The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1884-05-27
An April-Fool.

The last days of March had come,
aud all the boys of Madison were full
y awake to the fact that skating for
: that season would soon be over Ev-
cry moment that could be snatched
from school or home duties was spent
on some little pond about the town.
Bat March was almost gone and al
ready some of the skating places were
spoiled, and tine milder weather
threatened to ruin the rest.
Friday afternoon, March 81, Char
ley Sawyer. with few comrades
hurried to Bramble's pond as soon as
school was out, but alas! the ice was
broken up. a short consultation was
held and it was decided to go over to
Settles pond, half mile farther from
the village.
Don't believe III co." said Char
ley, who had taken no part in the
discussion.
"Oh, come along," said one.
"Why not ?" asked another.
81 don't care to go. It's long
walk. 'Twont pay"
He might have added also that he
hoped little to do an errand for
some one before night to earn, may
be, nickel. He had been trying
hard to save money enough to buy a
book. The little things he could find
to do to earn anything often took up
time he would have liked to have
spent in play, but he never thought
of giving up. He took what they
called the eshort cut" going home.
passing on his way tiny house where
lived Mr. Watson and his daughter.
hiss Watson tapped on the window
snd beckoned Charley to come in.
Il wasn't a very cheerful scene that
me- his eyes as he entered.
Mr.. Watson, very old and feeble
man, sat in big chair wrapped in an
old comfortable. His daughter, a
rn;ddle-aged woman, hobb!ed forward
painfully to offer chair. a very
small fire burning in the cooking
stove made the room look very cheer
less, and the boy wondered how it
could keep them VAIN.
ave been sick will: the rheuma-
tism," said Miss. Watson, land l
am so lame can hardly walk"
"We're out Of potatoes" she ad-
ded, "and ] can't 60 to the store for
any, but ] thought when / saw you
comm may be you'd ask Mr.. Maphet
to send us small measure by some
one that's comm this way"
Miss Watson took a piece Of mon
ey from small, lean purse as she
spoke.
eyes," said Charley, 81 am going
there tonight -
"I'll be obliged to you if you viii.
We've got out of most things tlis
cold spell It's lasted so long"
81 think the Watsons must be real
poor," said Charley to his mother on
reaching home.
"Wby, were you there ?" asked
the mother.
Charley told her about the errand
he was to do for Miss Watson.
"They had such little fire." he
added "it's cold enough yet for a
good fire, think"
eyes, expect they are poor. If
Miss Watson has had the rheuma-
tism, she hasn't been able to go out
to do anything, likely
Mr. Maphet laughed little when
Charley gave him the small order
"Better keep the money. | don't
know when I'll have chance to send
'em. / don't think my customers go
that way much. Roads too rough"
Charley went home wondering
what he had best do about it He
remembered Miss Watson had said
they were "oat Of most things" :"
;Iaybe they'd starve if they did not
get the potatoes soon, and then a
small measure of potatoes wouldn't
ast long. How nice it would be to
axe her busLel instead, but he had
% money 70 pay for them Yes,
.y,ere was his money in the box up
s;ails, but that he meant to save for
.s.e book. He could not expect faith
or mother to help, for they were