The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-29

came to settle as to how it was to be
got out there would be no end of fun.
II was soon agreed.
As we expected, we found the dea-
cons gate as well as his wood-shed
door locked; but we were out for lark
and never thought of stopping for the
difficulties in our way.
A load of brick lay inside the fence,
exactly in our path, making it necessary
to take an unpleasant round among
some thorny wild gooseberries.
At it we went. Two boys climbed in
the window of the wood-shed; two
lifted the wood from the wagon and
passed it over the fence, while the re-
mainder of the force stumbled with it
among bricks and bushes, and hoisted it
into the small window.
On, what a task that wAsi We
worked like beavers, like horses, like
galley slaves; or, if there is any
thing in the world which works
harder, we worked like that. Lifting,
stretching, carrying, with lacerated
hands and torn clothes, if ever boys
were made to work for any useful end
as we worked that night for fun they
would surely be considered proper OBJ
iects for the consideration of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Boys.
"Histm said Jim, holding up warn
ing hand, when we were about half
done.
We all held our breaths. and listened
in dfsmay.
Il thought l heard something like
that jolly little chuckle the deacon al
ways gives when he's amused" whis-
pered Jim, but it couldn't have been. :"
lit isn't laughing we'd be likely to
hear from the deacon just now" said
another.
"No. He can scold, though, when he
takes a notion to-"
At last it was all in, piled snug and
close, with careful reference to making
it as difficult as possible to get it out,
and then we went home to our beds, the
tamest, achingest set of boys ever seen.
Most of us managed to be hanging
about the street at the time when Pat
came with his horses next morning to
hitch on to his lead, but we missed the
excitement we had hoped for He went
into the deacon's house for q few mo-
ments, then came out, and drove away
his empty wagon in the most matter-of-
course way imaginable. We boys were
the puzzled ones.
How we did worry our brains with
guesses and surmises as to how the mat
ter could have been settled. We said
nothing about it, however, to anybody,
and would have been glad to forget il
| ourselves; but there was a merry twin
kle in the deacon's eye every time he
met us which kept it in our minds.
At last we resolved to get at the Sc
cret.
How was it about that wood, any
how, deacon?"
The old gentleman laughed all over.
why, bless yaur hearts, boys! I'm
glad you've given me a chance OF
thanking you for that piece of work.
You've all been so modest concerning
it, hated to speak. Good thing to see
boys modest when they've been doing q
kindness. Found it mighty tough
job, didn't your l could see that when
| took peep out that night, and l felt
just like taking hold and giving a lift;
but | knew you were doing it to surprise
me, and didn't want to spoil it. Quiet
as mice, too, you were-didn't want to
disturb nobody. Yes; toughest kind OF
job! Why, boys, when bought tina,
load of Pat, that evening, we both said
it would be tug to get it in, and we'd
need good daylight for it; 50 we left ii
standing over night"
" Deacon" cried Harry Grant, % il
you'll agree never to speak of that
wood again, we boys'll agree to come
over, and saw and split and pile the
next load you buy"
And we did.-Sydney Dayre, ne Gold
en- Days.