The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-24
CHECKERS.

playing checkers exclaimed grandfather
Weatherby with look Of great surprise.
"Well, what's the harm of checkers grand
fatherl" asked Dick in rather fretful tone
"You play checkers yourself. 1t was you
that taught me to play"
"Yes, checkers are very well in the even
ing when all the works DONE" said grand
father. 81 believe in having fun at the right
time; all work and 10 play makes Jack q
dull boy. But checkers in the day time
You never saw me doing such thing as
that did Your
;. 'Daytlme's good enough" grumbled Dick.
d "'Yes, plenty good enough for boy that
never, means to amount to anything" said
the old farmer.
1--WE done my chores and all that father
set me to do" said Dick
That's Just the sort of talk you hear from
that sort of boy" persisted his GRANDPA
Their. HE does first what he's set to do, and
then he sits down in the shade on summer
day and plays checkers. Why, when / was
your age could have covered every one of
my twelve squares with silver piece Of my
own earning. Perhaps it was because
didn't have such an easy going father as
you've got But that oughtn't to make the
difference. A boy ought TO have it in him
self, and then it's sure TO come out some
where"
Dick swept his hand across the board with
an Impotence due partly to the keen crti-
cism Of himself, partly to his inward convic'
ton that he deserved all that was said. But
it was impossible to get angry at the half
sober, half joking words Of the genial old
man.
IL guess you're about right, grandfather
guess it was in you and it isn't in me-"
"More's the pity" said his grandfather,
now wholly serious. "Seems TO me this isn't
the kind of world for boy to sit back in
and Just do what he's told to do and nothing
further Why, everything about him seems
to be saying: Look about you, you young
lubber, and see how everything's working
with you if you'll only take hand in it. Look
at the earth and the sun and the rainfall
ready TO be your servants. You never SEX
them idling around"
Grandpa Weathcrby, having said his say
get out with sturdy strides toward his OWL
farm, a mile distant. Dick was stung more
deeply by his words than the old gentleman
imagined.
"Come, let's go on" urged Sam Jones, Q
lounger Of the neighborhood. THAT was d
tiptop game you spoiled"
But Dick turned away from him in i'll hui
NOR with himself and every one else. There
was more truth in what had been said thar
he liked to acknowledge. He, "A boy Of IA
had never raised his hand to do a thing that
was not required of him, and the require
10 had haa IN I. hal Mt
tended school through the school season
doing light work the while, and in the sum
mer had engaged in the farm work in thu
easy going style his grandfather had allud
ed 10.
II guess il is just as he says" unused Dicl
as he carried the checker board into tn,
house. There isn't many boy about her,
that doesn't begin to look out for earning 1
bit by the time he is as old rs am. There
old checker board, I'm getting too awfuly
fond Of you, You may go into that corner
and stick there, for all of me, until hav,
shown grandfather I'm good for something
If ! can"
Dick strolled thoughtfully out into tn,
fields, wondering in what direction he hac
better turn his energies. There was plenty
Of work all about him and he knew well tha
his father would hire him and, except in til,
matter Of the light duties which he Away!
exacted from his sons would pay him IA fan
price for his work.
What's all that going on over in Deacon
Blaisdells fallow" He had walked until h,
had reached the boundaries of his father
farm, when his attention was attracted by q
wonderful amount of whooping snd halloo
ing a little way beyond.
ITS drove Of cattle--and big drove
too. Bad business il they get into the fal
low.n
He made his way out TO the road, which
was now filled with the cattle pressing OF
through the dust. Deacon Blaisdell's fallov
was not fenced, and the drovers were max
ing their best efforts to keep the restless her,
from straying among the logs and bushes
IL would be unlike farmers boy not I.
offer his mite OF help in such an emergency
Dick took his stand in the thinly name,
line, and by dint OF persistent shouting an,
brandishing Of branches gave valuable aid
In the course OF time the drove had passet
by. with the exception of one lively stee
which had made its way far into the fallow.
'I'll give you fifty cents II you'll get ths
critter out for me-" said the drover to Dick.
''Ho! that'll do for my nest egg" said Dicl
70 himself. I'm do il, mister" he added
aloud.
Picking his way among briers and bushe
until hesg got the steer between himself an,
the road, by little clever maneuvering an,
good deal Of activity, he before long sue
ceeded in sending the animal trotting ate
the rest Of the herd, now some distance dow
the road. And then Dick came, out Q