Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-01-16

every direction. Mark and Arthur both
sprang to pick them up, and in doing so
bumped their heads together. Neither
was hurt. and it proved to be the best in
PRODUCTION they could have had, for they
both laughed very heartily, and when two
boys laugh over the same thing it usual
ly ends in their becoming friends. The
two boys had just finished picking up
the crackers when Farmer Green en-
tered the kitchen.
Hello, MOTHER he shouted, in his
rough but kindly voice. where did
you find this ERE youngster?"
20. he happened along" laughed Mrs.
Green HE is from the city, and he is
looking for place to do chores for his
board, and in the winter go to school,
30. father, let him live with us. o,
do keep him, father; do so want some
one to play with
81 don't believe 'twould be a very
profitable speculation to hire boy just
to play. Doing chores amt play"
But we would make believe it was"
urged Arthur. please, father, let him
stay"
Wen see about that. Come here,
youngster,' said the farmer to Mark,
| who during the foregoing short dialogue
had remained perfectly silent, hoping
against hope that Arthur would prevail
upon his father to permit him to stay.
Mark at once stepped up to Mr.. Green.
you're an honest-1ooking lad enough,
though you are ragged and dirty. And
so you want to do chores for your board,
en-? What do you know about farm
work?"
Not any thing" said Mark; owe al
ways lived in the city, but know 1
could learn. 1 will do my very best, sir,
if you will take me-"
"Well, we'll, we'll see about it in the
morning. In the meantime you had
better go down to the creek, and take
| bath. l s'pose we'll have to keep you
over night anyway, and them feet and
| hands of yours amt just the things to
put between clean white sheets. Arthur
may go with you and show you the
swimming hole but don't stay in the
water long, and be sure and put up the
| bars so that the cows won't get into
the meadow" shouted the farmer after
them as they started, with many a
whoop and shout. for Oaks creek, a
stream flowing through Mr.. Green's
farm.
AS soon as the boys had disappeared
the farmer turned to his wife and said:
"Well, Polly, what do you think?
Had we better keep this young tramp
or not? l really need boy to help do
the chores: Arthur isn't at all strong, as
you remind me twenty times day. If
l thought the lad would be of any earth
ly use to me I'd try him for a month"
He seems an honest, bright lad"
said Mrs. Green, land, besides, he's
Anti, ri h
trial.
The fact of his being '.just Arthurs
age" seemed to be his strongest recon-
mendation in the eyes of the loving
mother. Arthur was a sickly though
merry lad, and the chores that
naturally fall to the lot of boys of his
age on all farms had, in great part, been
done by his father; the doing which kept
the latter from his other duties to such
an extent that he was continually be-
hindhand with his work.
In the course of half an hour Arthur
and Mark returned from the creek, the
latter looking very clean and rosy and
the former very blue.
1--WE have concluded, Mark" said the
farmer, slowly, Ito give you months
trial.
"Hurrah! hurrah.' shouted Arthur,
throwing his cap in the air. Amt that
jolly? Now L shall have some one to
play with"
Il shall expect you" continued the
farmer when Arthurs enthusiasm had
somewhat abated, Ito help milk, feed
the pigs and hens, water the horses,
bring in the wood and water, and do
such other light work as 1 may call upon
you to do. If at the end of month we
are mutually satisfied with each other
we will make a bargain for longer
period"
That night, for the first time in his
life, Mark Bloomer slept on feather
bed between snow-whitc sheets. The
next morning he was up at daybreak and
had the fire made and the tea-kettle
singing right merrily before Mrs. Green
made her appearance. In a short time
the farmer came into the kitchen with
two large tin milk-pailS, one of which he
handed to Mark with the remark:
Now, my lad, come out to the barn
with me and l will give you your first
lesson in milking" Mark was rather
| awkward at first, but soon learned to
milk as we'll as the farmer himself. In
| fact, he did so we'll and so endeared him
self to the whole Green household, espe-
cially Arthur, that at the end of the trial
| month they were not only willing but
| anxious to have him stay through the
fall and winter and do chores for his
| board and schooling.
''An work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy" Farmer Green, being a
sensible man, recognized the truth OF
this old saying. and gave Mark one day
| each week, ''all to himself" Instead,
however, of its being all to himself,
it was all for Arthur; for he gave up
the entire day to the amusement of the
latter. making for him kites, balls,
bows and arrows, traps, etc. In fact
he worked harder on his play days than
at any other time. Arthur was con-
stantly singing his praises: he could
''out-run, out-swim, out-skate any boy
| round At school he fairly astonished
| the teached by the rapid progress he
| made. AT Farmer Green's every thing
about the barn and shed was in order:
every tool had place of it's own, and
| was kept in it's place: the COWS were
sleek; the horses shone like glass bot
ties: the wood-shed was piled full of
| wood, and the wood-box and water-pailS
were never empty