Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-10-07

hear her voice, and there won't be no
one to think you're tip-top chap for
all you're the tormentinest chap you
ever see. And just about that time
they'd give their eyes to have chance
to make up for it, and they can't make
her hear, cause she'll be"-his voice
grew husky and he found it hard to go
on-'she'n be- under-the sod--and
what'll you do them"
Billy choked and gulped. and went
and crammed such wasteful amount
of wood into the stove that Sue quietly
rejoiced in seeing the fire quite smoth-
cred out
What are you going to do about 1t.
Billyp asked Sue. when Billy seemed
to have said his say.
'Well, I'd like to be man at one
jump, and dig in a coal mine, or set up
big store, or be a governor, or some
thin. But he said lot more, about
how we can't do big things, and how
little things went ever so far and would
make her very heart sing. And | amt
goin' 10 play any more shines. she.
I'm goin' to keep plenty of wood cut
and the box full and the kindlin's dry;
and I'm goin' TO fix up things bit for
her-yes, am! What do you think
she'd say, now. if she should find the
garden all stra ghtcned out when she
comes homen'
81 think she'd say, ''twas pretty
nice. Billy"
And how do You guess she'd look if
the old fence was mended, hey?'
Smiling Billy
And the wood piled and the walks
sweep up?'
BILLY, You'll get tired before its half
done and bc off with the bows.
She was wiser than she knew in
saying this, for if ANYTHING had BEEN
needed 10 put final brace to Billl's
resolutions, these doubling words would
have done it, He said no more, but:
made Il dash out into the little front
yard. His forlorn. unkempt hair
matched every other feature almost.
enough to account for the discourag ed
and woe-begone look always on his
mothers face. as she stitched away, ;;
with little time for anything else. Sue' S,
was no br, ghter, for the poor girl found
life a WEAKNESS i'm the neglected home
which, through her sad weakness, was
unable to improve.
Billy borrowed wheelbarrow, hunt
ed up spade. rusty through long dis
use and needed rake. After gather
ing up and carrying away load or
two of rubbish and last years dead
weeds and leaves. he began carefully
digging, and before long gave a shout
which brought Susie to the door.
Look, Sue. here's your pineys just
peepin' out of the ground. See their
tops? No. | won't cut 'em. And see
what lots more pansy blows I've found
under these leaves. And your rose
bush is bundin'-see! I'm goin' to set
mothers geranium right IN the middle
of this round bed. Won't she open
her eyes, thought
The beamng April sun shone cheer
fully down on Billy as he went on with
his labor of love. And the soft breeze
famed his check, seeming TO whisper
something like the words he had heard
telling him that nothing sweeter could
ever come into his life than the Joy of
showing tender care to those he loved
and who loved him. and who stood in
/ such need of all he could do for them.
And the early shoots seemed to smile
and nod up ut him in their soft green.
until he tired to fancy he could almost
hear them say:
go on, Billy, my boy! Do your best,
/ and we ii do our share.
Going into dinner. he found Sue in
spired by his example to the extent OF
quite vigorous securing up of the
things of the house.
why didn't YOU wait till | could
help you?" he sad ut must have
hurt YOU to do all this.
''Why, didn't half feel it,; it seemed
so good, somehow, to see things look
ing nee outside. didn't want to be
put to shame, YOU know
In the afternoon the boys came and
worried him. His very feet tingled to
scamper after Jim Pratt and pay him
! for last Sunday. And it was tantaliZ-
ing to hear of tricks successfully play
ed.
The bricks tied up and laid on the
sidewalk, the dime with string, the
ish-hook to catch passing hats-all
the small prauks dear to the heart o!
the average boy were sore tempta-
ton TO b lly.
But his heart had been very deeply
stirred in this matter of trying to atone
TO his mother for his past waywardness,
and ne manfuly stuck TO his wood-pile.
The garden was little beauty spot,
the fence mended, and things in order
to the very corners, when Billy sat
down on the steps with aching limbs
and lame back, but with heart and
face very full of satisfaction, to watch
for his mothers return.
IL don't see," said Sue. "why you
call it an April fooling. This amt the
kind of thing call April fooling."
well. Sue, mother thinks I've been
cutting up the worst all day long. You
know she does. She thinks I've been
turning things upside down and wrong
side out. Now, when she looks
'round"-Billy gave comprehensive
wave of his hand-"don't you believe
she II be pretty badly fooled? Hi. there
she comes! Keep quiet now, Sue, and
see if | amt right.
Billy crept TO the corner OF the fence
and shouted:
april fool!'
Mother came in and looked in aston
ishmcnt from one bright and orderly
thing TO another, taking in every detail
and realizing the amount of effort which
had been necessary to the bringing
about of such changed condition o.
things.
And rs the astonished expression
united itself to one of pleasure and
qualification. the two seemed to grow
and increase until not an inch of room
was left for the discouraged look, which