The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-23

only considering, ana presently ne Salu'
'All right, Rachel, go ahead and, 1
say, put in one OF my honey-combs, too,
for the babies"
''Thatll be jolly" Rachel beamed on
him. ''And if you don't turn all your
pumpkins into Jack-o'-lanterns before
then, I'll make some pies. It'll be a
famous basket! You'll see."
She jumped up lightly and ran off to
inspect her chickens and decide on the
two to be sacrificed
THAT wasn't half bad of Ray" said
Jasper to himself as she disappeared.
''She thinks a lot of those chickens, too.
Meant to sell them for her Christmas
money. Won't it help the Gordons
though? Must be having tough time
of it, declare! Why don't l tell the
other fellows tonight and get 'em all to
do something? They needn't interfere
with Rays basket, and guess the Cor
dons will need all the help they can get
this winter. Perhaps their fathers will
help, too, if the boys do; anyway it'll set
the ball a-rolling. There, if that amt a
fine 'fgger' of Jack-o'-lantern | never
saw one," and Jasper swept up his chips
and carried his Jack off in triumph to
be displayed.
The parade duly took place, and was a
| fine affair with two or three dozen boys
in the ranks, with Jacks of all degrees
of ugliness. Jasper hadn't been able to
keep his plan secret till after the per-
| Torrance as he had intended, but had
come out with it, boy-fashion, just as
soon as he reached the place of rendez-
| vous, and all the boys were elate with
i the idea. Nothing would do but they
must go through the village and down
the side street where the Gordons lived,
bringing the whole family to the win
dows by their noisy demonstrations.
when each boy waved his hat wildly, and
gave them three times three before they
moved on. The Gordons were rather puz-
zled by this proceeding. Dick indeed
thought it rather kind of his old school
mates to give him bit of their fun,
though he was no longer of them. Mrs.
Gordon wished they hadn't been so noisy
and walked Pa" who had just dropped
into an uneasy slumber, but boys don't
think, she added, ALPHABETICALLY. Ellen
sighed over the pumpkins wasted on
that procession and wished she had one
for pies; while the smaller fry one and
all were wild with excitement and longed
to give chase, but were relentlessly swept
off to bed by the motherly Jane, who
came next Ellen in age, and was nurse
maid in general
Little did any of the family guess at
the plans developing in that noisy
crowd. Every boy was ready to do
something, for Dick had been favorite,
and then .Jasper's artful proposal that
the things should be hung at the door,
May-basket fashion, promised unlimited
Mrks.
They were all country boys, with each
his own way of earning money. Some
had vegetables of their own raising.
some apples; several of them kept hens
and had eggs to sell, and though none
of them could give much, yet as one
boys gift met another's, good deal was
made up.
''Tll give wood" cried Tom Horton,
loudly; I've got wood-lot this year.
''And so've l." shouted Billy Gray,
land l will give just as much as Tom
does"
1--WE got prime lot of nuts to SELL"
added another. ''Ill give sons of the
money towards bag of flour, and then
there were several dimes and quarters
offered to make it up.
I'll ask father to send a load of
coal" said Walter Hale, at last, con-
sequentially, but the boys would have
no airs.
"That will be jolly for your father"
said John Teal; but what are you
going to give yourself?"
Walter lifted his eyebrows super
ciliously. Isn't that enough?" he said,
haughtily.
"More than enough for your father"
said Jasper, bluntly; but you don't
give it. | thought we boys were run
ming this business and then Walter
offered his mite With the rest.
The night before Thanksgiving came,
a clear, starlit evening, dark enough for
the conspirators, but not too dark. The
GOrdons were all at home, Mr.. Gordon
sitting up and busted with a piece of
wood-carving. He was carpenter by
trade, and had some skill, which he
hoped to turn to trifiing account during
his illness. He looked pale and anx-
ious, and there were new lines of care in
Mother Gordon's face as she bent over
her mendingbaslket. The younger
children were safely in bed, and Dick
and Ellen at the table, with their heads
close together. were pulling over
hard sum-" for they were trying to
keep up with their classes by evening
work. Tomorrow would be holiday
at the mill, but there would be little
festivity at home. 1t was so hard to
earn the daily food for the family now;
there was nothing to spare for luxuries.
81 wish l could get up little some
thing extra for the children" thought
Mrs. Gordon, with weary sigh, and at
the moment came laundering rap at
the door and sound of swift feet sour
rying away.
"ThOse boys" sighed Mr.. Gordon,
half irritably, and Dick sprang up and
ran to the door.
what is it, Dick? Don't keep the
door open," called his mother, for Dick
was looking up and down the street for
the mysterious visitant.
offs n box" he called hack eycitedlu