Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-13

perfectly carried away with him at first
partly perhaps with his bold dashinl
ways, partly with his marvellous stories o.
city life, what he and the fellows Of his
set did at home and great deal, / an
afraid, because he pleased their vanity
by telling them repeatedly how superior
they were to most country boys. He
had not been there month before every
Riverside boy had invested in cigarettes,
and was practicing smoking on the sly,
and looking in unfeigned amazement al
Joe, to see him puff so unconcernedly at
his cigar when the cigarette was more
than enough for them. Then, too. they
adopted Joe's style of talking. He used
good deal Of slang, some Of it pretty
rough and coarse, and sometimes, am
sorry to say, he used something worse
than slang. And the boys tried to be as
cityfed as possible.
1t was a symptom Of manliness, &C.
cording to Joe's creed, to tease and torment
anything or anybody that could not de-
fend themselves.
"Girls were well enough" he said
"for little boys to play with, but fellow
didn't want to be bothered by them, and
besides, they hadn't time for nonsense" !"
Said" nonsense being any polite atten-
ton to one so unfortunate as to be q girl.
One Of the first things he did was to
organize the Wild Cat Club. He made
himself chief, planning all the mischief,
and pretty poor sort of mischief some
Of it was, too, but he kept out Of the real
work oft, so if they should be caught,
he would be in no danger.
What an indignation meeting there wa,
among the girls when they found the
boys had a secret so ciety, and had never
asked them to join. 1t must be broken
up. or they invited TO join-one Of the
two-they decided at the very outset /;
but it was rather difficult matter to de-
eide how to accomplish their desire.
They got up a charade party at Annie
Parkers, they used to have so much fun
there, but the boys did not come, because
Joe was not invited, and had appointed
Club meeting as soon as he heard of it
Then they, the girls, proposed picnic
at DR.. Darle's grove, but the boys vetoed
the subject on the spot. They even or
ganized an opposition society in hopes OF
rousing the boys curiosity, wore enor-
nous badges, looked as though possess
ing wisdom far beyond Solomon, and
spoke in mysterious language, all to nc
feet, for not single boy appeared to
no, ice anything.
Bu. Just as the girls had exhausted all
their re sources and were about in despair
the boys b egan TO tire oft themselves,
and Joe saw with alarm that he wa, los
ing ground rs pidly, and that unless ht
did something speedily his Club would
desert him
Then it was he thought of Sam Steb'
bins strawberries. The Club were hold
ing session in Grandfather knoxs ole
barn it was out of the way and unused
so they had taken possession OF it.
IL say" said Joe, noting With anxiety
the lis,less looks of the Club, "Sam Steb-
bins strawberries are ripening fast; guess
he means to pick lot for market day
after tomorrow.
Now as Sans strawberries were al
ways ripe earlier than any one el'es IN
the vicinity, and he raised them Tor mar
ket, Joe's remark did not make much
stir.
Suppose we have some fun out o.
them, boys" he continued.
81 should Like to know how on earti
you expect to get any fun out of Sam
berries :" said Will Potter, raising HIM
self on his elbow and staring at Joe II
as Constituent. :,
Oh" replied Joe carelessly, we coul'
Jus, yet the start of Sam little, an'
have strawberry festival for q change
that wou ldn't be bad. I'm uncommon
fond of str. ,wberries. And just imagine
the sport wh.'n sam hnds MS 0eff'e' ~
picked and go.'e.
solemn stilln, ss reigned. Not DO!
dared come out boldly and refuse to hay'
ANYTHING to do with it, lest Joe shorl'
call them girl babies with no spirit at all
all behind the times. r:gular milk soPs
that would be dreadful--aud yet not ont
Of them liked the plan.
I'VE boys at home have done sucf
things lots of times; it's plies Of fun, 60
ing out at night so, and having to LAX
care not to be seen. OF course, Jo
added loftily, after Sam has had MI
scare we can take up contnoutlon' AM
pay him we'll"
That sounded better-E erhaps Joe wa
not so bad, after all; they felt ashamed
to think they had suspected him there
would be fun getting them, and wouldn''
Sam make sport for them, it was such
40, ,,rt to see him angry.
lie was half-foolish fellow who livee
by hi, aself at the farther end of the town
and raised a few small fruits and early
vegetables. The strawberries we're hi:
particular pets he watched over them al
anxiously an tenderly as mother Owe
a child-no strawberries were SO early
40 large, or so nice as his. Left to him
self Sam was quiet and harmless'out
molested, or vexed in any way, he wa
wild almost beyond control.
What could excite him so as TO los
his first strawberries How he woul'
f.;,lv ravei As Joe suggested, the,