Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-12-01

and tore hole in his trousers.
Mamma" he cried. picking himself
up and going toward the house. But
he suddenly remembered that mamma
was not to be called upon. He ran up
stairs to change the torn garment.
"Ahl two buttons off my otter
pants. Gad | forgot to tell about It..
Never mind can sew them on my
self. often have. It's easy enough to
sew on buttons"
IL had been, when mamma gave him
the needle and thread. But now, as he
took fine needle and coarse thread, he
wondered why it had never seemed SO
hard before. 1t took him a long time
10 thread the needle, and then every
stitch was separate trial. He tugged
away. got het and furried, and pricked
his finger tine and again.
At last he felt sure the button was
sewed on tight, but, as he sprang up to
put on the trousers, he found that they
were sewed to the skirt OF the coat he
had on. With tears halfway to his
eyes he took out his knife and cut the
stitches. No one was waiting to see if
his necktie was neatly tied or to hand
him his books. The school bell was
ringing and he rushed away with the
torn trousers on.
But he was late, to his great regret;
for he had begun school with resolve
not to have one tardy mark during the
| year.
The tear in the trousers kept catch
ing IN things and tearing larger, until
he was very much ashamed of it, and
/ glad, at length, to hurry home. As he
again sewed on the button he could not
help wondering if mending ones own
Clothes were not a little harder than
cutting kindllng.
Never mind, +" he said to himself.
Nobody will ask me to do anything
after dinner; and can do Just what I
please all day, when l get out of
school,"
He went to the dinner table with
boys appetite.
"Where's my plateT" he asked, see
ing no place ready for him.
Have you forgotten our agreemeA 2"
asked his mother.
why, no. mammal | said nobody
need do anything for me. l am going
to wash my own dishes when Pm
done"
but do you expect anyone to cook
for you?"
Phil stared at her for moment, then
gave a rather blank look at the roast
beef and sweet potatoes. But he was
not ready to give up.
II did forget, that's fact" lie SAID,
"A no
ouS.
But there was little spirit in the
laugh, and mamma looked after hIm
with sober face.
81 can't see him miss his dinner"
she said.
But his father said: let him learn
his lesson well. 1t will not hurt
him" "
PM went out to tie orchard and ate
apples, not troubling himself TO think
whether anybody had raised them for
him, and rejoicing in the reflection
that, when picking time came, he
would not have any part of that work
TO do.
lie went fishing, and on bis way
home had the satisfaction of sitting on
the fence to watch his brother Ben
drive the COW home. Ben hailed him
The Pratts have come to tea"
That's jollyl" shouted Phil, spring
ing from the fence and running home,
leaving Ben to plod along with the
cow.
He hurried TO his room. The bed
Was not made, and everything he had
touched that day lay where he had
left it, which did not trouble him.
Hello. no waterl" he exclaimed, as
his empty pitcher flew up IN his hand.
But, bethinking himself, he ran for his
own water.
snow for a clean collarr' But
his face fell as he saw none in his
drawer. 1t was plain that they had
not come up from the wash, and he
would not ask for one. What did he
want of collar, anyway, when no one
would expect to see him at the tea
table?
He erept out to the barn, found a
cup, and managed to get a good drink
OF milk from the COW, then ate more
apples, and from the hayloft watched
the merry group at play on the lawn,
trying to think 1t very nice not to be
expected to help about the chores.
But, as he lay awake after going to
bed, restless and trife hungry, he be-
gan to wonder if his bargain was alto
getheT satisfactory one. He recalled
something he had heard his mother say
about Its being impossible for anyone
to live unto himself or to escape the
duties and respOns; bilIties owed by each
to others, and that all peace and haT<
mOny and happiness depend upon the
good will and cheerinesS and loving
kindness with which these duties are
performed. He fell asleep thinking he
would probably not try his new plan
longer than the week he had spoken OF.
The clothing kept slipping from his
unnSde bed, causing him much dis.
comfort as the GOODNESS OF the autumn
night settled dOws. ueawoke at the
sound OF the breakfaSt bell to keen
perception of the delightful smells of
mutton chops, buckwheat cakes and
other good things.
swell" he exclaimed, jumpisg m,
"I'm not going to live another day on
apples if know myself. After ALL"
he west on, as he dressed himself, "it's
a mean and sneaking thing to try and
shirk things. get all want TO eat,
and good, too The shifted eagerly as the
appetizing smell came stronger;l and
It's a pity If can't do little to help
on"
He was out and had the leaves raked
before breakfast, at which he appeared
with a glowing color and a sidelOng
glance at mamma
~ think I've tried it long enough,
mamma" (" he said with smile. 81 be-
Heye III do chores and board with you
il you'll take me back"
''I WILL" said mamma, passing him
the hot cakes.