The Arizona sentinel., 1888-02-18
ERNEST'S PUNISHMENT.
But It Seemed to Furnish Him Lots of
 ''SpIenNIid' Fun.


 'sSpIen,Iid" Fun.
 Ernest and E sic were spending the summer at Grandpa Darling's. in the country.
 Such a lovely old place as it was, and such a dear, kind grandpa and grandma could not be found any where else in the wide world-the chil- dren thought
 T just wish all the world was in the country. and ell the year was vaca- ton, and all the people were grandpas and grandmas,' cried Ernest, one day, to his little sister.
 The days seemed so very shOr!, and there was so much to do and see. that they agreed to get up earlier in the morning. So they appeared in the kitchen, one morning. before the sun had got very far on his days journey.
 Well! wellr' said grandpa, 'what are these children up at this time of day for, I wonder?"
 "Cause we can't spend the time sleeping here" said Elsie. i've can make it up when we go home" "
 Then they ran out to see 'Lijah, the hired man. stl ain the foamins pails of milk into the big, green creamer, and, as usual, he filled their own mugs with the sweet warm milk Then Grover and Rebecca, the cats, were fed; and the hens and chickens were given their measure of corn.
 Such rare pleasure was this to the city children, they could hardly stop to eat the nice breakfast grandma had prepared. But it was almost as hard to stop eating, every thing tasted so good.
 After prayers, grandpa told 'Lijah to harness Tom, as he must go to the village.
 Do you s'pose he'll take us?" asked Ernest. in a whisper, as he stood with Elsie watching grandpa packing eggs in big basket.
 May be he won't think of it, ' whispered back Elsie, ''and mamma said we mustn't tease; but l do hope he will"
 "Ten dozen," said grandpa, looking up, presently. T shall have to take them to my customers, and if I only had some one 10 hold the horse for me, it would save me sight of trouble. "
 70 grandpa! Let us go-please do. could hold Tom," cried Ernest.
 "So you can." said grandpa. Get your hats, and jump in"
 It was such fun to ride on the ''buck- board," over the smooth roads, behind such strong, handsome horse. When they reached the long hill, before they got to the village. Ernest drove, and then his happiness was complete.
 Stop here" said grandpa, when they came to pretty cottage, dive got to leave some eggs here, and may be the doctor will talk quite q spell. he usually does, but Tom will stand if you leave the reins loose. ."
 Grandpa had no sooner entered the house, than a naughty thought found its way into Ernest's heart.
 'Idon't believe grandpa will care if I just drive around the com mon" Le said 10 Elsie. 'Tom is so steady. t won't do any harm for me to drive him all myself
 He might run away" sai l Elsie, sand grandpa said to leave the reins loose. Pm sure mamma wOuldn' t like you to do it." But Er nest had al- ready taken up the reins. and the horse walked slowly off.
 "How he pokes along" said Ernest q knew I could drive him. l believe I'll just touch him up little with the whip, so he will trot going past the hotel.
 'Oh, don'tr' cried Elsie; grandpa never strikes him."
 But the warning came too late. At the touch of the whip the horse gave a spring and bounded away. Past the hotel, past the church; then down the river road until he came to the grlst- mill. where he suddenly turned eff on another road without stacking his speed. The children clung frantically to the seat, and though they were ter ribly frightened, they did not scream or speak, and Ernest still kept hold of the reins.
 Their surprise and delight can hardly be imagined when suddenly the horse stopped and they found them selves at Grandpa Darling's door.
 Grandma hurried out, with her cap strings flying, to see what was the matter.
 When grandma took them into her motherly arms they both began to cry sor joy.
 "'Twas all my fault, grandma" said Ernest when he could speak, ll