The Penn's Grove record., 1895-11-01

startling petition should be put IN
along with the first seeds of spring, III
order to ripen definite decision by the
time the smoke and tumult OF In
dependence Day began to ascend from
the Ka Bob public square, which was,
to him, the grand theatre OF all truly
metropolitan events.
Jehial had conceived this daring de-
sire to distinguish himself as a man
among men while casting "sheep's
ewes" al the back of Phobe's bowed
head during the long prayers that CON
stituted the hone and sinew of the
weekly conference meeting" at lions
Church.
1t must be confessed that there was
little courage about his first conscious
wish to celebrate the glorious Fourth
by so bold q stroke of gallantry. 1t
was simply q wish. But as each warm
spring day spread its seductive in
fuences about him, and he strobe
across the steaming field in the wake
of pillow or drag, his longing grew
stronger, and he nursed it into r sturdy
resolution.
But, somehow, his courage was
stronger when alone in the field than
when face to face with his father, at
home.
1t seemed as though the right op-
~portunity for approaching his father
with the proposition never would pre-
sent itself, and he delayed the dread
ordeal from day to day.
At last the handbills announcing the
order of exercises for the great cele-
bration at Ka Bob appeared. 1t was
to eclipse all former celebrations in
magnifcencc, and each special attrac-
lion was discussed with as much zest
and relish as though it was not a pre-
else repetition Of the programme that
had been advertised year after year,
until every adult knew just which
features would be presented and which
omitted.
'Ma, l wuz Jest a-thinkin' I'd like t
go t. that Fourth of July downt' Ia
Bob" said Jehial, to his mother, as
she came out to the old well sweep for
a bucket of water, where he was wash.
ing the plowed ground from gaunt
feet.
''Why. of counsel Is'pose we're ali
going" she replied.
"But I don't mean that. I wuD
thinkin' I'd like to go alone and-and
take some one" he stammered.
"'Go alone and take some oneG
Why, child, who ever heard of such q
thing? What on 'arth do you mean2"
"S-c-hl here comes pal" exclaimed
the timid Jehial, in an undertone, as
his father emerged from the barn,
looking like q rural conception of
stern Justice, with the exacting ball
ances, as he lifted an old-fashioned
blueneck yoke to his shoulders and
stopped to hook pendant arm into tho
bail of a froth-heeked pail of milk.
When they were again alone, Jehial,
without looking up from his labor of
sblution, resumed the conversation.
"Yes, ma; I'd like t. take Phoebe
: the Fourth; but I amt said nothin'
t. pa bout it. I kinder hate to, some-
how. Can't you have a little talk with
him bout it?"
"Well, 1 s'pose I cam" replied the
mother, "but I'm sure 1 don't know
what he'll think bout it."
Accordingly, after Jehial had re-
tired, she laid the proposition before
her husband.
"Lord-a-massy, Maryl What n
idee! That boy abowin' Square
Jones's little gal round on a Fourth OF
July! Why, he's nothin' but a colt,
an the whole town would be apokin'
fun at the little fools. An, what's
more, no Jayhawk's got any call to be
mixin' with the Jones after all the
trouble that we've had with the old
Square wei hat line fence. It's all
poppy-cot. I'm willin' that Jehial
should go t. the Fourth. but / don't
want any gal business bout it. Why.
Mary, Jest think of that youngsters
takin' a horse en- buggy an a gal
round there where they'd be a-shoot-
in firecrackers an anvils, and a-snap-
pin them pesky little torpedoes'
faint no place for a horse, let alone
trustin' it with q boy that's got a gal
aboard. He'll break his neck an thu
gals too"
''But you remember the time when
you took me to the Fourth at Busti,
and you weren't any older than Jehial,
and hadn't had any more experience
with horses than he has"
This was an argument ad hominem
that the father had not counted on.
He gave it several moments of silent
consideration and then took refuge in
his las platitude,
"Well, it amt safel"
The mother of Jehial was quick to
zee this sign of weakening, and fol-
owed up her successful attack, at dis
,reet intervals, until the matter finally
anne to n head.
After a protractcd night session oil
die domestic executive committee, it
vas determined that Jehial should at
end the glorious Fourth, with full
Sower to act.
Jehial cheerfully accepted fifty cents
rom his mother, and made his way to
Squire Jones's to obtain the consent 81
Me Jones family.
As he entered the Squirrels gate and
passed up the narrow gravel walk be-
ween the balsam trees, vainly laborine
10 formulate his request in graceful
words. and commit them to memory
before reaching the door, he would
have gladly exchanged his task for that
Of breaking n Canada pair of steers,
blowing a ten-acre field, or teaching 4
trio of calves to drink. How his hear
thumped as the soles of his cowhide
boots grated on the coarse gravel o.
The walk. He imagined that Is would
not seem SO hard were it not for the
TACT that he was on hostile ground
Tor q Jayhswk had not set foot upor
Me Jonas premises aimee the immoyts.