Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-08-05

took about one minute each, placed his
precious book carefully on one of the
shelves and then looked about for a
broom with which to sweep the floor.
There was none.
'sWhy, Uncle Phinr' exclaimed the
boy. "If we haven't come off and for
gotten the broom"
$50 we has, honey! so we has!" re-
piled the old man, pausing in his work
and assuming an expression of mock
dismay. 81 rickollec' now, when de
furnichure man putten in dem elergent
brack walnut bedstids he say: Misto
Phin Dale, doan you fergit somefn|
An I say: No, Misto' Furnichure Man,
I rcclrin not Now, he mus or been
meanin' de broom all de time, an now
we is come off an 1ef it benin"
"You are making fun of me, you know
you are, laughed Arthur; "but really, /
do need broom very much, for l can't
make this place look tidy without one."
"You must have one, of cose," said
Uncle Phin, ''an' we'll jes' run inter de
sho', and fin some white birch trees, an
Uncle Phin make you twig broom jes'
de fines you ebber seem"
They were both glad Of an excuse to
stop and make a landing, for they were
enjoying their voyage so much, that
they feared it might come to az end
more quickly than they wished it to. So
they went on deck, and watched for
good opportunity to run ashore.
At last they drifted close in to grassy
bank, above which were a number, OF
huge oil tanks, brick building and a
neat white cottage. 1t was pumping
station on one Of the great pipe lines
through which crude petroleum is con-
veyed from the wells OF the oil region
to the distant seaboard refneries. At
that time it>was thought necessary to
have relay stations of tanks, and pumps
to force the oil along from one
to another every five or six miles. OF
late years, however, the pumps have
grown larger and stronger, until, on
recently-constructed pipe line leading
into Chicago, one immense pumping en-
CINE forces the oil along the entire dis
tance Of two hundred and fifty miles.
As the ark drifted slowly along in
front Of this pleasant-looking place,
Uncle Phin, directing Arthur how to
steer, loosened the side sweep that was
furthest from shore, and by rowing with
it, headed their craft in toward the
bank. In a minute more she was so
close to it that active little Arthur could
spring to the narrow beach, carrying
with him the end of rope that he made
fast to tree.
When the boat was properly secured,
Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out
for it, shouldered his axe and went in
search of a birch tree. Within half an
hour he returned, bringing great bum
die of twigs and the interesting infor-
nation that there was little boy and
little girl up in the bushes picking
blackberries.
7Oh! can't 60 up there and pick
some, too?" asked Arthur. ''They
would be SO good for dinner, and IL I got
enough you might make a pie, you
know" He was fully in earnest, for he
had such firm faith in Uncle Phin's cul-.
mary skill that he believed he could.
make any thing good to eat that any
body else could.
The old man only laughed at this; but
said he might 60 II he wanted to, and
the boy, taking tin cup in which to
hold the berries, ran off, happily enough,
to find the children. When he dis
covered them, they were both standing
still, bashfully looking at him, the little
girl, in pink sunbonnet that reminded
him Of Cynthias, half hidden behind
her brother and evidently lust ready to
run away.
The new conner at once opened CONVEX
sation by saying: "How do you do? l
am very glad to see you, because 1 haven't
very many friends. My name is Arthur
Dale Dustin. What is yours?"
The boy said his was Bert and his sis
ter's was Sue, and that both their names
were Chapman. He added that their
father was engineer Of the pumping sta
tion, and that nobody else lived any
where near there.
Within fve minutes they were
thoroughly we'll acquainted, aud were
all busily picking the luscious ber-
ries that abounded in that vicinity.
Arthur said it reminded him of fairy
story, and little Sue Chapman said she
loved fairy tales, only she had not heard
very many. So Arthur began to tell
them the story OF the Mermaid" which
was one that he had read to Cynthia;
but he could not remember 1t very well,
and said II they would go down with
him to where he lived, he would read it
to them out of his book.
They readily agreed to this, and were
so perfected delighted with the little
house-boat and all that they saw on it,
that it was some time before they were
ready to listen to the story of the mer-
maid. When it was finished they said
they must go home now; but invited
Arthur to come up to the house and see
them after dinner.
That afternoon he met Mr.. Chapman
and Mrs. Chapman, and saw the great
pumping-engine at work, and was al
lowed to climb up and look into one of
the huge tanks that held thousands of
barrels Of oil, and had altogether most
interesting and happy time. The best
of all, though, was playing with the
dogs, Of which there were three, a
mother and two half-grown pups, all
bull-terriers.
The boy enjoyed these SO much,
and was so fascinated with their
and intelligence, and
Mr.. Chapman took such fancy
to him that he told Bert and
Sue they might make their new
friend present Of ono of the pups IL
they wished.
AS Arthur had never owned real live
pet in his life, this seemed a most gen.
erous offer, and he thanked the Chap
mans warmly. They gave him his
choice of the two pups, and each showed
80 many good points that it was long
time before he could make up his mind
which to take. Atlength he chose one
that was brindled and had white tip to
IFS tail. His name was Russell but
IS the little Chapmans called him
Rusty" Arthur decided that he wsuld
,all him so too.
He carried the pup in his arms down
% the boat, but all the way 1t cried
at being taken from its home,
Ind struggled hard to get free. Arthur
made bed for it at the foot of his own
bunk and tried to feed it, but the pup
'efused to accept his kindness, and only
;ried and whined and begged to be let
,ut at one of the closed doors. Finally
wen good-natured Uncle Phin lost his
patience, and said the pup needed good