The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25
LEATHER KNEES.


was bright and beautiful overhead, and
we'll, the less said the better about
what was underfoot-se enterprlslnR
small boys awoke to a remembrance OF
the fact that there is such game as
marbles in the world. No doubt they
were duly thankful; at any rate they
caused more or less confusion Tin most
cases more) each in his respective home
by hunting, oy-fashion, FOR the remains
of last years supply of marbles. At last
triumphant shout from seven strong
lungs, sounding through seven houses,
showed that the search had been success
ful. and that the treasures we're found.
Then the seven boys ran gaily off to
school, and seven mammas sighed. The
marble season had commenced.
On the school ground the boys met
and compared notes; then one ct them
drew straight line or a circle (Which is
it, boys?) with his thumb nail, and soon
all we're heartily engaged in the game.
At lergth the school bell rang; and
the boys all Jumped up quickly from the
damp, dirty ground, and slapped their
knees vigorously until the dirt was we'll
pounded In out of sight. That ID, all ex-
cept one did. Phil Lawrence, the most
tidy in appearance OF them all, gazed
ruefully at his own dirty knees for mo-
meDt, then remarked:
Rather hard on fellows knees, isn't
1T? 1t wouldn't take very many games
to wear hole clear through, to say moth
ing of the dirt"
"Oh, we'll, never mind!" Al Sanders
replied, "we don't have to wash or mend
them"
"No, sir, we don't but our mothers do!
More's the pity" was the indignant re-
joinder.
But by this time boys had reached the
the school room and there was no more
time for talking as they passed quickly to
their seats.
At the noon recess the boys exchanged
invitations with each other to bury back
as soon as possible from dinner; and al
Sanders called out banteringly to Phil:
"Now, my dainty Lady Phil, We will
hope to see you back again in good sea
son, unless you have decided to give up
playing such an untidy and unladylike
game as marbles"
But Phil had no intention of giving up
marbles; and it cut him to be called "my
lady," just as it would any other boy.
Nevertheless, he did not hurry one bit;
but on the contrary walked toward home
at an unusually slow pace. He was
thinking. He did dearly love marbles;
but then he loved his mother, too, and
did not like to make her any more
trouble than he could help.
sand it can't be much fun to clean
dirty knees every once in while and
patch them, too, in the bargain"
Suddenly thought struck him, and
with such force that he said Oil" right
out loud i'll the street. Then he turned
right about face and went into Mr.. VIM
ter's shoe shop, which happened to be
standing conveniently near.
"Mr. Winter, have you any pieces Of
leather you could sell me?"
Eyes, guess so. how much do you
want9"
"Tnis much" Phil answered after a
moment, holding up two pieces. That
settled, he ran home fast enough, l can
tell you, to make up for lost time. He
20 hn
busted himself with the leather. First
he cut two soft, black pieces into oblongs
about six by eight inches; then he seal
Hoped the edges, cut three holes in each
end of them, hunted up some shoestrings
and tied these pieces of leather over his
knees. 1t did not take him long to eat
his dinner and run back to school, where
he was one of the first boys ON the play
ground. OF course the leather-covered
knees attracted general attention.
"What in the world has he got on his
knees?" exclaimed one in wonder.
ooh, hol Leatherkneesl" from anoth-
or.
"Let's get piece of carpet for him to
kneel on," suggested the third.
While fourth bowed low and said
with mock Difference:
"Captain Leatherknees, may We pre-
sumo to ask you to play game of mar
bles with us?"
Roly Poly Potter, a fat, good natured
boy, with very little mind OF his own,
stood by and giggled at the remarks OF
the other boys, while Harry Anderson,
Pills chum, said Indignantly:
~ don't see what there is to make
such fuss about"
Phil stood in silence until the first ex-
citement was over, then he exclaimed
manfully:
"Now see here, boys Honor bright
don't you think our mothers have enough
to do without lot of extra knee-clean-
ing and patching? We wouldn't like it
if we had to do it ourselves, and don't
suppose our mothers enjoy it very much
Now il we would only wear these leather