The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19

/ ance before NenturinB into nef presence.
| Having arranged his hair as well as
| he could under the circumstances, being
! careful not to wet it much for fear IL
might be thought he had been swimming,
| he washed the dried blood from a scratch
On his bare leg, and taking up his Third
/ Reader and spelling book. trudged Off
/ towards the neat white house in which
| he lived.
AS he drew near he saw aunt Maria
standing in the doorway, shading her
eyes with her hand Sammy Patch,
Were on airth hev you benz she called
as soon as he came within ear-shot.
Here I've wasted a good half-hour
waitin' fer you ter come before / slicked
up and set down TO sew. Come. be spry,"
taking hold of his shoul 1ers Go put
| them books in the house, and come
straight out ter the wood-pile an hev
| your hair cut"
"Oh, Aunt Mariar' he expostulated
! "No bickeriu, now. I've wasted time
| enough. You don't suppose I'm goin' ter
| take you ter Uncle Daniels ter-morrow
with yer head lookin' like a wild Injun?"
| Sammy nervously twitched his blue
| checked blouse. Tiff you'd on'y cut
1t in the Kitchen" he faltered. I'D sweep
UP the muss."
"Cut it in the Kitchen I never heerd
| ot~Nn a SlthtIlll lltt. L Il De IdSlln
| hairs in things for tn next month. Go
| straight in the house without another
word, an bring out that brown caliker
apron behind the entry door"
Sammy meekly obeyed. And Miss Maria
Seacomb, tall and angular, STROBE ma
| jestically, TO the wood pile.
Their house was built almost on the
| highway. short distance out Of the viii
/ lage, and the wood-pile, back, but TO
one side. was in plain sight Of all passers-
/ by. The stump of huge oak tree was
used for chopping block, and seated
upon this pedestal. with the brown calico
apron pinned round his neck. Sammy
felt himself painfully conspicuous.
Miss Maria always did with her might
what her hands found to do. To-day she
was in hurry, and combed and clipped
with snch vigor that Il brought the water
10 Sammys eyes. However, he bore Il
| manfully, in the hope that it might be
over before any Of the boys CHANGED to
pass. Just as he was beginning to think
| that this would be the case, he heard
a merry whistle ard looking up, saw
/ Johnny Woods saunterng down the road.
"Oh. Aunt Maria" he pleaded, please
let me get down TIL Johnny's past"
Samuel Patch, don't you dare move an
! inch. | declare one would think It was
a disgrace ter hev their hair cut. | never
| heerd sech ridiculous notions. Don't you
s'pose Johnny Woods's mother ever cuts
| his hair?"
"He-he alays goes Ter the regular
barber's," almost sobbed Sammy.
"Hm,-waal, seem Providence didn't
see III ter make you rich enough ter throw
! money away on regular BARRIERS. yer
, ought to be thankful yer can hev 1t cut
ter home. But p'rhaps yo'd rather I'd let
IL grow. an wear II I'm plat, like a
girl?" she added. in sarcastic tones.
This last was partly lost upon Sammy.
| nervously pinching W bits OF bark with
his bare toes. and watching in an agony
OF modification the approach of Johnny
Woods. the worst tease at school.
"Hillo. Sammy. gettn' a haircut"
called Johnny. regarding him with a
broad grin.
Sanmy's pent-up feelings could stand
It no longer. Casting from him the de-
spised apron. he jumped from the chop
ping-block and made a wild dash for
liberty.
Mss Maria stood stock-still for fully
minute. hen calmly picking up the
apron, she shook II out, and walked I'm
righteous indignation to the house. con-
scious that Johnny Woods was bent dou-
BILE with laughter on the other side OF
the fence. She was soon quietly sewing.
AS for Sammy, reaching the shelter Of
the woods that stretched to the north
Of the house he felt very much Ike
bursting into tears. but feared Johnny
might follow him. Johnny did not fol-
low him, however. as he had been sent on
an errand by his mother. SO, seating
himself on a rock. Sammy began TO re-
fleet on what he had done.
What would Aunt Maria do? He put
his hand 10 his head; there was quite a
piece on top that was still uncut. Would
she ever finish il now? Would he have
to 20 to Urcle Daniels with his hair that
way? She had said something about let
ting it grow in a plat; could she have
meant 10
At last as the shadows heightened until
it was almost dark in the woods, he de-
cided to 20 hCme and humbiy beg her
pardon. He entered the kitchen and
found Aunt Maria putting the things on
the table for tea. She took no notice
Of him whatever. He stood uneasily
over by the dresser. Presently he ven
TIRED
Aunt Maria, I'm sorry / ran away"
WAL should think you might be.
never heerd Of sech actions. It's time
you was washin fer tea"
The meal was eaten almost IN silence.
Nothing was said about the uncut hair.
And all that evening. and all the way
TO Uncle Daniels next morning. poor
sammy was haunted by the horrible
vision OF a plait. perhaps tied up with n
red ribbon, such az the girls wore at
school.
Miss Maria was doing her best for her
sisters boy. whom she had taken home
when his mothers death left him an
orphan. She gave him plenty to eat,
sent him to school. and kept him neatly
II not finely clothed. But she had lived
alone so long before Sammy came. her
own childhood seemed so far of and for
gotten, that she had small patience with
youthful pranks and follies.
Uncle Daniel was younger than his
sister He was married. and owned
large farm four miles out OF the village.
II was always a treat to go 10 Uncle
Daniels.
That day, as they all gathered for din
ner Uncle Daniel at once noticed Sam
my's hair and asked.
why. what has happened TO your hair.
Sammy
Sammy looked down shamfacedly.
IL run away when Aunt Maria was cut
tin it."
Run away when she was cuttin' Il!
What did yer do that fer ehT' he con-
tinued.
Aunt Maria was looking at him severe
~. but at last he blurted out:
"Cause Johnny Woods was laughIn';
an l wanted to 20 ter the BARRIERS,
cause the boys tease me an say the rats
epaw It, But I'm sorry / run away,
with a p, intent glance at Aunt Maria.
Uncle Daniels mouth was twitchlng, but
he said gravey:
had ought he sorry Samnly.