The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-05
YOUNG FOLKS.
How Six Boys Founded a Library.
Jamie Z. Jack in Cool Cheer1

How Six Boys Founded Library.
iAnnie L. Jack in Cool Cheer.l
An April day in Canada, How Chilly the
air in this northern part OF Quebec
The boys on the old Benson farm we're in
a hurry to get through with the noon
Chores" for then they were to go to the
woods and help Amable carry the sap 10 the
sugaT-house and there were many signs that
the sugar-making would soon be over for the
season. If there was good run they might
stay till very late, first coming home to do
evening "chOres," and after supper to carry
back some coffee and ginger snaps, with as
many apples as their capacious pockets
would hold, for treat for the sugarmakers.
So the work did not lag; the oxen were all
tied in, and as the last chain clanked round
old WhitenOse, the eldest of the boys, viii,
shouted. 'I'm off ~ and started through the
orchard, closely followed by Jim and Stan
ton, the latter. however, at more leisurely
pace stopping now and then to look for the
eggs of some of the numerous insects that
infest an apple orchard, or TO watch wood
pecker whose tap, tap, interested him. The
sun poured down a flood OF golden ligh. as
they reached the woods, and the balmy air
seemed enough TO quicken the life of spring
into the still dormant wild flowers.
No arbutes can be found here. but the
leaves Of the hepatiCa were plentiful, brown
spotted and quite ''liverworty," Stanton
said. as he searched for buds to take home
TO the girls" The tin pals glistened on
the sunny side OF the trees, some OF them
trimming over, and in the cabin
lively Kissing of boiling sap, for Amable had
brought his wife to stay for the night and
attend to the sugaring of She is a cherry
little habitat" and from her lack of Eng
lsh smiles and says "0ui.n 10 every Ques-
ton asked The sound OF AmiaDie's axe
rings through the woods and the boys hurry
to make up the fire for the september, using
the top branches of some newly-cut birch
trees, that they drag over the snow and chop
up beside the door, Then they put one the
yokes and carry sap in the lar e tin pals till
the puncEeons are full, and they run home
as the last glints OF the afternoon sun touch
the western shore.
Lets ask mother il Dave and Matthew
Wright may go with us TO night, said Will
as they reached the gate after a steady run,
in which jim beat,-poOr Jim whose feet
turned in little at the toes, till the boys
called him an Indian; and sure enough, he
had the Indian trait OF beating them all at
running
The other two boys nodded assent, while
Stanton spoke up for his own chum Johnny
10 be included They always asked mother, F"
and knew that she bad no objection to their
fevor1te crOnieS who were well-hehaved and
tidy boys, of pleasant manners. blessed with
a wise and loving mother, who strOve 70 b-ing
them up in good ways.
Don't forget to ask them about the Ii
brary we want" shouted Jim, as he climbed
up into the dark lott TO give The horses their
supper.
The stars were out and the April moon
showed sharp horn in the sky, when the
six boys who had met by some mysterious
signal that boys only know, took the lantern
and the can of coffee which Matthew insisted
OH carrying, and with a basket of eatables.
once more started for the woods.
There's a whole loaf Of bread. Johnny,
said Stanton, that's 10 break up i'm the hot
sap, like bread and milk, you know"
Wont we have Jolly timew gurgled
Johnny, gleefully, running backward over
the frozen ground, and singing as he went.
Wont we have jolly, Jolly timel"
Amable and his wife were busy at the fire,
pouring sap into the shallow pans at one
end, while watching the inishing-off at the
other, and the boys spent an hour in perfect
abandonment TO the sweets.
Then as the excitement wore Oft and the
steam cleared away they sat down TO talk,
iirst taking some potatoes from corner of
the cabin and placing them in the ashes,
dlteT TuODlD8 WIFI SHOW ana wafer Tor
roasted thus in the embers they were, OF
course, better than when cooked by the reg
ulatiOn method, and it mattered little il
they tasted of mother earth.
They sat before the fire on logs of wood,
except VIII, who had an old, splint-bottomed
chair, and having Toasted to safety, their
talk turned to the subject of the library.
"Uncle John sends me Harper's Magazine, y
said Matthew. and l have three years back
numbers; they can be lent and then you can
do the same with the Scientific American
that you subscribed for
1T would be better to get them bound
FIRST, said cautious Will, "Or the numbers
may get astTay. 1 shall plant ridge or two
Of popcorn; father is quite willing, and all
the money ii brings can 90 10 the library.
I've talked to father, and he has promi sed to
allow Us the use of the work shop next the
kitchen, and 10 help me make rough book
case till we do have town hail, and well
loan the books at so much year. or by the
month"
''Whewl" whistled Dave. That sounds
big"
The time passed quickly in discussing
ways and means. Johnny decided to grow
onions; Jim, to tackle an old strawberry bed
in the garden that his father had offered him
| il he would clean it, and all determined 10
something.
1t doesn't seem as if we can ever do it, -
salu ctantOn, carefully PICKING up the COllee-
pail as they made ready 10 return home
Let's hope FOR the best" said Matthew
and Will, struck by sudden thought, added
Let's call it Hope Library after your baby
sister, Matt"
To this all agreed, only Jim. who was
bit Of a sportsman added, It's like naming
your partridge before you get shot at it.
Wash the coffee can and put some tally
| in it for the girls" said Will; but Stanton
| hesitatingly confessed that he had filled il
with milky mass OF frogs spawn that he
had found in the afternoon and was carry
| ing home to be Matched out at his leisure.
The kitchen door of the Benson farm
| house is unbarred as they bid good night tC
| the Others, with the sage remark that ''SaI
\ won't run tomorrow" the outer door tina
| shuts out the faint, earthly smell of the field
| that fills the night air, and they are soor
| asleep. Will dreamed that he was in
bookcase with a giant Librarian putting ;
4 1oh - -, H. .-oI-o.