Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-01
Gales ano Sketfbts.
HARvEY'S BRAVE DEED.
By SARA DEANE.
Continued from Yesterday

IIdIbCt. dS uC pDhtU up intO tisC
cruel. scowling faces of his captOrs. felt
that he could hope for little mercy from
men who could deliberately plan to roast
alive helpless animals. Indeed. the
rougher of the two men advised that Har-
vey should be put of the way at once.
Hes heard what we've had tn say and
he'll blab. Dead men, and young ones,
too, tell no tales, he added grimly, see
ing that his companion hesitafed.
But we might swing f it," objected
the farm hand. ''See h. re, young one,
we'll let you 90 scot free. on one condi-
tim. You hold up your hand and swear
like show you. not to breathe word OF
what you've heard. or by-,you'll not
live long enough to say your prayers. :"
He picked up his gun as he spoke. and
held the muzzle against IIarvey's breast
Poor Harvey. A sickening feeling of
fear and Eiintness seemed to siifie his
breathing. and arrest his very heart beats
The cruel. determined faces of the men
seemed ike demons, and he looked around
the lonely woods. then at the gun. and
then he took the awful oath which the
man babe him repeat. that he would not
reveal anything they had said.
He was at last allowed to go, and the
farm hand called after him:
III saw, young one. you can tell when
the deed is done, and don't YOU forget it.
] want the old man to know who his good
luck comes FROM and he added to his
companion: mo danger of his giving US
away, he's got no more pluck than chick
en-. and he's scarf most to death"
When Harvey reached home, supper
was laid in the large kitchen. Mollie, the
..help' was turning flannel cakes. Mrs.
Adams was pouring the tea. and Mr..
Adams turned from the sink where he had
been washing his hands, and spoke with a
genial smile:
We'll. Harvey. my lad. did you have a
good time? Had a nice walk, eh ?"
Yes sir. no sir-part Of the time, :"
stammered poor Harvey, with snch a
miserable face that the good farmer stared
in asionshmeni, and Mrs. Adams. noting
his pale face and trembling limbs. ex-
claimed:
BLESS the boy! he looks fit to drop |!
What is the matter. child?"
Nothing" sobbed Harvey, and burst
ing into tears he rushed away from them
all, up to his own little room under the
caves.
Pretty soon Mrs Adams hustled up with
a bowl of hot tea and some nicely buttered
toast. and when she found that he could
not eat. she bathed his aching head, tucked
him into bed. and even left motherly
kiss on his cheek.
That kiss made Harvey feel ten times
more miserable than before. How kind
they were to him How could he let them
be wronged out of so much of their hard
earned property? Then the hOrseS-ah.
that was the bitterest of all kitty
and Jess" whom he had loved and pet
ted and who also knew him and would
whinny with delight whenever he entered
the barn. He had taught them to bow
their heads when he gave them an apple
or anything especially nice. and now he
was going to let them suffer a horrible
death Great beads of sweat started on
his forehead. and he sprang from his bed,
intending 10 rush down stairs and reveal
the whole wicked plot. but he stopped be-
fore a picture Of Christ blessing little
children. which good Mrs. Adams had
hung in his room. The moonlight fell
broadly unon it. Had not Mrs Adams
said that Go ha'ed liars. and had he not
solemnly sworn tn keep silence?
Harvey never forgot the terrible hour
that followed. He heard the family re-
tire. and waited fearfully for any sound
outside. At last he knelt and prayed
earnestly that God would show him some
way out of his trouble. Then he went to
the window and looked ont at the great
barn.
Suddenly thought dashed through his
mind. He stole softly down stairs, seized
the TIN horn with which Mrs. Adams used
~ Gull hnr huc hand N A;ppar a~l La
himself out. ran swiftly across the moon
lit space between the house and the barn
He stopped a moment to think. and
then climbed up over the mows and hid
himself in nook under the ratters.
One hour passed. two, Harvev's cour-
age seemed to ooze out at his finger tips
1t they came they would surely kill him,
and then-Ah! what was that? A
stealihy tread outside, and the great doors
creaked softly as they were showed apart
Harvey's blood:
Here, pour on plenty of lie, and
loot toot tnooot
Its that DEVILS brat.'' exclaimed one
of the men with a furious oath. Help
me find him quick. or we shall have the
neIghbors on u.s.
tooot. Uooot. toot. toOt. went the
old ho,n. Bow, WOW! WOW, came from
the dog in his kennel. and the chickens
on their roosts near by set up a tremen-
dous cackle.
Toooot' toooot The two ruffians seeing
that their game was up, rushed for the
door. but were met by Mr.. Adams and a
crowd OF the neighbors who. half dressed,
had rushed out to discover the cause OF
the commotion.
Well, kitty" and jess were saved.
the men were sent to prison. and to-day
Harvey writes his name. Harvey Adams.
with flourish. and calls the farmer and
his wife, father and mother. He goes to
school and his teacher assures his proud
parents that he is u fine scholar and will
be sure TO make his mark one of these