The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-01

that he was going to open his apple
mound that afternoon, and il they'd let
their boys come over with bags he'd give
EN- oil snug loads.
So afternoon found Messrs. Agnew
and Norton, and one substantial, jolly
looking stranger early in the orchard.
This afternoon the air was again frosty.
and the old tracks stood up in go d
shape.
Henry Uncarfer soon came up slap
ping last years weeds with grain bag;
Daniel Downs came with a pillow care
neatly folded, and his pants neatly
folded. and his pants neatly patched (;
Billie Pond, and Johnny Shepherd. and
Tommy Stark were also there. Robert
Waters had not been invited, for his
people were not of the poor nor himself
of the suspected. But, passing the or
chard, he saw the boys, hoped over the
fence, and was welcome.
Just as he came up the substantial
stranger was saying, in an off hand way
with finger toward the diamond track:
Boys. that's the print of a rather neat
boot-that square toe and that tack da-
mond on the sole. I'll bet a five cent
shinplaster that there isn't boy here
that can match that track.
Robert hadn't permanently forgot
ten hIs late evening of mischief, but he
thought Messrs. Agnew and Norton had,
and the stranger, of course, was not in
terested. So, after all the other boys
had looked at their boots and stood back,
Robert recognized his own, and said 4:
Guess, mister, I'll take yer five cents.
Then fl ting his foot snugly into the
foot print, he added, see! just fit; fork
over please!
How about that diamond?
Robert three up his new boot and
showed the figure in bright tack heads.
The three adults exchanged astonish-
ed glances, thinking of the family he
hailed from. Then the stranger opened
his wallet and gave the boy that wee
offspring of the war-Uncle Sans five
cent note.
declare, Bob, grumbled Henry, yer
a lucky Teller.
Well, boys, says the stranger, moving
slowly about with one eye on the
ground, here's the old track of another
queer boot-a pair of 'em-bOth left
footers, and and one run over at the side
an down at the heel. What boy'll fiji
these tracks for five cents.
Me ! me eagerly answered Henry.
throwing down the bag and shuffllng to
the front.
Mr.. Agnew had already noticed on
the bag in Henry's hand a grease spot
that looked familiar to him; so while the
other men and boys huddIed about Hen.
ry and the tracks, he stepped back, and
with his foot Strengthened Oul the folds
the bag had fallen into. Behold! tt e
initials of his own name looked up at
him through dirty face-a charcoal a..
tempt to hide them.
OF course, Henry Uncarfer took that
left booted prize; nor did any other boy
seem to wish he wore such boots.
Im sorry for you other boys, said the
jolly stranger with wink at Mr.. Nor
ton; but perhaps we can find something
more to try on; ana he led the half doz
en- to the opposite side of the mound.
Why, yes. he said with a laugh Of
surprise, as he reached that side, here's
track there can't one of you fill, I'll bet
a dime; and he pointed to an oval and
divided depression, with short handle
at one side.
The boys all looked and laughed, and
Mr.. Norton wondered out loud what it
could be.
1t looks, Daniel said, as where some
dog set down to wait for some other fel-
low.
II that's so said the stranger-an' |
guess you're right, Master Downs-you
boys must give the dogs chance. They
says, you know, that every dog has his
day; so maybe this is the day of one of
your dogs. Now, don't say a deg ia
worth two boys: still, the dog that can
fit that ground rest, if he's here, shall
have dime.
Heah. Watch! Heah. Zlck! Hear Stub
Heah, Towser! quickly shouted the boys
TO their pets.
Watch came up first; al d being told
there was money enough at stake to buy
him bones for a week, he sat down, like
a good dog. But he covered altogether
too much ground, and proved that the
dog for the dime must b. short of tail
So Master Tommy got laughed at for
entering such dog at that prize match,
Then the other dogs were looked over,
and Henry, jumping at this new chance
for wealth, collared Stub.
Stub suIksd and growled that he
wouldn't take that chalr. Out nnalIy was
tripped into that sand mold, caudal alb
breviation and al, the stranger admitting
that he'd lost, as no hickory meat evtI
fitted its nutshell better.
The two farmers smiled approvingly,
as Henry, much envied by the other
boys, showed that dime into one of the
vast pockets in his vast pants.
That's very truthful dog, observed
Mr., Agnew to Henry. Do you an bin
always go together?
Y-essLI drawled Henry. Us sticks
closern twins-sleeps together. Dogs il
good stock, an a short taller pays best
this time O. year; we see, don't ye; an
now mister, If we don't MN adumpin
in them apples We toll dad we could hey
for the fetchin' I'll tote 'em home,
Mr.. Agnew half filled his own stoler
bag with the remark that he was sorry
the annles all frOZe-he should have &c