The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-15

hard lot, but his father wouldn't listen 70
70 him. Then be ran away"
"You hsvea't thought Of doin' thet, hev
you, Jim!" interrupesd Mr.. Pouldef q this
jupcture.
"Yes-n-no. I caa't say thet I hev," slowly
replied the lad, wtocing before his fathers
straightforWard giaoca
.You think pour lot hard then, NY boyr'
coatlnued his father, with . kindlieP look
in his eyeA.
"wslL yes, father. I hev thought %. but
~
'You hev too much work, you says Thet's
your troub'ef' Then, - II talking to him
self, Mr.. Poulder continued: Probably I've
been . little hard On you, Jim. There has
been lots OF work 70 b done OF the farm,
an I've only thought Of gettin' It through
With. didn't think Of you. lhev not been
. very good father 70 you In thet respect
probably, an I'm glad thet you've opened
my eyes. Poor fellow! he has worked hard
an faithfully, an now hen hev his 70
ward"
Jim moved uneasiiy against the tree, and
wished that his father had been Q little
moro angry With him, md wouldn't talk %
kindly about him. Somehow the turn Of
aRairs did not quite suit him, and be wished
that Il had been difIereat He felt that his
father had not quite understood his mean
ing; no really In biz heart wanted his father
% laugh It him, Of get angry with him, and
order him 70 his work with threat. Matters
did lot seem 70 improve when NJ. Poulder
Continued:
"Well, jim you needn't finish this Job. I
can do It - well - you. and I will leave the
other clearin' until tomorrow. You can 70
on fishin'."
But father
"Never mind: thet's all right lean do It
without help. Yoa can hev . half holiday"
The dumbfounded led remained In the
Same position untu - saw hh father swing
tho Z over his bead. and begin cutting up
the trees into proper lengths for cord-wood,
Then, absshed by his own boldness, and
feeling . certain exultstion Of success iu
the encounter. he turned away from the
clearing, and went back TO the brook. From
his position on the grassy hank he could not
see bis father. but b could hear the steady
blows Of the axe on the treos.
The fish were - plentiful - usual that
afternoon. and several good bites Were made
on the halt, but the young fisherman did not
enjoy his sport half % we'll ~ on other
occasions. BE trolled his line about list
lessly, and paid moro attention to the dis
tant w~oodchopper's heavy, ringing blows
than TO tho swapping Of tho spockled trout.
Every unusual sound seemed 70 startle him
from his reverie, and he glanced hastily
around toward the clearing.
Tho afternoon slowly Waned, and Jim
Poulder's memorable half-holidAy ran itself
out. For throe hours he re0ained seated
on the bank Of the email brook. watching
the bright leaves on the trees and tho
In the brook. and listening attentively
to the sounds that csmo from his fathers
axe. About shutdown he walked slowly
and stopped 1t the barn 70 feed
tho animals. But some one had already
performed his nightly duty. and the animals
were taken caro- Of for the night. Then he
went TO do . few little chores around the
house. and found that these t0o had been
done by his father.
"Well, Re mcans to give 70 give me q half
In earnest" Jim muttered, ~ he
stood just outside the door before entering
for his supper. II wonder what he'll say
bout 1t to the supper table. H'pose I'll
hev to make up fur it ter morrow"
He gave the stick with which his favorite
dog was playing . violent jerk, ordered
canine to charge. In no gentle tones.
Then. n 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 was disappointed. His
father and mother both TALKED Of other |
things that were quito foreign to the sub |
iect which was uppermOst In Jim's mind.
All that evening they tried to make things |
bright and comfortable for him; but he felt |
moody and ashamed, and 1t an early hour |
be hurried of to bed.
Tho following morning was . bright and
clear one, and the sun VA shining brightly |
into the lad sleeping-rOOm before he opened
his eyes. Then he started up with Q jump.
and made an exclamation Of surprise ~ he |
looked out Of the doors. 1t rs fully nine |
n his rising hour had always been |
six. while breakfast was invariably served |
1t hNlf-past six.
"Gracious sakcs! what's tho matter any. |
how" he muttered aloud, - he hurricdly |
himself. II didn't hear any one |
rail- me-" |
Then, ~ remembrance OF past mornings |
no had slept on, aftor being called. |
rushed through his mind, be tried to think
whether he had repeated such an ofIense. |
But no. he could not remember having heard
HE mO,her or father call him that morning. |
He walked down into the breakfast room Q
sheepishlv, expecting to be reproved
for his laxinesa. But no one WAS
the room: his mother wa busily engaged
In her work outside. and bis breakfast was
on the table waiting for hin. He
lat down Immediately. and hastily drank
his coffee and munched . few rolls. Then |
up his cap he started for the burn
70 begin his work.
Good morning. Jim. Your father has
aiken the horses to the mill today" his
said, - she caught sight Of him. |
can't 90 to tho clesrin' today; there's
no hurry bout thct work"
This was another surprise for the boy, and
10 stood for several minutes undecided what |
70 do. 1t was 80 strange TO ave the horses
led and harnessed up to the farm-wagon
taken away TO work before he was up. |
md yet stranger still WAS IL 70 be told that
he work In the clearing could wait until .
period.
He did not know quite how to act, but.
Q short hesitation. he turned q the
wood pile near him. and picked up an axe
the intention Of ~chopping some wood
Tor the house stove. He had not split two
sticks before he heard his mother calling
again.
We've hired Sandy to como an cut mp
he wood. lin" she said. "YouP father L