Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-12

10 ran away"
"You haven't thought Of doin' thet,
hev you, Jimf" interrupted MIR. Poul-
der at this juncture.
sYes-n-no, / cant say tibet i hev,"
slowly replied the lad, wincing before
his fathers straightforward glance.
"You think your lot hard, then, my
boyg" continued his father, with a
kndlier look in his eyes.
We'll, yes, father, ! hev thought
30, butnA
''You hev too much work, you sayi
Thet's your troublel" Then, as II
talking to himself, Mr.. Poalder con-
tinued: Probably I've been a little
hard on you, Jim. There has been
lots of work to be done on the farm,
an I've only thought OF gettin' 1t
| through with. didn't think of you.
l hev not been a very good father to
you in tibet respect, probably, an I'm
glad tibet you've opened my eyes.
Poor fellow he has worked hard an
faithfully, an now he'll hev his re-
ward"
Jim moved uneasily against the tree,
and wished that his father had been O
little more angry with him, and
wouldn't talk so kindly about him.
Somehow the turn Of affairs did not
quite suit him, and he wished that
it had been dlferent. He felt that his
father had not quite understood his
meaning: he really in his heart wanted
his father to laugh at him, or get angry
| with him. and order him to his work
with a threat. Matters did not seem
to improve when Mr.. Poulder con-
tinued:
well, Jim, you needn't finish this
Job. can do Il as well as you, and
will leave the other ciearin' until 10
morrow. You can go on ishin'."
"But, father
"Never mind; thet's all light. lean
do it without help You can hev q
half holiday"
The dumtoxnded lad remained in
ihe sams position until he saw his
father swing the Ak over his head,
and begin cutting up the trees into
proper lengths for cord wood. Then,
abashed by his own boldness, and
feeling a certain EMULATION of success
in the encounter, he turned away
from the clearing, and went back to
the brook. From his position on the
grassy bank he could not sec his
father, but he could hear the steady
blows of the AK ON the trees.
The fish were as plentiful as usual
that afternoon, and several good bites
were made on the baiA but the young
fisherman did not enjoy his sport half
so well as on other occasions. Re
trolled his line about ~listlessly, and
paid more attention to the distant
woodchopper's heavy, ringing blows
than TO the swapping Of the speckled
trout. Every unusual sound seemed
TO startle him from his revsFie, and
he glanced hastily around toward the
clearing.
The afternoon slowly vaned, and
Jim Poulder's memorable half holiday
ran itself out. For three hours he re-
NAMED seated ON the bank of themall
brook, watching the bright leaves ON
the trees and the trouts in the brook,
and listening attentively to thesounds
that came from his fathers az.
About shutdown he walked slowly
homeward, and stopped at the barn TO
feed the animals. But some m bad
already performed his nightly duty,
and the animals were taken care Of for
the night Then he went 10 do a few
little chores around the house. and
found that these too had been done by
his father.
well, he means to give me a half
holiday in earnest" Jim muttered, a.
he stood just outside Of the door before
entering for his supper. Il wonder
what he'll say bout il to the supper
table. S'pose I'll hev to make up FUR
II ter-morrow."
He gave the stick with which his
favorite dog was playing Q violent
Jerk, and ordered the canine 10 charge,
in no gentle tones. Then, as il
ashamed at his show of anger, he
patted the animal ON the head, and
told him TO follow him into the house.
II the overworked boy expected TO
hear some reference to the days work,
or TO his half holiday, he vas disap-
| pointed. His father and mother both
talked of other things that were quite
foreign to the subject which wa up
permost in Jim's mind. All that even
ing they tried TO mako things bright
and comfortable for him, but he felt
moody and ashamed, and at an early
| hour he hurried off 10 bed.
Tke following morning was a bright
and clear one, and the sur was shining
warmly into the lads sleeping room
before he opened Lis eyes. Then he
started up with a jump, and made an
exclamation of surprise as he looked
out of doors. 1t was fully 0 o'clock,
and his rising hour had always been
6, while breakfast was invariably
served at half-past 9.
Gracious sakesl what's the matter
Anyhow he muttered aloud, as he
hurriedly dressed himself. II didn't
hear any one call me-"
Then, as remembrance Of past morn
ings when he had slept on after being
called rushed through his mind, he
tried 10 think whether he had repeated
such an offense. But, no, be could not
remember having heard his mother or
father call him that morning. He
walked down into the breakfast room
@ little sheepislly, expecting to be re-
proved severely for his laziness. But
no ono was in the room; his mother
was busily engaged in her work out
side, and his breakfast was standing
on the table waiting for him. He sat
dnu,, ,uned;otaIy and hastily drapk