Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-12-01
DESERTED HIS POST.
How Old stuffy Guarded the House While
Billy Was Away.


How Old stuhy Guarded the House While
Billy Was Away.
"Say, Billy, amt you going with us?"
yelled the boys, standing on tip-toe to
peep into the kitchen window.
The Maverick farmhouse was on a
lovely plateau of land halfway up a
dreary mountain-side. And Billy sat
alone by the fire, trying very hard to
get interested in an old volume of
Capt. Cooks Adventures" which he
had read over and over again. He
jumped up at the sound of familiar
voices.
"Going where?" said he, learning out
of the window.
Down to Pixley's Woods" said John
Jaycox. "We're going to have corn
and apple roast down there, There's
lots of fellows coming"
30, do wish could 60" said Billy,
with sigh.
'Well, come on then" roared Herman
Smith. ''Only make haste"
"But can't" said Billy. Father
and mother went to the camp-meeting
to-day and they left me to keep house. +"
"Did they s'pose the bears was going
to carry off the house?" contemptuously
inquired Herman.
"No," said Billy "But old Mrs.
Tricks house was broken into night be-
fore last when she was gone to tea at
Elder Jones' And father says it amt
safe to leave the place alone"
''Much good you would be if the
thieves were to come" sneered Peter
Wise
''Well, guess can handle fathers
old musket as well as another man."
said Billy, with some pride.
"But it amt that, father says. The
burglars only try loclSed-up houses and
those where the folks are all away"
"Well," shifted Peter, "if a burglar
climbs this steep road he must be hard
up for something to steal, that's all I
have to say about it."
"Do come, Bill, urged Jaycox. "We're
going to have regular good timer
Billy looked wistfully at the other
boys. ''Oh, only wish l could" said
he.
''Your folks will never know" said
Jaycox, coaxingly.
"No, l don't suppose they will" as
sented Billy. But"
"Oh, come now," hoarsely shouted
Herman Smith; 1--WE can't stand here
waiting all day. If Maverick is coming
let him come. If he amt let him say
so. Are you ready, fellows? Now,
then, -three-march"
And away went the little band of
boys at double quick!
Billy looked longingly after them.
Boys are naturally of q gregarious ma
ture, and he had been alone all the
afternoon.
81 might just as well go as not" said
he, aloud, to the old clock ticking away
behind the door. cts Just exactly as
Peter Wise says-there amt burglar
going that would take the trouble tc
climb the mountain road It's all non.
sense for me to stay herer'
Billy Maverick, as you can easily sec,
children, had never studied the story OF
'Casabiancay' If he had been "on the
burning deck" it isn't at all probable
that he would have remained long
enough for anybody to make a story
about. And yet Billy was a very good
sort of little fellow after all.
"And ! won't stay" said Bill, "so
there! I'll fix up fellow to keep house
for me, and I'll run across the woods
and over the broken bridge and be at
Pixley's woods just as quick as the
other boys get there.
So Billy, whose resources were truly
wonderful, drew the old roclling-chair
up by the fire and put bolster into it
which he first dressed up in an old coat
of his fathers and battered hat.
With its back well toward the window
it really did look like an old man warm
ing his hands at the fire
''There, old Stuffy!" said Billy, as he
gave it a final pat on one side and a
shake on the other. 'Now mind you
Udht ROOu care Ol UHt HOuSe.
And scrambling out of the shed win,
dow so as not to unfasted any of the
bolts and bars, he slid down the roof
dropped into thicket of blackberry
bushes at the end, and only pausing to
rub himself little, started off at rur
down the mountain side.
"For," he argued within himself, ''all
| that father and mother wanted me Il
stay in the house for was to make peo
pie suppose that it wasn't left entirely
alone-and why can't old Stuffy do tina
| just as well as me?"
! He made such good speed by swing
ing himself reclxlessly across the frame
work of the broken bridge that he go
to Pixley's Woods nearly as soon as tn
other boys, who went by the regula
pathway. A bright blaze of dry WOO,
and leaves had been kindled under tn
shelter of huge rock, the corn, apple
and sweet potatoes were put down +
roast, and the boys beguiled the tim
by dancing break-downs, singing comi
songs and telling tales and riddles.
The first lot of smoking corn had jus
been lifted out of the ashes when littl
Larry Pike came plunging down tn
rRvine.
"Halloo. fellowsv' said he. breathles
with the haste he had made, have 70
heard the news?"
| ltEaUsi What nauaqH aatd uax... ~