The morning call., 1891-09-15
DANNY.
"Come here, Danny"


Danny started. He had not heard his
father come i'll. He had only started, but if
his father had been a man of fine discern
ment-which he was not-he would have
seen that his child trembled with fear or
some other strong emotion.
81 hear that you do not want to 60 to
school. Your mother says that you nave
been crying about it like a baby. Now, L
want to know what this sort of nonsense
means. Do you want to be dunce?"
Moo, sir" said Danny. As he stood at
his fathers knee he twiued the fingers OF
his small, thin hand in and out of that large,
strong one. Il only wanted to wait, papa.
till next month. It's so nice in the woods
with the birds and flowers
Birds and flowers? Any one would
think you were little girl. Well, sir, L
don't want any more such nonsense. L eX-
pect you to be ready on the first day Of
school; and you've got to learn your les
souS too, remember, no Shirklng.
1t would be hard to realize that Danny
was an only child, hearing the harsh words
of the father. But that was his way. People
apologize for such men by that phrase.
God help those who cross that way ;
they must either grind or themselves be
ground.
his elbows on his knees and his sharp little
chin supported on his hands, he looked out
cf the window up to square OF blue SKY
Just visible above the curtain. He was
thin and peaked, and very miserable about
that school business.
Danny hates to learn anything" his
father was saying in an aggressive tone to
Danny's mother, in the next room.
81 don't think it's that, exactly" an
swered his wife patiently; "he is not well,
and lie does love the country so. And you
would be surprised, Rufus, to see how much
he learns there. Why, he was 50 interested
in the bees that he knows all their habits,
and really you would be pleased to hear
how well he can talk"
Bees - echoed Danny's father, and
there was a contemptuuus intiiction TO his
voice that told what lie thought Of such
knowledge.
Danny did not 20 back to the country, but
staid at home TO be ready for school, which
began in two weeks.
1t grieved him to think of his dear birds
and bees without him. but he got out his
books, and rubbed up his knowledge of
arithmetic in obedience 10 his fathers order.
1t was a funny performance, for his mother
did not know much more about it than he
did.
A few days later Danny sat with his hand
in his mothers, talking very fast.
"Why the bees know me, mamma, and
they can tell an enemy from a friend, and
saw them bringing in the hOney-and, oh,
mamma, l know a place where there's a
tree full Of sweet apples-and there's the
lighthouse-I know what it's for. to keep
tie ships from driving on the rocks-and /
never learned such nice lessons at school"
But. Danny, you must learn to read and
write and say your lessons. All little boys
must"
Must they, mamma? When it's warm
summer, and the woods so green and cool,
and the birds, birds everywhere, and the
ponds full of lilies ard cat-tailS? I've
learned such lots of things. Why. mamma,
it's ever so much better than books"
Then he told her Of the waspS nest he had
seen under the caves of the barn when he
was in the country, and the sheep with dear
little white noses that came and nibbled salt
out OF his hand; of the swing in the or
chard that went up so high and let the old
cat die, and then he laid his tired. heavy
head, that felt twice too big for his body,
down in his mothers lap, and still babblilg
OF The country, went to sleep.
1t was night when he awakened, and ii
was all SO strange. He felt SO light and
queer. Was that his father sitting by,
speaking in such a low voice? And that
was surely the doctor who came to see him
when he was sick. 1t was all so funny that
he laughed loud and long in voice that did
not sound bit like his own.
THE bees" he said. "lots of 'em buZzing z
in my head. This isu't the country, is it,
mammal"
"Seven from nlne-plus one-mamma, /
saw a yellow-hammer to-day. Six from six,
nought TO carry-and he caught a poor
worm-how does it go, mamma?-I hate
'rithmetc."
He knew his mother, and wondered why
her face was wet and shining.
II can't learn my lessons" he feeblY COM
planned "they're too hard and the bees are
all mixed up with them. There isn't any
plus seven, plus four in the country, is there,
mamma"
"No, dear" sobbed his mother, as she
smoothed the little hot hands tenderly.
There's nly-one-more-lesson," painted
the child, "the birds told the bees-it's plu s
nothing an nought to carry, an oh. man.
ma, it's so easy when somebody does al
your sums-fOr-yOu-to-m to-make-'em-come
| out right"
His hands relaxed their nervous tension
and fell by his side. The closing eyeid:
| quivered moment:
1.-The book is closed" said the doctor
gently, 'all the lessons are said."-Mrs. NJ
| L. Rayne in Detroit Free Press.