Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-12
Three Sides to the Argument.


shove off, having been watched all the
while by three pairs Of eyes, belonging
TO Mag lie and Clara Packard and
their particular friend and playmate,
George Wilson, he said gocd-natureily:
There is just about room enough 10
chuck you three in, II you would like
TO go along. l have got to t1ke these
barrels down to the mill; then 1 will
row you to the end Of the falls, go that
YOU can see wi a. mischief the freshet
did, If you want to-"
''Ch, gCodyI" sad George Wilson.
"lsn't that too splendid for anythingp 2
I'ge been wanting to go down there
just dreadful. Come on, girls. Shall
We come to the landing, Joe, or farther
DOWN."
But Maggie and Cora shook their
leads, and both spoke almost in the
5, me breath.
1--WE can't; Its real nice of you
JOe," added Cora gratefully, "aDd We
thank you ever so much, but We can't
GO"
"All right" said Joe, good natured
as ever-whether people went or staid
on his invitation he kept CHEEKY face
but George looked dresdfully disap-
PORTED.
"Why can't you go?" he asked, a
trle sharply. "The water IS just as
still as can be, and that IS tirst-rate
boat. You are not afraid, L s'.ould
hope"
NO" said Maggie, "we are not
afraid. We never are afraid ON the
water, Cora and l, bIt mother il, and
father said we were not to 60 out In
boat without him."
"Not with Joe Bryan?. Why, dCa
mel he knows az much about the water
as All old sailor; everybody says 50. |
heard my Uncle Dick say that he
would rather trust him with boat
in storm than himself; al i Uncle
Dick has been sailor too. say, come
on, girls; don't be silly. We will have
just splendid ride, and l want 10 see
where the fTeshet came. There is a
great big tree right across the stream,
and part Of the dam is washed away.
1t is just the morning for a row. so
sunshiny and pretty. haven't been N
a boat this spring. Do come. Maggie,
that's a good girl. Cora will If you
will, won't you, Cora?"
But that small maiden promptly
shook her head. "'No, wouldn't go,
not even if Maggie would; and Maggie
won't go, because father said not. Do
you suppose we would either of US 60,
after that, George Wilson,"
Everybody goes rowing with Joe
Bryan" repeated George earnestly.
But even this argument did not move
Maggie. She turned her head in a
dignifed way toward George, pushed
back her sunbonnet so that he could
get full view of ber eyes, and said
slowly: "George Wilson, I'm ashamed
of you. To think that you would coax
Cora and me to do what father Sail We
were not to dol He didn't say any
thing about ice Bran, nor anybody
else; he Just said we were not to go or
the water without him, ever. We
promised we wouldn't, and mother
trusts us. Shs wouldn'C expect US 10
60 on the water no more than she
would expect us to go up in balloon
Not be ause we a-e afraid, ror because
lots Cf people don't ask us that inow
how 10 mara boats, but just because
father sal don't g. Why, it wouldn't
be worth s2aring mother even If 1t s
right to 90. MOthrr Is just "a s'rai
about water "a 81 e can be; she tn rs
real pale every time she hears aboIt
Au2t Nannia going out rowing. Dc
yo think we would care TO 60 after
that? We think too much of our
mo:hor, l can tel you that; don't We.
CCraY
Yes" said Cora, emphatlcally, "ot
course We do"
Gall righ.," sIid ice BrJ an again, ~
1--WE won't coax you any more. Come
on, George, you and ms will go and see
about tne freshet.'
"No," said George, looking wist-
fully after the boat, 1t is true, but sill
shaking his head bravely, 81 won't 90
this morning, Joa, thank you all the
same. You see, | promised Mrs. Pack
ard l would stay with Maggie and
Cora. guess she don't Ike to have
them down here all by themselves, and
SAID | would keep with them"
"Wtll then, the barrels and me Will
have to sh, OF off a,one," and he started
down the stream whistling cheerilIy
but the whistling grew slower and
softer as he skilfully ste1Iei his boat
out into deep water, and by and by
Stopped altogether, for Joe was think.
ing. If anybody could have seen his
thoughts they would have been very
much like these: "They are good little
girls, these Packard girls; they ain't
going to worry their mother, not even
for a ride In a row toat, and they doD't
get that kind Of ride very often,
either. l suppose It's easier for girl:
than 1t Is for boys; but I don't know
why It should be, after all. George
cOaxed them, and was disappointed
just as much disappointed as Jim /.
when he coaxes me to come down /:
the grocery evenings, and l say. y
can't 60, Jim It's awfully silly
for their mother to be afraid. know
how to manage boat as well as the
next one; and there isn't a mite oi
harm in their going out with me, any
more than there is In my going dowr
to the corner grocery, not particle
But they don't choose to, because ii
will worry their mother. And 1t wor
lies my mother worse than know Of
perhaps, to have me 60 down to tn,
grocery. But their father told then
they mustn't; that Is another thing.
Well, for the matter OF that, so did my
father. Didn't he tell me, the las
words he ever spoke to me in his life
to be a good boy and take care of my
mother, and not worry her about
thingsp Well, haven't been good,
should like to know? There isn't /;
boy OF my age who works any harder
and 1 try to keep her from worrying
about flour, and rent, and all sucl
things. Still, am bound to own tha
she worries a good deal about til,
grocery. She would just like to hav'
me stay a. home evenings all the whil'
with her, and its awfully silly in her
don't get into any harm; but th,D
suppose it is silly? That little Maggi
sald ride in row-boat was not wortl
soaring her mother about. l doD'
suppose Jim BTayton and his father
whole grocery are worth worrying m,
mother about when 1t comes to that
1 tell you what, Joe Bryan, let's yol
rvfx hot hnH