The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-20
THE LOST JACK-KNIFE.

the nook back OF the barn. The barn
itself was like high fence keeping of
the wind. Then there were three or
four apple trees, whose early fruit was
ripe enough to give the last of the hay
makers some agreeable employment,
and these trees grew not far from the
above nook. 1t was q spot where in
very good seasons haystack might be
built for the accommodation OF the hay
that the barn could not hold. "Hay-
stack" and "apples" made magnet
strong enough to attract all wide-awake
boys in the neighborhood. When, there
fore, Plato not the old phil l0sopher,.
but hired hand on the Peck farm
said, "Pm going to make a haysiack," "
it is no wonder that Gilman Bentley
came to this great occasion.
Poor Gilman Bentley! He and his
mother lived down in the black little
house in the hollow. If you suppose
yourself to be back of the Peck barn,
and will stretch up as high as possible,
standing on tip-toe, you will be able
Just 10 make out the red chimney-top
of the Bentley's jutting above the green
trees like strawberry above its foliage.
And Gilman Bentley, he did have q
hard time wrestling with poverty. The
wrestle had taken off all his spare flesh
and made him very thin. He was
timid kind of a boy, gentle and we'll
meaning, and people liked him and
pitied him.
One other boy was there at the build
ing of the haystacll-a and very naturally
he would be-Walter Owen, hired boy
on the place.
"Gee, buck! Whoa-hushp Plato was
shouting, as his big brown oxen came
numbering along, q bulky load of hay
iolting behind them.
"Now, boysr' he cried, ''up with you
and pitch that hay down, and we will
get ready for the stacking in less than
no time"
The hay was quickly pitched out of
the cart. and then began the important
work OF making the haystack. No
structure, ancient or modern, was more
carefully constructed than that stack.
The Hanging Gardens OF Babylon, the
Pyramids of Egypt, the Parthenon at
Athens, the Coliseum at Rome, or our
own Washington Monument at the
capital of the country, could not count
up more conscientious and careful build
ers.
"The stack must be so long, it must
be so high, and it must be of that
shape" declared Plato, taking out a
lead-penril and copy of the Leedsville
Morning Gem, and drawing a haystaok
on the margin of this valuable weekly,
published in the county-seat ten miles
away. "The stack must be built TO
stand, you know, boys. There must be
nothing of the pudding style about it,
but solid, you see. Now we will be-
GIN"
Armful by armful. forkful by forkful
that wonder Of the modern age, Plato's
haystack, went slowly up, and the mas
ter-builder sagaciOusly brought forward
at intervals luncheons Of the sweet,
toothsomc apples growing so handily in
neighborhood.
There's Billy Ventress!" shouted
Gilman Bentley "Get him to help"
"Come on Billyl" cried Plato to a
stout, resoute looking boy, who was
turning the corner OF the barn. cap
pies are ripe, you know We throw
those in where folks help buhd the
stack"
"Here am +" cried Billy. who was
the very boy TO appreciate the beautiful
symmetry OF Plato's haystack, and also
the merits Of his pulpy apples.
Tall AMI shapely rose the haystack,
till it rivaled in its proportions cold
Graylock," mountain whose conical
blue top could be seen from the rear oi
the barn.
"Now, boys, want 10 make some
hay ropes TO bind down this ere balloon
so il won't float off," said Plato.
The boys were eager to see the pro
cess of tying down "the balloon" two
Of them being on the stack, Gilman and
Billy, while Plato and Walter were on
the ground at the foot Of the stack.
anybody got a sharp knifeP" called
out Plato. az want to cut my rope. y
al have, Mr.. Rope-maker," replied
Billy, throwing down "four-blader. y
of which he was very proud.
The rope-maker took the knife, ant
made the needed amputation. He used
the knife on the summit Of the stack al.
so. Now, what did become OF thai
magnificent "four- blader?"
al can't find your knife, said Plato
after final mount TO the top of the
stack. al can't find your knife, Billy,
have been trying TO find it some time
al saw it after you got up here,
know" declared Gilman; "but ="
"But whatP"
Gilman hesitated, began again, STAN.
mered and blushed.
"Oh, you took it, sirl asserted Billy
very stoutly. "You took it, Gilman
Bentley"
al did not"
"But you say you saw 1t since Plate
did,"
'I-know-lt, but"
Timid Gilmanl He could only assert
that though he had seen it last, he knew
nothing Of its final disposition. Billy
Ventress was the kind Of boy to
quickly take a stand, and having taken
It, to stoutly maintain 1t. The conse-
quence was that he sometimes would
take his stand in bog-ho that would
not support him. Gilman went home
in no happy mood. gtTtTfl uLf
When he had left. Plato and Billy
talked over the mysterious disappear
ance OF the knife. 49,. ~ -. -