that's the way the old fellow takes t
 make himself pleasant to me. He professor of mathematics at Woodwar . Seminary. I'm thankful I'm not in hi l department yet.
 e "Well, started to tell you of ou !. ride this mornin'. After breakfast, Su said:-
 "'Neddy dear, ,'-she always calls ID 3 'Neddy, dear when she wants to get m 8 to do anything do you say harnessing up Firefy and drivin' m , out this mornin'? It's lovely day, an f should enjoy drive so much!' l T want to make my kite,' sait r 'and Johnnie and Jim Huger are con in to help me-
 : "'Oh, do come; that's dear, swe'
 boy. If you will, I'll help to make yor s kite, and you know I've got lot of ful ny Japanese pictures, and I'll give yo . some to paste on it. It shall have a re : tail ever so long, and you'll see that r O make it the handsomest kite your tV j. eyes ever looked at
 l "'Honor bright?' asked. "'Honor bright, Neddy, she answe i" ed, and Sue doesn't tell lies. O "Well, then told her to get read s while went to harness Firefy. I d 8 not put the stiff bit on then, for Ji
 the stable-boy was around, and beside knew that if pa and ma saw his c [: 7 pers, pa 'vestigate matters, and yc D can't hide bit like that. So l put u away under the seat and drove round d quiet and steady as if me and Firef
 were old and steady as the professo
 Ma and pa were standin' at the door. D. "Down came Susie in her best clothe P with her new flower bonnet on her he q and her pale lavender kids on h . hands.
 Goodness, Susie, what in the vol