The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-26

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hind the house, and his mother was
spinning with her back to him, so
Johnnie and his bundle were unob-
served.
Presently he came down. and go
ing up to his mothers wheel, asked
eagerly:
Mother! can't l have q whole day
tomorrow to go somewhere? Do
say yes, mother!''
Mrs. Hill looked down into the
boys earnest face, SO like that OF
his dead father, and, remembering
his disappointment, said, "Yes,
Johnnie"
"And may l take something to eat
and stay till dark"
Mrs. Hill hesitated, but Johnnie
was trustworthy child, and there
seemed little danger in letting him
have his own way. Probably he
merely wanted to fish in the brook
near by, and surprise her with his
fish, as he often did; or he wished to
work in the toy fort he was building,
unmolested by Kitty and Patty, SO
she gave her consent.
eft me do, too, Donny," cried lit
tie Hitty from the back door, where
she had been listening.
Bring me some gum, won't your"
asked Patty. But Johnnie only
laughed and shook his head.
Mrs. Hill was very glad that John
ME had got over his disappointment
so easily. Early in the morning she
put him up a generous lunch of rye
pancakes and homemade cheese,
and kissing him good-by babe him
be home at dark.
Johnnie ran swiftly into the woods,
and when out of sight of the two
pairs of inquisitive eyes which he
knew were watching him from the
window, he knelt and drew from be-
meath a juniper bush the precious
bundle he had hidden there before
the others woke that morning.
Opening it he took out his Sunday
| jacket and hat, also the breeches he
had fashioned the day before, and
hastily put them on, concealing his
every day clothes in their place.
| This done, he set out through the
woods, in the direction ofthe village.
Johnnie's brisk walk soon brought
him to his destination, and his heart
beat rapidly as he heard the roll of
of the big drum and the shrill scream
of the fife. Trembling with excite
ment, he took his place among the
crowd of spectators, and gazed in
speeches. admiration at the long
line of men with their shining bay
| Onets.
| 1t would take many pages to tell
the wonders of that eventful day.
Johnnie gazed with delight on the
gay troops and their proud horses,
and his little heart swelled as he
watched the different companies
march and charge in the mimic COM
bat, and as he listened to the stirring.
music he longed to be a real soldier
and carry shining musket.
But the browning event of the day
was when the great genenal whom
Johnnie had watched with awe all
day 'actually patted our little hero
on the head and asked kindly, yet
with queer twinkle in his eve, "Who
made your breeches, my little MANI"
Johnnie dotted his hat and replied
proudly: II made them myself, sir,
all alone, cause l hadn' t any to wear
to muster"
"'rhat is brave lad. said the gen.
eral, laughing;
Night came at last. and good-na.
tured neighbor took the tired boy
home in his wagon.
Just as Mrs. Hill had looked out
for the hundredth time and wonder
ed where Johnnie could be, he rush
ed in, flushed. tired and happy.
90 mother!' he cried, "I've been to
muster. You said 1 might if had
some breeches, so made me some
and went"
Mrs. Hill advanced a step, then
paused, holding up her hands in as
constituent at the funny little figure
she beheld.
"Why, Johnnie!' she cried, "what
have you got on?" Then falling in
to a chair she laughed long and
loud, for Johnnie was arrayed in two
of her priced linen towels sewed to-
gether for breeches.
II didn't hurt them one bit!' said
Johnnie, almost in tears at his
mothers merriment, land am sure
they we're as pretty as any of the boys
breeches! Even the General asked
mo who made them"
"No WONDER" replied Mrs. Hill,
still laughing, land now, Johnnie, /
am not going to scold you, for you
have shown spirit of perseverance
and determination which l like; SO
now take off your new breeches and
come to supper"
Mrs. Hillexamined Johnnie's stitch
esand praised the work, while she tried
to make him understand how wrong