Middletown transcript., 1891-04-23

The two old men stood still in the
road, and gazed into each otner
sunken and rheumy eyes. A sor. oi
radiance, like the remote fash OF an
irresistible boyish mood, shimmereo
through their wrinkles. A catplr9
sang in thorn tree; bluebirds tioate9
from stake of the fences, warbling ana
fiuttering so that they looked ike
flakes Of painted music tossei on the
waves of the morning-tide and up
from the little hollow of the Woou
swelled the sound of the mill-stream
pouring over the dam. ),
az feel awful we'll this mornln;
said Dave, taking off his hat and ruO'
bing his white hair.
$50 do l." said Abe. " | feel most
like a boy. Seems like ! could
mighty nigh jump that fence"
They stood there and chuckled at
each other in rattling raucous, fall
setto strain, showing some long yell
low snags of teeth. Dave swung his
cane, and protruded his tongue just
little. Their faces were beginning to
show faint glow of red. A large
piece of brown paper that some passer
had flung aside was blown down the
road, and to it clung a white wrap
ping thread.
eSThat might skeer horse said
Dave stopping il with his foot as it
tumbled along.
"Looks like it might "a been here
sence we fooled the Joneses," remark
ed Abe, still chuckling retrospective
ly.
The two old, wrinkled, tottering
| men looked again into each other S
ewes, and both half recoiled with a
sheepish timidity. A common thought
had thrilled and abashed them. Dave
looked up the road /; Abe cast a fur
tive glance down it. The sun, now
getting we'll above the eastern trees,
glorifed the twain with warm, gold
en- glow. Abe's old hat was awry.
Hurry, Abe let's do it" exclaim-
ed Dave in half-whisper.
Dave stopped with some difficulty
and took up the paper and string.
Abe scrambled for a boulder that
would weigh about four pounds.
"This here'll do" he said {; wrap
it up nice, Dave, SO it'll look like q
dollars wo'th O coffee"
Very soon they had made a squalish
package, well tied up, which they
placed in the middle Of the road, with
many a hurried, half-frightened
glance this way and that.
Then it was surprising 10 see how
nimbly they climbed over the fence
into the rye, where they hid them
selves, still tittering and chuck'lng'
AS they squatted low to cover them.
selves with the luxuriant blades ane
stalks Dave whispered:
+" B'lieve l hear buggy comm.
At that moment two quails flew VI
close by and rushed away through the
air with loud, sudden noise.
"Lordy massy! How that scarce
t me !" said Abe.
"Be still, said Dave !" for | Jes
do hear buggy or somethln a-com
:. in't'
Sure enough the clatter Of rick
D ety spring wagon and the measured
iog.trot Of a horse reached their ears
They pressed close together as the!
g craned their skinny old necks ant
peered out Of the fragrant rye.
r Young farmer Jones, grandson c
b the old Joneses, came driving alon
s with his wife and little girl, going t
9 the village. They were all on on
e seat Of the little wabbling wagon.
It "That's sich sweet child" whls
e pered Abe.
e Jest like my Sairy used to be,
J, responded Dave
Z, to his sturdy horse, at the same tim
d bringing him up short.
d What's the matter inquired h
e wife.
+ The little girl pitched forward an
e came near falling, her long, shining
n curly yellow hair tumbling over HI
1t chseks.
At "Hold them lines minute there
somethin' in the road" remarke
Jones, handing the guiding-reins
l. his wife.
7e He GOT out and picked up the pael
AGE and climbed into the wagon wit
id cts heavy" he said. Wond
rs what it is ?"
d. His wife grabbed at it, out of su
~ den uncomfortable, womanly curio
n ty. He dropped it and it fell up'
/ his toe.
b. Confoun1,it = he bawled. Coz
If. found the everlasting thing Con-
to He was wringing himself about al
ad trying to get his foot in his han
nd when a mighty cackliDg and gigglil
began Just over the fence and he ST
ad two white heads bob up out of the r
he and two wrinkled faces, all distort
with delight, were turned upon him.
p +" Confound you! Confound you,
ed he fairly shrieked, seizing the bould
ad which had partly burst from t
paper, and heaving it at them with
5," /" bis might. 1t fell short as the {
men lodged down into the rye a
we're lost to view.
nd Young farmer Jones glared for
moment, then drove on.
he "Oh OF o-o-h| y calculated
sr- old sinners. laughing till they had
led hold their abdomens and writhlng
'ad the sweet, yielding clover, as tt
hung to each other with a pressure
de- shoulder to shoulder, they enjoyed
ing wild paroxysm such as comes to b;
IL tericalIy happy children. Never
fore had they felt such perfectly sa
ing fying and furthermost reaching mir
to They laughed till the tears bubb
me over their scar cheeks and drip
ole from their shriveled chins: AT len
me they lay down side by side, pant
4