The news boy., 1896-05-30

'oO ma'am, hey2 Come
to tell me bout some bad conduct
Of Sammy's. Well, il you've got any
fault to find with my grandson, out
with it. I'll back ye every time" Mr..
Dlodgett, who was plowing, while Sam
my helped him by guiding the horse,
turned round to his grandson as he
spoke.
"Oh, assure you, Mr.. Blodgett, Sam
my behaves beautifully. called on an
entirely different errand. Probably
Sammy has told you about the flag we
want to buy"
"No. he hain't."
SWELL" said little Miss Stanton quick
ty, 1--WE want to provide flag for our
schoolhouse. Nearly every schoolhouse
n the country has one. And we want
you to help U.S."
"a flag! What for?" demanded Mr..
Blodgett.
''Why, don't you think" she spoke
with surprise, "that the daily sight of
their country's flag will make the
pupils better children now, and better
men and women by and by?"
Mr.. Blodgett. There's lots of foolish
notions running round loose nowadays,
and this strikes me as one of 'em. Hoist
ing fag and making Fourth O. July
out of all the three hundred and sixty
odd days in the year! Stick to writing,
reading and 'rithmetic, and let the
ilummeries be-"
Miss Stanton, too shrewd either to
show dismay or to wrangle with the
farmer, simply looked us if she were
amazed at and pitied his sentiments.
"How much do you calculate to put
out for the fiag?" he asked, forced by
her demeanor to doubt whether he had
not put himself in the wrong.
"Oh, something like $40.'
"Whew-ew!" Mr.. Blodgett whistled
his astonishment. "And how much do
you lay out for me to give?"
Miss Stanton had an instructive
knowledge that it is often judicious to
ask for more than one expects. "Well,
l should like it if you and Mr.. Simpson
would give me ten dollars each to start
the ball rolling. The minister tells Inc
YOU are one of the richest men in Plum
kett, and Mr.. David Simpson is the
other. So l came out this Saturday to
ask you two to help us get the flag"
Mr.. Blodgett gave little ejumptoward
s,ls plow. II guess you don't know much
about Plunkett!" he gasped. "Dave
Simpson, did you say? Dave Simpson!
The meanest man in Plunkett! Skin a
flea for it's hide! Ten dollars! Him!"
He considered moment. "Look
a-here!" he said. "You 60 and see Dave
Simpson. Tell him Bill Blodgett sent
you. Don't leave that out. He will
know what mean-he and I were in
The war together. Tell him you want
a $40-dollar flag for Plunkett school
house. And I'll match you, cent for
cent, dollar for dollar, whatever you
get out of Dave Simpson. Come! there's
an offer for you."
"Why, that's q splendid offer, sir!"
said Miss Stanton, rather sarcastically.
''Thank you, Mr.. Blodgett. Good-by-
thank you SO much! Good-by, Sam
lny!"
"Well!" muttered Blodgett, chuck
ling, 81 got out of that neat. Get up.
sammy" And yet, he felt, uneasily,
Iuut nc uiiS Ae Aa'S given q ooAioi W TIC
flag.
Miss Stanton, somewhat discouraged,
walked over to Mr.. Simpsons place.
The first glance at him reassured her.
Holding his little grandchild, Polly, by
the hand, he cordially inquired how she
Liked Plunkett, and put q great many
other questions. She could not get in
word about the flag. She began to
suspect method in Mr.. Simpsons vol
utility.
'And how is this naughty Polly car
rying on?" he asked.
Miss Stanton smiled on the pair.
.Have you told grandpa about our flag,
polly?"
Dave Simpson squared his shoulders.
His amiable expression vanished. His
pocket was attacked.
"Weli," he faltered, "I'm sorry to dis
obleege you-really-'specially as lit
t,c Polly here wants it. Bus-but-
well-you see, in the matter Of contrib
utions for flags and such things you
mustn't look to me to help you out
Hope you amt, oyer-much disappoint.
cd" he added.
ssOh. not overmuch, for Mr. Blod
gett warned me in season." smiled Miss
Stanton. N%k6
"Bill BlodgettI" exploded Mr.. Simp
son. "What's he know about it? Bill
Dlodgettl That's good onei I'll have
you to know Bill Blodgett's the mean
est man in Piuukett! Splits his cop
pers Tor the contribution-boxl What
ore yoa lsNghing stG" he selsed ~ ~
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