Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-03-14
SIR PERC1yAL.

Wv o0OAh III pAS Jus |
was binding her eyes and pricking her
fingers over an endless seam in a Shirt
which Tom intended to honor her by
wearing. Jehoshaphat, adorned with a
long beard manufactured from the CON
tents of his mothers cottonwood bag,
and spectacles confscated from his
grandfather's pockets, was lecturing to
an array OF the dining-room chairs, in
emulation of the wandering patriot. who
addressed, a crowded meeting in the Mu-
sic Hall last week.
II was an old, well-thumbed book that
Tom was reading. It was filled with
stories most wonderful to hear, of the
golden days of chivalry, when every
body was a knight, and every knight
fell to fighting with every other knight;
when beautiful young ladies were very
often lost in the woods, and every
knight that happened to come along and
find them was instantly seized with a
desire to knock half a dozen other
knights on the head; when there were
entertainments and spells of fairies upon
earth; when the human race consisted
entirely of gentlemen and ladies'; and
when disagreeable people, who will
have coarse hands and ragged clothes,
were never heard OF. Altogether it was
q most charming book.
EDO pull up that curtain, Sue! l
haven't got but half a streak of light in
this, corner" remarked Tom. He con-
sidered employment good for his sisters
health, and used kindly to prescribe for
her, even when her business was most
pressing. That Susy, rising in haste to
obey his orders, should lose her thimble,
break her needle and tip over her work
basket did not in the least rutf1e his
composure. Great minds are never dis
turbed by tri'les.
All! but they were pleasant reading
these stories! There were the wonder
full adventures of Sir launcelot-
Launcelot the brave and bright, fairy
guarded, iron-armed, deadly in stroke
and gracious in pardon; he who was the
pride of the good King Arthur, and the
knights of his Table Round; who for
many a long year loved the Queen,
Guinevere the Beautiful, as never
Queen was loved before; who fought
with the %fiercest and strongest of
knights that trod the shores of "Merrie
England" and led warriors into battle
and conquered kingdoms; who faced all
enemies, all hardships, all danger; who
would have yielded life itself for hel
sweet sake.
"Swords and daggers!" exclaimed
Tom at last. '.What a stupid age We
do live in! No chance for a chap to be
anything or do anything. The fair sex
ore not appreciated; they are not prop
pion-I will fight for them-I will die
for them!"
ooh, Tom! please do look out; you've
got your feet on my sewing!" cried
susyy; +,o.o ,ut+on.so,o, .uano,
than the last" said Tom, tripping out
of a labyrinth of cotton and putting on
his cap.
"Dear as the sisters at our firesides!"
shouted Jehoshaphat, bringing down
both fists on his desk with a force that
Knocked off his s%pectacles. ''Where're
are you going, Tom"
"Where are you going?" asked Susy,
laying down her work. Tom looked
impatient. 1t was impossible, you
know, to make a girl understand his
great schemes of adventure.
ooh, won't you take me out skat-
ing?" pleaded Susy. 1--we got my new
skates, and l can't learn because 1 can't
90 alone. All the other girls brothers
go with them; I did want ="
"Couldn't possibly" interrupted
Tom, sporting his fathers cane. '.I've
got so much business on hand to-day;
It's out Of the question-out of the
question
"Sue," said Jehoshaphat, meditative-
ly, ''what are you?"
'"What am i? A girl, 1 supposed"
"Will they fight and die and bleed
for tshem?" began Jehoshaphat again,
g%esturing frantically at his audience,
while he set them up against the wall.
Tom started out for a walk, shoulder
ing his cane like a musket; then he re-
flected that knights did not have mus
kets, and tried to carry it like q sword;
but it got between his feet and nearly
tripped him up. However, this was but
q slight drawback in the career Of glo-
~ upon which he had entered. He
would find all the fair maidens who
were plunged in distress; he would be
their delivercr; they would smile upon
him, and he would veal their favors.
He would revive the old dead days of
chivalry; he would be dubbed Sir Per
cival, a new hero OF romance, before
whom even Launcelot's fame should
pale. -
"Have you found any of 'em yet?"
called a voice behind him. And there
was Jehoshaphat. He had followed,
unseen, all the way, and was now walk
ing demurely in his brothers. footsteps,
those ~unutterable spectacles across his
nose, ami 3 huge umbrella shouldered
after the Tom carried his cane.
"J.," said the indignant Sir Percival,
s.CO home to the nursery e C.
"When's it going to be time to fight
and dep" persisted Jehoshaphat, walk.
ing on. sa
II should like to give you a good shak-
ing"
ell rather think you are," said Je.
Aoshaphat, struggling to free himself
from his brothers hold. 81 though
big boys never pitched into little ones
Tom let go his unknightly grasp,
Md walked on He would not vast
Is t-
J=