Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-29
The Saving Match.

The Saving Match.
In one corner OF the old academy
playground group had gathered about
two boys. Sandy Jardine and Max
Guerney. Sandy was tall, strong,
large-featured lad, as opposite as the
poles to the little, 1.-THE, dark youth who
stood near him looking up in his face
with laughing black eyes.
They were leaders, these two, each of
his particular clan; and respecting their
popularity the school was nearly divided.
A strong rivalry existed between them,
gocd-natured enough for the most part,
though sometimes verging toward I'M
friendliness. Just now, Sandy was evil
IDENTIFY excited, almost angry. In foot
race the preceding Saturday Max had
beaten him, gaining a supremacy which
he possibly might hold.
''Yes, you did whip me, fast enough"
Sandy was saying, while dull red
mounted to his cheek, "but, all the
same, III whip you to pay for it, and
any day YOU mind to set"
''The track was too short" cried one
OF Sanay's champions. "That's what's
the matter! BY the time Sandy got
under Roadway, he had to turn. The
walk was laid out for little fellows"
Considerable laughter followed this
sally, and the "little fellow" Max,
joined in it heartily.
"Come, I'll match you in any way YOU
like" continued Sandy. "Come, now!
rowing, riding, running, wrestling
which shall it be? Come! I dare YOU.
Max Guerney!"
A little murmur of approval ran
around the group, and then the boys
waited for Max's reply. Well they
knew he would never refuse dare.
81, as the challenged party, have q
right to choose the weapons ?" inte1ro.
gated Max, with a side-long glance from
his laughing black eyes. "Well, then,
I'll neither ride, nor row, nor ruin. nor
wrestle, but I'll saw wood with YOU.
Sandy, and you may beat me- if you
can,"
What clamor Of high, boyish voices
met himl
"Oh, no fooling now!"
80: "Whose wood % ,*..,. -.. a..-..
Ha ha hal"
"In tell you" Max's voice rose
clear above the tumrlt. "Pm in earn
est. There's old uncle Nathan Blines
and his vile, poorer than double-dis-
titled poverty, and no one to do hands,
turn for 'em since 'Siah died. I saw
Uncle Nathan out chewing at his wood
pile. You know they hauled him some
cord-wood last winter, your father.
Sandy, and mine, and two or three 9TH
ers; and made up my mind to 60 over
aud saw for him some Saturday, any
way, poor old fellow! There's pretty
near five cords of wood, guess; and
We'll have somebody divide and measure
it for us. Then we'll saw to win; and if
you whip me in it, Sandy, the next Sat-
urday I'll match you in splitting and
housing it for him. What do you say ?"
Sandy joined in.the cheers and laugh
ter with the utmost good nature.
"Done!" nodded he. "I'll do it."
Up spoke a biue-eyed, wiry little fell
low at his elbow:
s'You shan't do the whole of it Say.
Charley Bugbee, I'll split for Sandy,
and you for Max !"
"Agreed p said Charley.
"And we'll wheel in for you two, Art
Humphrey and Il" declared Sandy's
brother Jack. "Won't We, Art?"
"Whew! How far my little candle
throws its beams !" laughed Max. "I'n
tell you, boys; we might have the
match in Uncle Nathan's back yard,
charge Is cents or so admittance. and
give Uncle Nathan the money"
"Hooray!" shouted Reub Story.
"My brother works in the Clarendon
Star Office, and III get him to print
our handbills. He owes me- 10 cents,
anyhow"
Good for you, Reubl cried Max.
"Grand saving match! Ditto splitting
ditto Ditto wheeling dittol Fifteen
cents admittance! Children, full price I!
Gate open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Good enough ]"
Next day the prospective saving
match was noised about town, and a
day or two later the handbiIls were out.
It made great deal of talk, both spor-
tive and serious, in the village.
"It's a good idea fust-rate idee p
That was Capt. Winty Coolidge, you
might know. cit Farms the boys that
mixin' kindness to other folks with their
fun don't hurt notilin'. It's with a
quarter, and I'm a-goin' to pay it! I'm
a7going to pay it!''
There was every indication that the
saving match would be grand success
financially.
t'I don't believe the back yard will
hold 'em ALL laughed Max to the half
dozen boys, who, with him, were taking
their homeward way after school Friday
night. "Have you got the tickets,
Reub?"
eyes; hundred and fifty of EN-"
"Good! Now all we want is fair
day."
The day proved to be all that could
be desired.
Hay clouds yelled the burning face
of the sun, and there was a brisk, cool
breeze blowing. The saving was to be-
gin at o'clock, and before that time
the board benches ranged around the
back-val1i fence were filed with merry
lookeis-oa. yncie Nathan sat in his
low, vine-Graped doorway, beaming at
everybody over his brass-bowed specta-
cies. There we're Max and Sandy, fresh
and smiling, with their saws, Dick and
Charley with their axes, and Jack and
Arthur with their wheelbarrows. Max's
father stood near, watch in hand.
"Go!" said he.