Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-09-26
Creek. So we went to the creek, and
found them there, swimming about in the

NJ
found them there, swimming about in the
water with some other boys.
"Hullo, fellers !" Jack called, when he
saw US. "Come on in !"
We shook our heads, for we did not feel
like swimming. When he and Charley
came out for another dive, we told them
about the heifer's disappearance.
Neither of them took the intended dive,
but began to hurry on their clothes. Jack
exclaimed "Jiminy!" and Charley looked
frightened.
When they were dressed, all four of us
again went back to the cave.
Everything there was just as Teddy and
had left it, and the heifer was still miss
ing. We hunted for her all the rest OF the
day, but to no purpose, and late in the
afternoon, tired and hungry, returned to
the village.
We were now pretty we'll alarmed, for,
since the heifer was lost, OF course we could
not return her.
"S'posin' any one should find out we
took herr" Teddy suggested, as we drew
near home. "They'd say we stole her, 1
"Well,n said Jack, ''as longs she gone,
we can't help it. P'raps we can find her
again; but if we can't we must keep still
about her, and don't believe anybody'u
think ace took her."
The rest of US expressed the same hope,
and then we separated.
The following week was not very en-
ioyable one for any of US. The helter was
not once out of my mind; dreamed OF
her at night, and spent part of every day,
with the other boys, in hunting for her; !;
when anybody spoke to me, l was imme-
diately thrown into a great fright, lest
they were going to accuse me OF steailng
the heifer.
To our surprise, however, no one said q
word about the animal. We supposed that
the whole village would be talking OF Far
mer Applegate's loss, but nothing was
said and what was stranger still, even ne
did not speak of it. Every day of that
week some one of us four went to read the
"Iost and Found" notices that were nailed
on a big tree by the post Office, expecting
each time to see one relating to the heifer;
but nothing of the kind appeared. So the
week dragged slowly along, and at last
Sunday dawned.
There were three churches in our village,
Methodist, a Baptist and Congregation
al the last named was great white wood
en- structure, surmounted by tall steeple,
and thither regularly, every Sunday morn
ing, went with my parents to church,
or to "meetin'," as they used to call it.
Jack and Teddy went there too, and
Charley, of course, as his father was the
minister.
On this Sunday the service began, as
usual, with prayers and hymns, and,
finally, after all the people had settled
themselves comfortably, and some of the
older ones had closed their eyes for a nap,
Mr.. Emmons began his sermon.
His text was the eighth commandment,
"Thou shalt not steal" I was SO sur
prised when he gave it out that almost
jumped off my seat.
"sThou shalt not steal," he repeated,
looking, as I thought, directly at me, and
then continued his sermon.
I did not like sermons when was boy
and generally paid very little attention to
them, but on that day I think l heard
every word. Once or twice I looked across
at Jack, but he sat there with his mouth
wide open, listening intently. MIR. EN-
mons preached for long time, but, at last
he stopped greatly to my relief.
After church I did not stay to speak to
the other BOYS, as usually did, but went
thoughtfuIly home with nay father and
mother.
Powerful sermon that, Jane," 1 heard
my father say.
"Yes," replied my mother, II wonder
who he was preachin' at 2"
I felt that I could very easily have told
them whom he had preached at, had l
cared to do so. We had but two meals on
Sunday, breakfast and an early supper, so,
after lettering about the house for a while,
T started out alone for walk, and invol-
UNFAIRLY proceeded toward the cave. 1
was still thinking of Mr.. Emerson's SER
mon, and felt quite sure that Charley must
have told his father something about our
taking the heifer. Arriving at the cave,
whom should I find there but Jack, lying
on the ground, his forehead resting on his
arms.
"Hullo! what's the matter" ?" I asked:
"Nothin'," he muttered, without look
ing up, and so sat down on the root OF
tree near by.
In a few minutes Charley and Teddy
made their appearance:
"Hullou they exclaimed, "you here ?'
"Seems as if we was" I answered, and
then they, too, sat down and nothing was
said for some time.
At last Jack rose up. His hair was tum,
bled and his eyes looked red, as II ne had
been crying.
II don't care, fellers," he said, II can't
stand it any longer. s'pose you'll think
I'm a baby and coward and everything,
but I'm goin' to tell Farmer Applegate all
about the heifer."
"ShoW Teddy exclaimed, 81 guess what
Mr.. Emmons said this mornin' has scared
yer"
"It amt only that" answered Jack, and
then his face flushed. "Fellers," he said,
81 promised my mother, just before she
died, that" -
He stopped abruptly and a sob broke
from him, while his eyes filled with tears
for he had loved his mother dearly, and
her death, year before, had been great
grief to him.
q Charley said nothing, but bit the end of
a stick } had picked up; and Teddy be-
gan to dig the ground with the heels of his
boots. After a moment Jack recovered
himself and continued
II promised her." he said, "that l would
never do anything should be ashamed to
have her know; and, fellers, If she was
alive now I don't believe could look her
in the face, for our taking the helfer was
just about the same as stealing, I've been
thinking of it all this last week, and I've
laid awake nights over it, and 1T seemed
az if everything in the room was pointin'
at me and sayin', Thief! thiefn So, now,
/ don't care what you fellers may think,
but I've made up my mind to do as l
know my mother would wish me to do; /;
Pm going to Farmer Applegate this very
afternoon
He stopped; but his words had made a
deep impression on all of US, and, instead
of considering him mean and coWardly,
think from that day we liked Jack more
than before.
"I'll 20 with you, jack" said I, laying
my hand on his shoulder, "for stole her
Jest as much as you."
Then Teddy and Charley said they
would 20, and so we started at once for
Eorpoor AnDapatn'S We did not say