The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-10-03
CAUGHT IN HIS TRAP.


"Oh, Phil, look at that oarl" said
little Arthur to his cousin, several
years older than himself.
"What's the matter with the oar?"
"Broken-don't you see?"
Arthur pointed to the oar in Phils
hand, which looked, as we all know
an oar or stick does, as if it were
broken just where it entered the
water.
"Ah. 1 see!" said Phil, always de-
lighted at getting a little joke on
any one. "What a pity! And-iust
look at the other one!"
Broken, tooW exclaimed Arthur,
in great astonishment and dismay.
"Why, how strange they should
break just as we get ashore!"
every strange" said Phil, scarcely
able to restrain his laughter, as
Arthur, to whom he had been giving
a row on the lake, sprang to the
dock and turned again to look at the
oars with a face of concern.
Walking up toward the house,
while Phil remained behind to pull up
his boat, still laughing as he did SO
at his little cousins mistake, Arthur
met the hired man with q horse and
buggy.
care you going to the station for
Uncle George?" he asked.
eyes. Jump in if you want ride
Arthur needed no urging. Ten
minutes later he was staring with
great interest at heiron horse snort
ing up with it's load of men glad to
escape from the smoke and heat of
the city.
"Bad news, Uncle George" hesaid,
shaking his head with the same grave
face with which he had viewed the
oars. "The oars are broken"
"Oars broken?"
eyes, both of them"
"How could that possibly hap
pen?"
II don't know. Phil took me out
in the boat-it's jolly nice way to
ride, doesn't joggle single bit-and
just as we got back to shore the oars
broke"
every strange" said his uncle.
'"They are new oars. Are you quite
sure of what you say, Arthur"
"Just as sure as l can be, uncle. l
saw them as plain as anything"
"Phil is expecting to take part in
the rowing match tomorrow, said
his uncle, looking perplexed. "Unless
he has q pair of good oars he will be
very much disappointed. In order
to make sure had better telegraph
into the city for a pair"
"You have met with an acident,
hear he said, as on reaching home
he met his son.
"No, sir" said Phil.
arthur tells me the oars are
broken
"Ohl" Phil laughed. "He is the
most ridiculous little chap about be-
lieving every thing he is told"
"And why shouldn't he believe
everything he is told?" asked his fa-
ther, with some severity. "Don't
you expect to be believed?"
"But it was only a little joke, don't
you see, father? He saw the bent
appearance of the oars, the refrac-
tion at the edge of the water, and
when he said they were broken I
didn't tell him they were not"
"No. You intended the little fellow
to believe what was not so. Stay
where are you goingf"
"To practice with the boys who
are to row with me. Harry Hill has
sprained his wrist, and can't row, so
we have to put in all the practice we
can this evening with a new hand" "
"You viii have to take your
chances on the practice. You must
go at once to the station and coun-
termand the order have given for o
new pair of oars."
"But, father" began Phil.
"It is your own doing, ,sir. Perhaps
you willlearn some day that it is not
q smart thing to impose upon an in
nocent hearted child because he
makes the mistake of thinking you
are to be trusted"
cit may be the means of our side
losing the race" grumbled Phil, as
he took his way to the station.
HI found the telegraph Office locked,
and it was only after much difficulty
and delay that he succeeded in send
ing his message.
Whether or no It was through the
consequent loss of practice that he
failed in the rowing match cannot be
said, but certain it is that he did fail.
Phil was an inveterate tease and a
player of practical jokes. Nothing
in the way of a trick was too trifing
for him to take delight in, and no
trouble in the perpetration of q joke
too great for him.
He had hailed the arrival of his lit
tie cousin as furnishinga fair subject
for fun, and the very first evening oi
his arrival had so worked upon his