The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-09-26

NNAANSf MAbAOuU ~ I4ObIlCI y
care or q fathers restraint, many of
them having nothing to hinder their
being reckless, unless we can inspire a
principle within them. Who can tell
what good results may come from a kind
word? Harkl / hear his footsteps"
Where are you peaches? Did he set
the dogs on you? ?"
The questions were asked by three
slckly-looking lads as they climbed the
fence. They agreed to wait about half
way between the Squire's and the vii
lage. and help carry home the plumber.
"Oh, amt you smart to come without
any. If I'd gone, there wouldn't have
been a peach left on the trees. /
wouldn't care for old Holt or that bob
tailed dog Of his-or-"
Shut mp, you bragg / won't hear
You call Squire Holt names. Youknow
you were a coward and were afraid to
go. We have been, and / for one have
learned a lesson. / wish I had never
been caught in so mean a scrape. feel
fifty per cent. meaner than if he had set
the dogs on u.s." and Arthur Gregg's
manly face grew set and determined.
Tell us about it, Arthur, before we
get into the village" said one of the
pale-faced boys, with quick eagerness.
Well, You see, we went as sly as
mice, climbed the wall, and we're bead
ing straight for that rare-ripe tree,
when who should come UP alongside of
us but Squire Holt himself.
"fWell, boys said he, Isuppose you
have come to take my peaches. I've
been watching you for a long time to
tell you they are not fit to eat, / know
they look rich, but they will be much
nicer q week from now. What's more,
/ can't bear to see you running on
this way. Your cheeks are as rosy as
the peaches, and / want you to ripen
as beautifully as they do; but you
never can if you keep on in tho way
you have been going of late. You are
naturally noble fellows, and you must
not steal from my farm. I'd rather
give you every peach on the trees than
know of your doing so mean a thing.
Now, listen boys, and I'll tell you my
plan. We, my wife and /, want you to
come to u home, a week from to-
night, and spend the evening with us.
Then you shall have all the peaches you
can eat. Goodnight. Remember, q
week from tonight. We shall look for
you. Come earlier than this, as we
usually draw in the latch string by
nine
"Then NE jumped over the wall, and
went home, leaving us there In the mid
die Of the orchard, but I'd sooner cut
my hands off than touch one of his
peaches"
So the boys fled back into the vii
lage and into their beds, determined
that Squire Holt should never again
have cause to feel uneasy about them.
By v O'Clock on the following
Thursday, the farmers kitchen was full
OF boys, straight from the academy,
chatting merrily with the ioyial farmer
and his pleasant wife. He told them
stories of his early life. and how he
came to the conclusion that the best
way TO SOW wild oats was to scatter
seeds of kindness.
IL tell you what it is, boys, the reap
ing1s a great deal more satisfactory. 1t
took me some time to find this out, but
/ learned it before / got my spring
wheat sowed just as I'm sure you will
do. Here comes my little wife with tie
pitcher Of cream, and her sugar crust
ed sponge cake. If Benton and Gregg
will bring the milk-pan Of peaches from
the pantry well give them a fair trial
When the party broke up one hearty
sd took Squire Holt by the hand and
said:
aYou may find us on your farm again
some day. But I'll give you my word
it won't be to steal your property. III
any n OF us can do you a favor, just
LET us know"
The boys went back to the village
full of plans for the coming harvesting.
The FARMER, and his wife, Lucy, gath,
cred up the fragments, talked over the
=mesits of the boys. and put out the
lights.
hYou women can get at the hearts of
such boys; they won't forget your kind
ness very soon, What were You and
Gregg so busy aboutP"
ooh, not much. Only I told him to
bring down his winter feeting, and |
wosld look them over and fix them up
for cold weather, for you know, hus-
band, there's but n pair OF stockings
for me to mend SOW
He drew her csose to his side, and
repeated the verse of the poem he
knew was in her thoughts:
ssFor each empty nook in the basket
BY the hearth there's one empty seat
AndI miss the shadows from OF the wall
And the patter of many feet;
tbs for this that a tear gethered on my sight,
Atthe one pair Of stockings to mend tonight
When the harvesting time came the
Squire went out to his corn field n
day, saying ~laughingly to himself as he
went:
II don't feel very strong, Ill admit,