The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-12-10
Jln1's SUNDAY MORNING.
BY EDITH ROBHSs0N,

SHARP twelve, mind, in tho church
porch" said Mr.. Starrett. authorita-
lively, as he refined up to let Jim slide
OH the back of the light wagon, where
he had been dangling his legs.
Yes, SIR" said Jim.
BE good boy" nodded Mrs. Star
rett.
"Yes'm,' said Jim.
He was half way to thefen by that
time, and did not look back as he
spoke. or put much expression into
the answer. He never did waste words
or show that he was thinking or feel
ing, except that sometimes he hitched
up one shoulder and scratched his chin
with it. Mr.. Starrett. il he had thought
anything about it. would have said that
perhaps a mosquito had bit him there.
Mrs. Starrett knew better. Not that
either of them had ever said anything
on the subject. They were farmer
folk. not given to the display of emo
ton. Cant we'll be anything else,
chuckled Mr.. Starrett, as they drove
along. II don't see how he can be
anything bu: good boy in crossing
the fields; and he won't have much
time to fool round in town. He'll
have to calker]ate some to get his
shirts and be on time. Like as not the
boy didn't even hear YOU"
well, l shall say it. One never
knows when boy will be exposed to
temptation; and word may come at
just the right time to influence his
whole life. He always comes to me
when he's going off anywhere, and says
'good-by;' and l always say be a good
boy, and he says 'yes'm.''
Mr.. Starrett laughed again. He
thought it was nonsense; but way un-
derneath it pleased him all the same,
as nonsense of this kind from a woman
always does please man, even against
his will.
II look after him as sharp as need
be. He don't fall into any of his ia
theirs tricks round here. If I see any
Of that''-Mr. Starrett's firmly closed
mouth finished the sentence.
They were forehanded people, the
Starrett's while again Jim's father was
pronounced 'shiftless, hain't got no
calkerlation. which in those thrifty
New England parts was the next worse
thing to saying he drank. Jim's father
did not drink; but if there were a loose
rake or stray pitchfork lying about.
if an odd bundle of tea or sugar was on
the counter of the village store. and he
was around the aforementioned articles
were pretty sure to vanish. Nothing
of great value, ever, though in the az
gregate they would, doubtless, have
amounted to considerable.
Sometimes he was caught at it; but
oftener he was not. All the same, the
farmers there abouts knew with uner.
ring instinct ut whose door to lay thu
disappearance of that bundle of oats
that had been left out to dry, or tn,
half dozen hay caps lying by the fence af
ter yesterdays shower. Sometimes they
had it out with Jim s father, and, once
in while caught red-handed in the
act, the stolen articles would be re.
turned.
No amount of circumstantial evi.
dence, or the testomony, sworn by hall
dozen witnesses, had ever brough,
him to confession. Nobody eve,
thought of complaint against him, how
ever, "calkerlating," with genuine
Yankee eve to the main chance, thai
they lost less through his inveterat<
habit of SD 4all pilfering than they woul,
by getting HIM lodged for term in the
county Jail, thereby throwing his fami
ly of nine children into tho poorhoust
or on the town for support. Jim was
tho eldest of the nine.
That spring Jim's father had moved
again. He never left the widespread
ing. scantily-settled town. He coulC
not leave tho checker-board, but moved
at stated intervals, from square t.
square. At the thirty-seventh move
Jim had felt justified in cutting him
self loose from the family fortune, ant
had hired out for the summer with the
Starretts.
He had never displayed any hered
itary symptoms; none of the nine had
was indeed, inclined to be money
catcher at which, though the Star
retts smiled little. they In no Wis
disapproved, and was prudent ant
saving to degree that called fortl
even Mr.. Starrett's appreciation. No
to his face, though. To praise tn
"hired boy" would not have done
But he said pleasant things of him t.
people, which was even better, and h
had spoken to his wife of handsome
present he intended to make him, owe
and above the summers wages.
Lately, even. he had vaguely hinte,
that golden future might await jim
oy the time he himself could afford t.
lay off work. He was good boy. an,
deserved a slice of luck. Always pro
vided he did not display any of hi
father pesky tricks; and Mr.. Starrett'
face darkened as he thought of tina
gun, with the double scratch on tn
left hand barrel. that had been spirite'
away. He had met Jim's father tn
next morning with the identica
weapon over his shoulder; but a.
hours threats had been insufficient t.
induce him to give it up.