The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-25


garden left behind.
So the DAYS went on. To Club the ioyous
hour Of all the twenty-four WAS her brothers
return at night She would station herself
at window with the best lookout, and pa
Itly watch till the loved form came in
sight, when he would nod and smile, and
perhaps point back significantly to something
that lay behind him IN the rack Perhaps
il n cant a deserted birds nest, with scorns in
it, CT perhaps bunch of green leaves woven
into rustic basket to hold berries, or an
early apple, or q few purple plums. Il was
wonderful how many things he "came
across" and he never forgot the little crea-
tuIe waiting 60 eagerly to welcome him
home.
Somehow the boy had learned the secret,
or inherited 1t, " somethi-g, of making
friends. Everybody liFed han on his route,
and he was always being invited to have a
glsss Of milk or doughnut, as he chesrfully
unloaded the piles Of seats whereby the Thrift
~ housewife or the aspiring daughter earned
tie warm winter cloak or paid to the maya
zines and papers.
The men began to speak respectfully to
him, and he was occasionally trusted with
other business besides taxing out and bring
ing in the work. He had book ia which
he kept account ct the number left 81 each
place, and the number taken away, with the
various amounts paid.
Sometimes he handled good deal ofmoney
in this way, and felt quite like little for them
selves. His wages we're small, and what with
the rent and fuel, and even their simple
table, there WAS scarcely anything left. His
mother had few dollars laid by for the win
ter's cosl, but where all the needful clothing
was to come from they knew not. Club
could hardly keep her little pink feet from
showing through the holes in her shoes, and
they were almost too shabby to goto Church.
Harry knew his mothers bonnet was not "in
the fashion" and be had boyish pride in
wanting things as other folks had them"
One day, about this time, Mr. Harlon, the
"hesd man of the concern" told Harry ne
wanted 10 send note over to g certain far
mer-an old neighbor of theirs-who owned
s. email wood lot the firm wanted to buy.
Harry was delighted. His eyes were hun
CRY for sight of "the old place" which was
only few miles away, and Mr.. Harlon
said he could take the buggy and drive over
his mother and little sister, he fell. ths. after
ali there were pleasures which money could
not buy.
Mr.. Hsrlon was thought TO be very &C.
centric man, but he had lstterly taken a
great zeal of notice OF Harry, and this send
ing with the note meant great deal. BE
said he must have the answer and the farm
eI's terms before o'clock that afternoon
The time was short, and they could not
stop at the old place, but they could drive
by, and see if the honeys1ckles were
out.
Mr.. Harlon's own man brought the buggy
to their door, and in a few minutes they
were rolling along out into the fresh and
and ever varied beauty Of woods and mead.
ows and fragrant valleys.
The influences of nature are something to
sill, but they were life itself to those children
of the hills. Clubs apple blossom face
showed tina. she knew something highly sat-
isfsctory was going on in her little world, of
which her mother and brother were the chief
personsges.
The note was delivered and price fixed
upon for the wood lot. Then Mrs. Lindsay
glanced snxiously At the tall clock that stood
in the corner.
"Time enough. time ezoughl' said the farm
er.
And while his good wife hung her tea ket-
tie low down on the crane, he was busy
mailing up mysterious box in the yard, and
finally lifted it, with good nstured chuckle,
into the back OF their buggy.
BE said he had been owing little debt for
long time to the Lindsay family-pushing
bag OF corn under the seat as he spoke, and
crowding in at the side another bag of some
thing else.
Such csckling as ensued brought Club
to the door, and she elspped her dimpled
hands with delight when the farmer lifted
her up and showed her. through the Stats
scr SIS the top, six splendid hens and lordly
rooster, all for their own, "to take home and
keep
The 'debt," the generous farmer emphs-
sized, was a couple Of little downy chicks
that Hsrry's grandmother had given to him
when the farmer was poor boy, and did
"chores' for her.
He ssid he believed it was the foundation
Of all his after prosperity.
And so, if the ''sins of the fathers are visit
ed upon the children" their little gracious
acts, too, return, often fourfold.
Then they must have "bite of bread and
cheese as he called the festhery biscuit and
the luscious custsrd pie, after which they
rode away.
The hens cackled, the rooster crowe1, Club
laughed aloud, Harry raised bis palm Leaf
hst in grateful adieu, while Mrs. Lindsey
lifted up her heart in silent thankfulness to
the Giver of all good.
What a charming ride i. was homel The
hll WIS ueANy Win kcente OF pune ana O6Wy
flowers, each adding its own sweet perfume
10 the general whole.
AS they came in sigh. of the town clock,
the minute hand lust pointed to hslf-past six.
Mr.. Hsrlon seemed very much pleased with
Hafry's promptness, aud evidently was still
better pleased with the terms for the wood
lot. He asked a few questions-how near it
was to their old home, etc, and ended of
with:
"Well, my boy,the world lie al before you;
you come of good stock enough to do some
thing for yourself" Then he looked over his
glasses, and smiled q queer smile az Hs-ry's
blushing face, at the same time picking out
of his vest pocket a gold dollar, which he
slipped into the embarrassed boys hand, and
went on saying: "When 1 was youngster
ike you, had this gold dollar given TO me,
with instructions to keep it until needed it
20 buy bread with. It's little worn" he
continued, land / don't believe 1 shall ever
want it for that" there he looked very self.
satisfed), $50 I'll give 1t to you on the same
terms. see you know the moments are
alfo golden, Of which this is to be remind
der"
Harry tried to thank him, bat he was q
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