The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-25


clear, babbling waterl They walked
on the wet stones and ducked them
selves and splashed, and even tried
to swim few strokes.
Suddenly alert little Percy whis-
pered, "The boys have come: they're
tying our clothes!"
Albert looked up quickly, and saw
the group of hooking faces on the
bank.
Reused by his responsibility for
his young companion, he demanded,
"You boys, let our clothes aloneT"
30 boys!' exclaimed Fred Benton;
boys, hear the Parsonl"
cite an extra knot in the Parsons
sleeves. said the dull-looking boy.
"Maybe he'll work more examples
than his betters next time"
Albert started for the shore, Percy
following.
"Goin' to fghtl" asked a big boy
dubbed Captain"
No. replied Albert.
ooh, yes! Got to fight. I'll pick
out one of your size. We all owe you
one. You know too much"
Whereupon the captain made feint
of mearuring arms and legs, matched
up sturdy, rosy checked blonde to
the slender, shrinking Albert, and
gave the signal to begin.
There was no resistance from Albert.
With glistening eyes and set teeth,
he stood, little figure of determined
endurance.
After numerous twists and cuffs
the captain called off Albert's antag-
onist, and there was a puzzled look,
almost admiration, on the big fellows
face as he looked at Albert, and said:
you're new kind. You won't run,
and you won't fight"
Percy in the mean time, finding his
clothes untouched, had quickly dress
ed, and, warning the other boys that
he was after a policeman, fled toward
town, Fred Benton calling after him
satirically, "Well go down the road
bit, and wait for your policeman"
As the prosecutors sauntered off,
down the Hill Road on the opposite
side of the creek came big Billy
Flanagan, whistling merrily. He
stopped for some time on the Red
Bridge to look down into the clear
water. Finally, his glance wandered
up the stream. In an angle of the
road, under low, overhanging cliff,
Albert's prosecutors lounged on the
grass, chatting idly.
Farther up, by the swimming hole,
sat Albert, working at his knotted
clothes.
Billy understood at a glance.
In his mind Parson Bent was asso-
ciated with memories of warm over
coat last winter, and oranges for sick
little Susie; and the boys grateful
Irish heart stirred as he fastened
toward Albert.
Bent yez Parson Bint's gram
baby?" he asked.
"I'm ten years DID," answered AL
bert, with a flash; "but I'm Parson
Bent's."
Billy's eyes twinkled, but he asked
another question quite gravely; and
his face grew serious as he listened to
the story of the cruel beating.
Without word he started on, his
shoulders high, determined roll in
his gait, and keen sense of injustice
swelling his heart.
Billy scorned to touch a boy under
his size, but two of the party by the
cliff were larger than he.
Presently he fell upon the group,
with the result that both the captain
and the dull boy limped home that
morning, bearing unmistakable proofs
that Albert Myers honor was not
lacking a valiant and ready cham
pion.
After the encounter Billy himself
rolled off,-his shoulders a notch
higher than ever,-muttering, "One
for little Sue, and one for mesilf."
Study lags in May days, but Albert
kept persistently at work, almost sure
of the silver medal; and, if he won the
medal, perhaps Grandmother would
be pleased with him.
Since Billy 'ssummary dealings that
Saturday at the creek, the boys had
quit their merciless nagging. Grand
father was always kind. Miss Allen
praised his school work. Altogether
he was beginning to be quite gay
and jolly little boy.
Only two griefs were left him.
GRANDMOTHER fault-fnding, and
Percy's tendency to tell lies; for Per
cy would lie. Whenever he thought
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