Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-03-11
on that little light pole Of mine, and
YOU remember what o timo had to

land him."
"Indocd do. I thought you had
lost him half dozen times, but you
stuck to him like a wise. When offered
to help you you got mad and told me
to mind my own business. Do you
rccolleot that?"
M siould say / did; but, Billy, to
tell the truth | was u little scared about
that fish. 1 didn't think l ever was
going 70 get him out without breaking
my pole"
81 knew it. knew 1t all the time.
but was afraid to speak to you about
II at the time. Let's see how long ago
was that Twenty-Five years, wasn't
itP"
"1u,t about twenty-five years is o
long time"
Long? / should say so. It's an
age to look forward to, but when you
look back it is only week or so. Odd
how time does n.y."
81 wonder what has become OF tho
old Dominic. Do you rccollect
himp"
"As well rs II no wero here now.
Tall, lank, bald rs an egg. He wore
spcctaclcs on tho end of his nose and
snuflcd when he talked. He had per.
pctual cough"
"Do YOU remember little PhillisP"
Little Phillis? Pretty little Phillis,
with the red cheeks, red lips, blue eyes,
golden hair. Do | remember Phillis?
Why, Billy, she has been framed in my
memory for many years past. You
used to bc very fond of her, Billy"
81 was, and so were you. All the
boys were. Even the Dominic used to
speak fondly to Phillis. She was the
only scholar who could miss the spell.
ing and not be kept after school. Don't
YOU remember how she saved me from
being iloggcd that day | stole the biz
red apple from Deacon Derrick's or
chardp'
al thought you did get logged"
"Wcll, | didn't. He kept me after
school and had just made me take oil
my coat. when little Phillis opened the
door and asked him what he proposed
to DO"
"'l'm going to punish this young
rascal as he deserves, hc said.
"lf you do she cried rs She ran
up to me and put her arms around
my neck, you will have to whip me
too
"Thc old man looked at me and then
looked mt her, and I'll be switched ii
tear, didn't come into his eyes.
"'Wcll,' he SMILED, well, You
young rascal, you richly deserve to bC
iloggel. but ON her account will
spare YOU this time. But watch onl
for yourself aud don't let this occur
again.
"Thcn philis and | walked home to-
gcthcr. and was 50 happy and proud
that wouldn't have changed places
with the King Of spain. Those wer'
happy times. Jack"
"Well, | should say they were. What
has become Of little PhillisP"
didn't YOU know? She married jim
Dorsey about fifteen years ago and Il
living in Indiana now. She has foul
or five boys, and the oldest one II
named after me. Every year she sends
me one Of those mincc pies she used t.
make and | have feast all by myself
bu, as long rs my memory lasts an
no, lonesome for company. But The
pies don't taste the way they used to.
al have noticed that too. My VIII,
makes what she calls doughnuts, but
they are no more like the kind we used
to steal out Of the cupboard than they
are like turkeys eggs. The old day.
were the best. aftcrall, Billy. We hat
no worries. Nopcrplcxiiics. No buSi'
ness cares. We never had TO hustle
around and meet notes in the day'
when we played hockey. We never
had to liz awake at night and plan fol
the future. The trouble with us thcr
was we didn't appreciate our pleasure
when we had them"
"No, indeed; II we had known how
much worse we would fare am afrai,
we would never have grown old.
think | should be wearing Kills an,
knickcrbockcrs now, and l am sure
never should have gotten out OF th'
first reader"
"Pa! interrupted childish voice
from the little bedroom at the head o
tie stairs. pal!
"Ycs. my boy" replied the parent
"To-morrow's Saturday. amt it?'
Eyes"
"Then I don't have to so to school
do l?"
"No, my son."
"Whcn | get to be n man won
have to 90 to school at all, will lP"
"No, my boy
"Say. pa, l wish was man righ
oil. Ihatc being u boy and going {
school. l."-Benjamin Northrop. IN NJ i
Graphic.