Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-02-03

without saying word about the broken
window; but being on tho whole an
honorable little boy, he finally plucked
MP courage to go to his mother with the
whole truth.
50 mamma, I never can tell Mr..
Flint, never in the world!" cried he.
winking very fast. sYou tell him,
mamma Oh, please do!s
.For shame, Kirkel A boy nine
years old wanting to hide behind his
motherl"
But, mamma, hell scowl at me 80,
and say / was to blame. =
And weren't you?s asked his mamma
gravely. This is the second pane Of
glass you've shattered with that same
arrow. Papa paid for the last; don't
you think you ought to pay for this, to
teach you to be careful?s
aBut, mmama, how can II You know
Ishan't have but just money enough to
buy my steam engine"
Mrs Rowe tried not to smile.
IF you can't afford the engine now,
Kirke. I suppose you might wait for
your next months salary" said she,
quietly. AT all events. you cannot af-
ford to be in debt. You'd better run
over to Mr.. Flint's this minute, and ask
him the cost Of the glass. =
Though she thought j. wisest to say
little about it, Mrs. Rowe's heart acheds
for the poor little fellow when he set
off with slow, reluctant steps, as it the
dusty pavement were slippery with ice.
With his heart in his throat he mounted
the broad steps between the stone lions,
and pulled the bell, II was answered
at.once by . brisk servant maid, who
led him directly to the library who're
Mr.. Flint sat reading.
aWell, sir, what's your business?s
asked that dreaded being, with sharp
glance over his spectacles. Il
I'm sorry, sir; but but Here
words failed, and Kirke gazed appar.
emily into his cap, as if in hope of and.
q speech written within the crown.
H-ml Som thing new to see a boy
sorry! It's usually the grown people
who are sorry on account Of boys"
II didn't mean to do it; but III was
the one that broke that window, sir. /"
ooh, no! SO that was your work. And
il pretty piece Of impudence. too!
Whose boy are you?"
I'm Mr.. Rowe's boy. / live down
there in the Queen Anne cottage re-
piled Kirke, struggling with tears. Il
was shooting at the big willow, and
somehow the arrow slipped and, and
please what'll it cost to mend the win
dow? I'll come right back with the
money"
/ .aCost? It'll cost fifty cents Why
didn't You bring the money with you If
you intended to settle che bill9"
growled Mr.. Flint in suspicious tone.
Because uncle hadn't paid me my wa
ges; he always pays me the last day Of
the month. I'm on my way for them
now"
"Your uncle? That's DR.. Wyman, 1
suppose. Well, off with you, young
man! Collect your dues at once, and
hand me over fifty cents
HE needn't hurry boy SO, the old
miserln thought indignant Kirke, dart
ingaway like his own arrow, only more
true to the mark.
In surprisingly short time he re-
turned with his silver half-dollar, that
was to have purchased the toy engine.
$50 this was your months earnings,
remarked Mr.. Flint, coolly pocketing
the money. aDont you consider il
q rather extravagant passtime to go
about damaging peoples property ?"
Eyes, sir, said Kirke, his lips witch.
ing.
sYou'll be more cautious another,
time, ] fancy"
eyes, sir" repeated Kirke, moving
toward the door. aGood morning.
astop, boyl Come backl" called Mr.,
Flint in . voice startlingly genial.
3Take your money; / make you pres
emit Of it,
1oh, no, no. thank you, Mr.. Skin
Flint, I meant" gasped Kirke, sur
prised out OF his wits. aMy mother said
I must give it You.
aPut il in your pocket. child. Idon't
want your poor little pittance, replied
Mr.. Flint, actually smiling. I. eff I've
taught you to respect my premises from
this time forth, I'm satisfied. I,can'tbe
hard on q boy who is ready to make
amends for the mischief he has done. !"
And mamma, you ought TO have
heard how kindly he said it, cried
Kirke that noon as he fred up his new
ly-bought engine; aand he put out his
hand as if he wanted to pat me on the
shoulder. but he reached me banana
from the sideboard instead. Didn't i
feel mean then to think we hovs had