Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-12
ONE SATURDAY..

| What Came from a Deception to Avoid
an Unpleasant Piece of Work.
''Just in time! just in time!" said
| Grandpa Welton, as he opened the
. kitchen door of the farmhouse to adj
NIT his three young grandsons. Il
was wondering not ten minutes ago
, how l would get that big pile of wood
| in the shed. Simon sawed it yester-
| day, but he didn't have time to put it
up, and now he's off to mill There s
at least a dozen bushels of apples in the
orchard to pick up, too
The faces of the three boys clouded
little.
''But, grandpa" said Joe, 1--WE came
over here to have a good time. We
didn't expect to be set to work"
.We'I see about the good time when
the wood is in and the apples picked
| up" said grandpa, with kindly twin
kle in his blue eyes. II know you
wouldn't feel content to play while 1
put in the wood. Now, would youp"
'.No, sir" cried Ned and Charlie to-
gether.
But Joe did not answer at ALL He
wasn't fond of work at any time, and
he thought because he went to school
all the week, he ought to have every
Saturday for play.
MANY hands make light work."
said grandpa, as he put on his hat and
coat, and led the way to the wood-shed.
"See how smart you can be. That
pile can be made to look considerably
smaller inside of ten minutes if you go
at it with will"
And he walked away in the dlrec-
ton of the stable, where a carpenter
was putting up a couple of new stalls.
Il wouldn't have come over if I'd
known would have to work like this, ="
was out of hearing.
Il wonder what he means to do in
order to give us a good time this after
noon?' said Charlie.
"Nothing much, you may be sure, :"
returned Joe. Like as not he'll let
us take turns riding old Prince up and
urday. Great fun that! A fellow
might lash Prince till his arms ached,
and the stiff old creature wouldn' t
90 Eastern walk"
"Well," said Ned, "rd sooner put
in this wood all alone than let grandpa
do it. 1t hurts him to stoop over, his
backs so lame"
at won't take us long if we work
lively" said Charlie. II say, Joe,
you're not doing your share / put in
four sticks to your one.'
1--we got a headache, and throwing
the wood makes it worse" said Joe.
''Oh, bother your headache! You
had one last Tuesday night. when mo-
Their wanted you to help clean the eel
lar; but you got over it in time to go to
Tom Lacy's to see the charades."
at does ACHE insisted Joe, angrily,
''and it will take us at least three
hours to get all this wood in. can't
do any more, no matter what you
say"
And he sank down on the saw buck.
with a rueful countenance.
''What's the matter with Joe?"
asked grandpa, coming up the path from
the stable.
HE says he has a headache" an
swered Ned.
us it the real, genuine article, or
one warranted to last only until the
wood is all in?'' asked grandpa, turn
ing to Joe with good-natured smile.
''It aches as if it would split" said
Joe, looking very much out of temper.
'.Well, that S too bad. Let the wood
alone, then. l don't want you to work
if you're sick. Come with me. and
We'll see if grandma can't do some
thing for you. She knows how to
make an herb tea that's irst-rate for
headache"
Joe didn't like the idea of taking
herb tea, but he didn't dare object for
grandpa knew. how to be very severe
on occasion, as he knew to his sor-
row.
The herb tea was very bitter, but
grandma was not satisfied until he had
drank large cupful; and then she told
him that he had better lie down and
keep quiet until dinner-time
mo, / think ! will go home," said
Joe. Il can lie down there if feel the
need of it,
Every well," said grandpa, "but
don't walk fast. I'm sorry you feel so
badly, for l was counting on having
you help us with our good time this
afternoon.
I'm sorry, too" replied Joe, with
deep sigh. ''My head didn't ache at
all when I left home, or wouldn' have
come over"
On his way to the gate he had to
pass the wood-pile, where Ned and
Charlie were working like young Tro-
jams.
Il hope the herb tea did you good, -
said Ned.
Its too bad you can't stay to ride
OLD Prince" said Charlie.
Joe made no reply, but his face wore
an expression of shame as he went out
of the gate and started down the road
leading to the village.
He found his mother busy making
| mince-pies, the baby on her lap.
"What! home so soon, Joes" she
said.
'.Yes'm I had such a headache ]
| couldn't stay. But feel better now.
I guess the walk did me good"
I'm glad of that, for you can take
care of baby. She is very fretful to
day, and won't let me put her down {
| minute"