The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-23
"ooD BLESS THE BOYS"


"GOD BLESS THE BOYS"
Tho Very "Good Joke" which Was
Played on Old Widow Martin and the
Ono She Played ON the boys.
II tell you, boys, I'm going to have
some fun to-night!' said Lionel Ross,
overtaking four or five other boys who
were walking leisurcly along the vii
lage street on their way home from
school.
1t was a warm, pleasant afternoon
in spring. All nature seemed fresh
and rejoicing. A slight spring shower
of few moments duration had puri-
fed the air, frightened the green sward
and the twigs. and inspired the robbins
and thrushes with spirited songs Just
the right sort of day to put party of
tired school-boys in good humor with
themselves and all the world
"What are you going to do, Lionel?"
asked one of the party.
II mean to play good joke on some
one," replied Lionel laughing in a
mysterious manner.
Going to play it on boy or girl?"
one asked.
Neither" was the short reply.
"Man or woman? Or are you go
ing to tease Lima Sydney's new dogp"
questioned another.
Neither the first nor the last"
"Ihen it must be a woman. Come,
Lionel, let us hear the plan; perhaps
we can help"
Every well, replied Lionel, 81 will
let you help; and can promise that
every one of you will have jolly time.
Nothing bad. however; but no one
shall ever find out who did it. l shall
expect every one of you to meet me on
the school ground at eight o'clock
sharp and bring spades"
"But, see here, Lionel" spoke up
Fred Morse, ''I'd like to know what
the joke is first"
"pll tell at eight o'clock. Good
afternoon" and he turned towards
home.
At a quarter before eight six boys
were lying on the grass in the play
ground, six spades stuck in the turf
near by, while rake was seen hang
ing on the fence.
"Well, guess we are all here, so
what is all this racket about?" drawled
Ed Wallace, rolling over to take a
look at the full moon, which was
flooding the country with sea of mel
low light.
''It is this" spoke Lionel. "This
afternoon aJ recess [ was walking
along the fence here, and saw old
Widow Martin out in the garden try
ing to dig up place to plant her
onions; and just then Nou know how
she likes to talk to herselD saw her
lean on her spade to rest her back,
and heard her say: oh, how I wish
had dollar to hire a man to dig up
this hard groundn And then she went
ut it again. She didn't see me watch
ing her, but was, and felt just as if
I'd like to jump over the garden wall
and do it for her; because she is so old
and lame that it is impossible for ner
to do it. just then the bell rang and
we went to school, but Horned a plan
to give her surprise tonight, or
rather tomorrow morning. So, shall
we commencep'
"Yes!' came from all quarters, and
in moment they were climbing the
fence.
'.Now, the first one that speaks
aloud or hits his spade against another
goes over the fence towards homew
commanded Superintendent Lionel.
'And l want all the clods knocked
tpe."
"All right"' and the spades were
stuck into the soil. Several men and
boys passed along the street, which
was quite distance from the garden;
but, happily. no one saw them. An
hour and half passed, and the garden
had been dug deeply and thoroughly;
and the rake had not been idle, either,
for the fresh soil was rakcd fine and as
nearly leveled as the iron teeth and q
pair of willing hands could do it. The
borders were carefully graded and
patted hard with the spades, and all
along the edges the trespassers wrote
with their fingers:
Mrs. Patience Martin, Mapleton,"
"Onion beds" Potato Department"
Cabbage Square" and yours Truly
With light hearts and dirty shoes
they leaped over the fence, and with
little regard to military rules, the
spade brigade" marched up town and
disbanded.
But do you think that Mrs. Martin
never knew who played the joke on
herp OF course she did She saw them
from her bedroom window all the
while they were busy; and it nearly
melted her old heart. Tears trickled
down her wrinkled cheeks, and she
was almost tempted to raise the win
dow and thank them at once; but, kind
old soul, she guessed their object, and
wisely refrained from spelling their
surprise"
But the next morning the school
children were all looking over the
fence and spelling out the rude capitals
printed upon board, and nailed up in
the center OF the garden. "God bless
the boys. Our Sabbath Home.
DIVING FOR PEARLS.