Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-13

tIeoeu IL. And Just now, seated on
.he Darn steps, they were discussing
snelr latest grievance. The nioht he
1ore there had been a lecture in Che vi.
ase,an account of travel in the Holy
land illustrated by panoramic views.
ms was an entertainment so innocent
anu pra1seworthy, so cheap, too-only
zen cents admission-that they really
hoped Tor once, they might be allowed
10 go. They had asked permission and
neen refused; their mother had pleaded
their cause-in vain!
No, no." said the Deacon, ..you
heedn say any more. MY minds made
up. l won't have any sk~ylarking on NV
premises. The Bible tells us as much
ABOUT Jerusalem as decent people need
10 Know. Get Jerusalem in your hearts
ana there'n be enough of it in your
neads. You needn't talk; you can't
that's the way it always u.s." growled
matter v
Yes" said Charley, sI never was
anywhere in my life, except at the
stores or the Westinghouse. I don't
mind so much about the circus, for. of
course, fathers q deacon, and he
wouldn't think that was respectable.
But q lecture! it's too bad"
"And," added Isaac, sit isn't us if
We were like some boys in the neigh
borhood, who are always loaing around
and spinning strcet-yarn. We are not
running Oft, and out nights, and letting
the work 60"
Charley, the Oldest, gave a little kick
TO the step by way of emphasis to his
feelings. "Im seventeen, and just
aching for a chance at a little more
schooling. But father II never hearof it.
Can you spell through the spellin'-
book? he asked the other night; and
when l said yes, | could, Well, them
says he, go over it agen. When Twas
a boy. l spelled through it forty-four
times AS if q fellow ought to waste
his brains in doing forty-four times
what eleven times would more than
make him more than perfect in! It's
my belief he never was a boy"
Nov, young man," said a dry voice
behind him, ''if you've freed your mind,
We'll go to work"
The boys. all three of them, jumped
as though suddenly galvanized. The
Deacon, in fact, had stolen a march on
them; he had gone through the orchard,
and, crossing the road lower down, en-
tered the barn from the rear. He now
sse0d 3h m the m] aRsaMsgi srim aME% sasys marg
schoolin', do your" said he. .'Now,
don't let me hear any more of that non
sense. I'm older'n you, and know
best what's good for you"
ooh, father! are you sure you dop"
cried Charley. impulsively; for if this
winged moment held a single chance
for him he could not bear to let it slip.
care you sure you do?" he said.
Haven't [ worked steady, and been
faithful? 1 haven't complained, either,
though sometimes I felt hard. Father,
put yourself in my place a minute. You
have means, and L would be saving as
possible. Let me have a year IN the
High School, and there's nothing I'll
not do for you"
The Deacon surveyed the petitioner
with his habitual scowl, and did not i'm
mediately answer. Perhaps, if the truth
were known, he was u little touched by
the eager pleading and honest, boyish
face Of his first-born. But if there was
any indecision it was brief. When he
spoke his voice had the old, hard ring,
and Charley's hopes fell even before the
words were uttered.
"See here, Charles" he said, 'I'm
not going to have any more words over
this matter, SO Well settle it once for
all. You seem to think I don't know
what's best for you. Maybe 1 don't;
but who are you to judge? don't re-
member being wrong when once l made
up my mind. 1 have my reasons, and
l act on them. Now, 1 say, you'll get
no schooling from me, outside the dis
trict; unless, indeed"--he paused,
watching the %expectant look that began
to dawn on the lads faces at such an
unlooked-for loophole as a proviso-
''unless, indeed, you can prove that you
know more than L do when I've given
you your orders"
At this characteristic ending expect
ancy died again; how is the mouse, safe
lod ged in pussy's claws, to prove to her
she ought to let him go? might a
known you wa foolin'," muttered Bill,
who, although the youngest-or per-
haps because he was the youngest, and
of a wageish urn of m;ndShad less
fear Of his father than the rest.
"Very well, SIR" said Charles, re-
signedly. The party went about their
work; the younger boys talked to-
gether, but he wasslent, and a pitiable
expression Of hopelessness Swallowed
his face. His father may have felt that
he had been too harsh, for frequently
he glanced around at HIM, and during
the rest of the afternoon was as nearly
pleasant as his nature permitted. But
the sub .ect was not renewed. and a
week or more passed by. Charley vas
not the same lad, however; he did not
eat much, he moped. The truth was,
he felt for the first time that the key
was turned in the lock, and that he
himself was a prisoner. Hope had Wis
tied him before; now she was shut out.
A little village, no chance of earning
money, under age, ignorant except in
farm work and a little miscellaneous
reading-he was indeed hemmed in.
10 many, in a situation like this, m
the idea of escape, 40 matter what
means are used to effect it. It was
characteristic of the steady, clear
hooded lharlas that in the crash of his