Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-11

q.
while the little woman was trying to
comfort it. Over in the other corner
was Mangold himself
The old man, chr" said the SQUIRE.
He's sick, boys, pretty sick. He's
been kind OF doctor in the East, but
was ordered out here for his health. He
hasn't been able to go about any since
he came, and his brave little wife and
the two boys have looked after every
thing
That's it. eh?-
Yes. And besides that, out Of all of
US they were the ones TO take care of the
camper. The poor fellow was about
discouraged. and it was a godsend TO
him that the boys came across him. for
the baby'd surely died right there in the
ravine.
-More'n that, boys, found out that
the blowing that has to be done on the
claim to hold it from the Government
amt near finished. Those children have
been trying TO do it, and they've got only
a few acres plowed- The times expires
on the fifteenth Of the month,-that's
day after to-mOrrOw,-and the claim
likely TO be jumped by some outsider
I know two fellows who've got their
eyes on il, said the Squire. They've
been wanting it for some time, and are
going TO make a break whenever they
can. They're sharp, and I think
they've got wind somehow that the rail-
roads going to strike through that quar-
ter section"
It'll be tough on the Mangolds to lose
their claim, slowly drOned out a lank
herder, who was occupying the top OF a
sugar-barrel; but then they don't
amount to much in the settlement, and
the Hay boys being hustlers-"
He got no farther. The look that the
stOrekeeper gave him quite upset him,
and he relapsed into silence.
Then a very important conference was
held between the storekeeper and the
other settlers; and after it the party
separated with smiling faces.
The rain had cleared the atmosphere,
and next morning the sky CLEANED in
such blue splendOr as only prairie skies
can know. The air Was full OF the soft
ness and warmth of an early spring
morning in Southern Kansas.
At an early hour there were seen here
and there wagons vending their way
along the prairie. In each wagon was a
pillow or a harrow, and in some of them
We're heaps of corn and other provisions.
Give and Joe looked out of the Man
gold cabin, and noticed that the horses
heads were all facing them.
Lets hurry and hitch up" said Joe,
and get TO blowing. All the folks are
coming by here, and we ought to be at
work.
They ran out and began Harvesting
the horses TO the pillow, the stranger emil
grant looking on dolefulIy.
Hold on there, boys! Unhitch those
horsesi"
1t was the storekeeper. with a grin on
his face.
AN you have to do to-day, he went
on, ~is to boss. Well do the work.
Now, say, wheredo you want your forty
acres plowed?"
Joe, bewildered, looked around upon
the gathering teams, and pointed to a
tract around which the boys had made
several struggling burrows.
All right. Now, fellows, hurry up !"
shouted the stOrekeeper.
There was a great rafting OF chains
and much laughter, as team after team
went with its pillow to the corner Of the
field, presently to send a long chocolate
ribbon of sod rolling after as it took its
way around the great square piece of
prairie.
-Twenty-four of them" said Mrs.
MangOld, counting, with extended fin
pleasure. The strange visitation, and
the pile Of provisions brought by the set
tiers, had almost overwhelmed her.
Following the plOws We're harrOws;
and the land rapidly took on the appear
ance of a field long TILED. The sun was
halfway across the sky, when all
stopped at a signal from the stOrekeeper.
Boys" he said. when the men had
gathered around, now let's eat dinner,
and then Wen finish. But while we're
finishing how would it do for some one
to go to the village and bring out GER
tificate OF entry on the claim? That'll
make it all sure. By that time he will
be able to prove that the required plOW-
ing is done, you see"
The proposition was received with a
shout OF approval.
IN go, said the lank herder, who
had been completely converted to the
MangoIds' side.
As he had the fastest pony in the
neighbOrhOod he was allowed to take the
trip.
Just before the sun reached the hori-
zon, the square Of prairie sod had been
blOtted out.
AS the party gathered around the cabin
in the twilight, the herder rode up, his
horse white with foam He held a large
official envelope in his hand.
February the fourteenth" read the
stOrekeeper, aloud, beginning the GER
tificate. Boys, he said, with a laugh,
looking up, this is St. Valentines Day.
That's So" said several of the set
tiers.
Tell YOU what let's do" proposed
Squire Gillett; let's give the certificate
10 the woman for valentinei"
Gathering together, with the Squire
at their head, they knocked at the door
of the cabin Mrs. Mangold opening it,
and the pale face of her husband was
seen behind her shoulder.
Squire Gillett made very handsome
little speech, and presented her with the
certificate as a valentine, accompanying
his formal words with some hearty praise
of the brave boys.
And the little fellow" he said, how
is he?"
Much better" said Mrs. Mangold
His father will leave him here and
come back in the summer TO get him. II
will be safer for him to travel then"
Then she faltered a little. II
can not thank you enough, gentlemen,
for this-valentine, she said, but you
know how grateful we must feel.
~Tut-tut-tut, called out the store
keeper. No thanking. We ought to
be ashamed OF ourselves that we didn't
help you before, oughtn't we, boys?"
-Of course we had, they all said.
And before we go, let's give three
cheers for the little woman"
The cheers went up heartily.
Now three for the boys" said the
squire.
-Hurrahi Hurrahl Hurrahl"
And three for the baby, added the
lank herder
The cheers went up again.
AS the wagons ratified away in the
darkness, the was great happiness in
the Mangold cabin. There was happi-
ness among the departing visitors, too;
and the start they had given the stranded
family enabled its members to become
as prosperous and as hearty as the rest
of the ommunity.-Youth's COMPANION.