The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-04-30
LEATHER KNEES.

LEATHER KNEES.
The Unique Organization Effected by
Number of Mother-Loying Boys.
On certain spring morning when
all was bright and beautiful overhead,
and-well the least said the better
about what was under foot-several
enterprising small boys awoke to the
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 con-
fusion lin most cases more). each in
his respective home by hunting, boy
fashion, for the remains of last years
supply of marbles. At last tri-
umphant shout from seven strong
lungs, sounding through seven houses,
showed that the search had been sue
cessful, and that the treasures were
found. Then the seven boys ran gayly
off to school, and seven mamfnas
sighed. The marble season had COM
menced.
On the school-ground the boys met
uho Coilp lCo lolCSf tiCh WIG va puCih
drew a straight line, or circle (Which
is it boysp) with his thumb nail, and
soon all were heartily engaged in the
game.
At length 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 well pounded in, out of sight!
That is, all except one did. Phil Law
renee, the most tidy in appearance of
them all, gazed ruefully at his own
dirty knees for moment, then re-
marked:
''Rather hard on fellows knees,
isn't itp 1t wouldn't take very many
games to wear q hole clear through, to
say nothing of the dirt
"Oh, well, never mind!' AL Sanders
replied, 1--WE don't have to wash OF
mend Them"
mo, sir! we don't; but our mothers
do! More's the pity" was the indig.
nant rejoindeT.
| But by this time the boys had reached
the school-room, and there was n6
more time for talking, as they passed
quickly to their seats.
! ltb bnt hOOh lCCCSb bll6 bO1o Ca
changed invitations with each other Il
hurry back as soon as possible from
dinrer, and AL Sanders called ou
banteringly to Phil:
''Now, my dainty Lady Philip, w
will hope to see you back in goot
season, unless you have decided to civ
up playing such an untidy and unlady
like game as marbles. 7"
But Phil had no intention of givin
up marbles; and it cut him to be calle,
..my lady," just as it would any othe
boy. Nevertheless he did not hurr
one bit; but on the contrary wake
toward home at an unusually slo'
pace. He was thinking. He di
dearly love marbles, but then he love
his mother, too, and did not like t
make her any more trouble than h
could help.
'.And it can't be much fun to clea
} dirty knees every once in while, an
patch them, too, in the bargain.
Suddenly thought struck him, an
, with such force that he said "Oh!
| right out loud in the street. Then /
, turned right about face and went ini
Mr.. Winters shoe shop, which hal
pened to be standing convenient
6 near.
Mr. Winter, have you any pieces
! leather you could sell mep"
/ Eyes, l guess so; how much do ye
want?"
'sThis much," Phil answered, after
: moment, holding up two pieces. Tn
e settled, he ran home fast enough, l CT
4 tell you, to make up for lost time. I
found dinner not quite ready, SO
!, busted himself with the leather. FIJI
he cut two soft black pieces into o
4 longs, about six by eight inches; tn,
he scalloped the edges, cut three hol
/, in each end of them. hunted up son
o shoe-strings and tied these pieces
s leatluer over his knees. 1t did not ia
d long to cat his dinner and run back
school, where he was one of the fiji
7 boys on the playground. OF couI
Y the leather-covered knees attract
general attention.
e ''What in the world has he got on
d kneesp" exclaimed one, in wonder.
}! "Oh, ho! Leather-knees!'' from 9
other.
is Lets get piece of carpet for h
l. to kneel on" suggested third.
While fourth bowed low and sa
with mock Differences:
y captain Leather-knees, may we p
1T sumo to ask you to play a game
marbles with usp'"
lie Roly Poly Potter, fat, good-natul
boy, with very little mind of his oy
IN stood by and giggled at the remarks
It the other boys, while Harry Anders
re Phil's chum, said, Indignantly:
Or ~ don't see what there is to M
e, such fuss aboutr'
Phil stood by in silence until the
ly excitement was over; then he
claimed, manfully:
r. "Now, see here, boys. Honor brig
Y. don't you think our mothers h
'ee enough to do without lot OF e,
knee-cleaning and patchingp
wouldn't like it if we had to do it I
rr selves, and don't suppose our nj
No ers enjoy it very much. Now if
q would only wear these leather-kne'
w would save a good deal; and we G,