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

.ae=eQ cool, green moss
Acksl@ge9 es, lay Johnnie,
EM@5 prone on his face.
6IllIIt His little fists were
~ ~ clenched, and his
|&<- breath came in low
sobs. In the tall tree above his head
robin was singing merrily, all I'M
needed by the little boy who was
grieving SO bitterly.
For q whole year Johnnie had
planed and dreamed about a muster
that was to be held at the village on
the following day. Asleep or awake,
working or playing, throughout that
long year the child had dwelt on the
anticipated pleasure. No wonder,
then, that his heart was almost
broken when he found that he could
not go after all.
Johnnie's great ambition was to
be a soldier, and often during the
long winter evenings he sat by the
fire and watched the glowing Goals
till each one took the form of a red
coated trooper on a milk-w white horse
Sometimes he woke in the night and
heard the sleet driving against the
roof and imagined it to be the rattle
of musketry.
In those days pleasures were few
and even small boys were obliged to
work hard. There were no bicycles,
no baseball clubs, nor even Fourth
of July, for America was still under
the thumb of old King George of
England. So a muster was great
event to the young people, and by
attending these musters and taking
part in them, they were fitting them
selves for soldiers.
Johnnie's mother was a poor wild
ow who spun and wove for her richer
neighbors, thus supporting her three
little children. She had been un-
usuallya busy that fall, and could not
finish the homespun breeches which
Johnnie was to wear to muster.
8 So this morning she had told John
ME that he would have to stay at
home, for his old breaches were past
mending, even by her skillful needle.
"It's of no use, Johnnie" said Mrs.
Hill, sadly, 81 cannot make them de-
cent for you to wear, SO you will
have to stay home. Try to be q
man, dear. Every body meets with
disappointments in this world, and
l hope my little son will learn to
bear them patiently"
Poor Johnnie heart had been too
full for utterance, so he had rushed.out
of doors and into the woods to bat
tie with and to conquer himself. He
was not given to dependency, nor
would he give up thing on which
his heart was set without a severe
struggle to gain it; so ere long his
sobs ceased and he rose to his feet.
II won't stay at home if l can
help it," he determined; ''there must
be a way, for 1certainly have will
Then he began to lay all sorts of un-
feasible plans, but to no purpose
"Well crying won mend thematter,"
thought the young philosopher, $50
l might as we'll go back to my work. u
he was soon ihard at work, chop
ping frewood at the'door, and whist.
ling so Emerrily that his mother
heaved a sigh of relief at the sound
Presently, Mrs. Hill came to the
door and called, Johnnie, get me q
pail of water for dinner"
Johnnie took the pail and started
for the spring. Hallway there. he
paused abruptly and stood for a mo
ment in deep thought, then criec
aloud: 81 can, / know I can, and ]
will" With those words, and 6
whoop worthy wild Indian, hi
bounded on his errand.
You would never have dreamed
when Johnnie sat down to dinner that
he was the boy who had wept sc
bitterly in the morning, for all traces
of his sorrow were gone, and he at,
his cornmeal hammock and roasted
potatoes with a relish.
At dinner he asked suddenly
Mother, could I go to muster it
had some breeches?'
"Why Of course replied Mrs. Hill
"Your hat3 and jacket are vel
enough, but you wouldn't go il
those breeches, would your"
Johnnie shook his head. "No
MOTHER" he responded, II should b.
ashamed to go ragged"
CHATS my good sensible boy
said his mother with a loving look.
lin tie afternoon Johnnie went in
to the "west'' room, took something
smelling of roses and sweet Glove
from the high chest of drawers, ant
concealing it under his jacket, stol
out ofdoors. Heran down the patti
into the woods, and taking the bun
die from under his jacket, sat dow