The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-04

us after you 60 away. L never had any
boys OF my own; | always wanted them:
and it seems to me now l feel the want of
| them more than ever, because L see how
nice nice boy really is."
81 never was accused of being "a nice
boy by my best friends" cried Brydell,
laughing but pleased. ASK Aunt Emiline
| what she thinks of me-"
As for Mlnna. every mention of BTy-
nelps leaving was met by her throwing her
arms around his neck and pleading, "You
won't 60 away and leave me?' Brydell
| partially gained her consent TO go on
promising that he would send her chests
| full of magnificent things and dolly as
| big as herself.
Toward the last of the summer he got
letter from his father. 1t was very kind
and affectionate and almost humble in
tone. 81 feel that | have erred through
my tenderness for you," he wrote, "but
hope that YOU have experienced the worst
! you will have to undergo of the effe IS of
my fOndness. 1 do not know what you are
| doing now, and shall wait eagerly to hear,
but rely on your lnanliness and upright
| ness to carry you through" Brydei's re-
ply to this letter was very cheerful one.
One day In the autumn as Brydell IN his
blue overalls WIS driving an ox-wagon
loaded with fodder down the lane he sud-
denly caught sight of a GRIM, military old
figure standing at the gate. with another
rather slouchy one, and the next minute
|
| laugh The admiral was highly amused
at the spectacle his young friend pre-
! scented, mounted on a load of hay, while
Billy Bovine grinned appreciaively at tile
sight. Brydell was delighted to see his
old friend. and noticing that his employ
| ment as teamster seemed to afford the adj
| miraI great diversion he cried out:
Delighted to see you. admiral! just
! let me get my team through this gate aud
| I'll jump down and shake hands with you.
Gee, buek?'
"Ha. hap roared the admiral ''You
! haven't sea room enough. my young
| friend, in which TO maneuver that craft.
You'll foul that gate post as sure as
gun"
mo, / won't; whoap' shouted BrydelI
in reply. The oxen made sudden. turn
that really did threaten to foul the gate
post.
Keep your Iuff." called out the admiral.
waving his stick excitedly. land keep
your head TO the wind"
Cant" replied BrydelI. who was not
an expert ox-drver by any means; you
see, she yaws about So there's no keeping
| her head to the wind"
At last, fer the expenditure of much
lung power. both by Brydell and the
admiral, the wagon got through and
Brydeil, jumping down, shook hands
heartily with his old friends.
BLISS my sOuI!" cried the admiral, 81
| y,
you are about foot taller and two feet
broader Than you were last year-eh,
! B"w.ine ?"
"He do grow amazin' fast" said Billy,
| solemnly, "aud / reckon as how he'll be
the finest lookIn' Teller in the sarvice when
he gifts there. But, Mr.. Brydell, beg your
pardng, sir, you ought not to risk your
life, sir, in no sich a craft as that. Horses
| is bad enough, but oxen is the most dan
gerous thing alive. Like IS OF they run
away with you or kick your head off. sir.
Now. SIR, ahoardship, you amt never In
no danger. That's the beauty OF the sar-
vice, sir; amt no horses for to kick you,
nor no nXen for to run away with you;
| jSt nOthin' 10 hurt you, and when the
wind blows all you'vr got to do. sir. is tn
make everything snug and git TO sea, and
| there you is, sir. safe and sound"
The old dunderhead is right" chuckled
the admiral, highly pleased, while Brydell
in bis heart really thought a ship Mas the
! safest thing under heaven. particularly
! United States snip. Brydell took his two
| old friends up 10 the house, where Mrs.
Laurison received them as she did every
body, kindly and graciOusly. The admiral.
| struck by her gentle and refined no inner
bowed over the hand OF the farmers wife
| as If she were the greatest lady in the
| land, while Billy Bovine stood lust out
side the door twiddling his cap, and could
not be induced o sit down even in the hall.
For faint for the likes o. me to be
sitin' down af0re ladies'" said. Billy.
But I'd like nightly 10 have a word with
that little 'un as looks like a ANGEL
Minna, after having made friends with
| the admiral, was quite willing to make
| friends with the old sailor. Presently
they saw her put her chubby hand in his
and lead him ont under a tree, where they
| both sal down on the grass. and through
the window foated In scraps of a thrilling
narrative that Billy was telling her: "Phe
] nri o. ord ri
my palaukeen,' and she climbed over the
| side, and then she trimmed the palankeen,
and IT'S a mighty onhaudy thing 10 trim.
my dear"
Mrs. Laurison invited the admiral to
stay 10 dinner and he accepted frankly
Brydell slipped upstairs and washed aud
changed his clothes, then the admiral
went upstairs, TOO, and had a lcng talk
with him. He took Brydel's books and
gave him a pretty sharp examination,
| which Brydell stood remarkably we'll; he
had not wasted his time.
When dinner was ready they found Mr..
| LaursOn dressed in his best clothes and
| Mrs. LaurisOn had put on pretty gown
for the admiral The dinner was very Jolly
and Brydeil was glad that the admiral saw
what excellent quarters he had fallen into
| After dinner, when IL was time for the
train. Mr.. Laurison wanted to SEM the
admiral 10 the station in tie old carriage
| that was use0 on great occasions, but the
admiral preferred to walk. He and Bry-
dell started off therefore in the autumn
evening 10 walk. with Billy Bowline rolling
| along after them.
| 81 have waited to write 10 your father
until l should see you" said the admiral,
but now l can write with cheerful
heart. POUNDS, sir, you are in luck; a
year of hard study. hard work and indie
pendence will make a man of you I
thought your failure in your examina alton
the worst thing that could befall you. But
don't you see. young-ter. shat what seems
| to be the worst may sometimes be wrested
| to make the very best?"
Brydell was not quite prepared to admit
that his two notifying failures were
the best things that could have happened
to him. but he rightly considered himself a
| fortunate fellow In the way his resolve
to earn his living had turned out. He
told the admiral of the letter he had
received from his father and what he had
replied. And then he spoke of Grub ana
| Esdaile.
II have heard of that Esdaile fellow
and mark my words, he's scamp. It's
we'll enough to elevate himself; poor
| Grub is an honest, sensible fellow.
| &nA hue L: