Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-08-29
HOW SOMETHING" HAPPENED
American Agriculturist,


It's so poky, and just the same thing
over and over-nO eXcitement-nO
nothing w-"Look out for you gram
mar, Sam."-"O, bother, Tom !"
"Well, what's the matter, old fellow?
You're out of sorts. "Why, moth
ing ever happens in this house, but
Christmas, Fourth of July, Thanks
giving. The remaining days of the
year can be mapped out by a history
of any oneof them; breakfast, chores,
school, more chores, lessons, bed ;
and when / think Of that programme
being heightened out for half dozen
years, l grow desperate. 1t must be
nice to live where volcanoes are plen-
ty, for if nothing else happened, an
earthquake would. Over at Bran
sons the other night, a burglar tried
to open the parlOr blinds. Phil.
heard the noise, and going to the
window, dropped the wash bowl on
the intruder's head. And only last
week trampwent into Mrs. Ewing's
kitchen, and began to help himself
to some pies she had just baked. He
didn't see Cy in the corner, but Cy
saw him, and stepping behind him,
collared the old fellow, who thought,
| suppose, it was man dealing with
him, and broke away, and made for
the gate. Cy picked up the black
berry pie which had been dropped 50
suddenly, and following the rascal,
gave it to him with vim; he went
out of the gate a walking advertise
ment of blackberry pies. Now moth
ing like that ever happens here. I'd
just like to have pop at a burglar,
or rescue a drowning child, or carry
out some bed-ridden old woman from
burning building, Or"
"Did you feed your rabbits this
morning? ?"
'No, l forgot"
"Well, that is your first duty.
There may not be much glory at
tached to the work, but it is a duty
none the less, and l don't think great
opportunities are likely to occur to
him who neglects small ones"
Sam went to feed his pets, saying,
soto voce atom would make good
preacher"
Tom turned to his Latin exercise,
and while both are busy, l will tell
you who they are. Tom Gray had
just entered his SEVENTEEN year, al
though he looked older. Young as
he was, there had grown into his face,
out of the experience through which
he had passed, an expression of ear.
nest thought and purpose, as if he
had taken hold of life with the right
sort Of grip, as indeed he had. He
knew that it was by the strictest
economy their income could be made
to just overlap their expenses he
was impatient for the time to come
when he could be bread-winner fol
the home. And to this end he made
the most of his advantages. One
might say, he was too serious, but {
fatherless boy, as Tom was, is apt tt
be serious, if the father has left hin
burden to bear. Sam was three
years younger than his brother. HI
was a jolly, good natured sort of boy
when things were right. His laugh
was so cherry and contagious, tina
the graveSt face would relax at it
sound. Every boy in the neighbOr
hood took Sam into his confidence
even the dogs were his friends, anC
in general he was happy boy. Blu
when things went wrong, there was
peculiar turn his eyebrows toOk--a
though sign were hung out, tina
everybody might know the state O
Sans weather, 50 to speak-and hi
rosy lips pulled out in such a sugges
tive way, that Cy Ewing used to sa,
sympathetically, "Dida naught,
bee sting him ?" You may be sure
before Cy delivered himself in thi
manner, he saw the way clear befor
him for run, although he Nigh
look back and say, "I'll come bac1
when the swelling's gone down." fC
they were fast friends.
Now, that you have been intro
duced to the two boys, word fc
their mother. Seven years befOr
our story begins, her first-born, JoC
had, at only thirteen, grown wear
of home. 1t was too narrow for HI
impatient, restless spirit. He longe
to be from under restraint, and to sc
something of the great world, II
hated books. The richest man Il