The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
Il Boys
H0yERCORE
In Which He Flees From One
Danger to Rush Into Another

BY cHRIsTIANA ROSS FRAME IN THE PHILADELr
PHIA TIMES
1t is very warm afternoon. The sun
comes straight down on Aunt Maria's
oli-fashioned garden, and the columbines
and brides-and-grooms are nodding their
heads as if they did not enjoy it; only the
scarlet lychnis stands up straight and
bold. The heat has caused the petals OF
the yellow roses to fall and the ground be-
meath the bushes looks as if fairies had
been strewing it with gold pieces.
Not leaf rustles in the great orchard.
Animal and bird sounds are hushed, ex-
cept for the sharp buzzing of humming-
bird in the vines over the veranda where
father, Aunt Maria and | are sitting.
Father is reading, Aunt Maria's needles
are clicking steadily, and l am bolstered
in the hammock with pencil, paper and
book for amusement. Father and aunt
keep asking if / am tired and warn me not
to write too much. 1t seems strange, my
being petted and fused over. but like it.
and the fortnight / have spent in bed has
not been doleful; they have all been so
kind to me, especially father, with whom
/ am now getting to be really acquainted.
Of course, was to blame and it was my
disobedience that caused ali the trouble
and anxiety, but Aunt Maria says there
were extenuating circumstances (whatever
that means) and Uncle John says he
guesses I'll "keep away from the back
pasture in future" But l had better tell
the whole story.
Father and l live in New York. Mother
died when l was a very little boy, and
father, being busy in his Office all day, at
night was too tired to bother with me. So
was sent to Mr.. Browns school at Maple
wood, where l stayed all the time, not
going home in holidays as the other pupils
did. Father sent me lots of pocket money,
but that didn't make up for the long,
lonely summers, and to add to my unhap-
pinesss. was always getting into trouble
with Mr.. Blown for breaking bounds, and
wandering off to the woods.
One day last June, we boys were loiter-
ing by the schoolroom door, waiting for
prayer bell to ring. All were comparing
notes and making plans for the summer
holidays. except me. How lonely and
wretched 1 felt, standing under Mr..
Browns study window, kicking my toes
against the curbing.
Presently the window opened and Mr..
Browns head was thrust out. | expected
reprimand for the irritating noise I had
been making, but the head was instantly
withdrawn, the window banged and let
ter came futtering to my feet. 1t was ad-
dressed to me and the postmark was New
York, but it was not in fathers writing
and was almost afraid to read it. 1t was
from New York doctor saying that father
had been very ill, but was better, and
when able to travel, would take me with
him to spend the summer at his boyhood's
home i'll Nova Scotia. All the world
seemed changed after reading that letter,
and forgot that l had ever felt lonely or
neglected.
Father came the day school closed, and
after two days delightful travelwe arrived
at Uncle Johns farm on Cobeauid Bay.
Uncle John and Aunt Maria's boys were
grown up and away, excepting Mac, who
helped uncle manage the farm.
Mac let me ride on the great loads of
hay, help guide the moving and raking
machines, and sometimes he let me drive
the horses. What jolly times hadl
Only two places on the farm were for
hidden ground; one was the beach when
the tide was running in, the other the
DdCk pasture. WueIG OHclo JOun hSpb d
Jersey bull which had been showing signs
of becoming very vicious.
The pasture was more than mile from
the house and was inciosed on three sides
by high pole fence. The boundary on
the fourth side was the bay. The cliffs,
which were from forty to fifty feet in
height. dropped perpendicularly to the
beach and could be climbed only in places
where little brook had quilted, or trees
falling over had carried earth with them.
Day after day watched the tide roar
ing and surging III and saw it go rolling
out as rapidly, and day after day thought
of the shallow pools out on the flats, with
the imprisoned shad swimming round
waiting to be caught.
/, One sultry afternoon / had gone to the
marsh with the haymakers. 1t was low
| water, and heavy cloud hung over the
bay. The broad expanse of sand looked
damp and cool, and although had been
forbidden l thought it would not matter
much if went out just little way on the
fat Mac and the men were hurrying to
get the hay up before the threatening
shower. and did not notice me as went
through the long grass toward the bay.
crossed the dyke and taking off my
| shoes and stockings, put them In secure
place, and in five minutes more was out
of sight of the hayfeld, with the vast ex-
panse OF sand and shining mud before me.