The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-09-04
EBENSBURG FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1896

DrLSk pace we nau cut out Tor the HTSr
few miles, and in the cool of the morn
ing.
But as the sun rose higher, and com
menced to beat down on the dry, dusty
road, we saw that we were in for a
scorcher. The heat was something
awful. Our brisk walk had long since
changed to a dogged shamble, and
rests became frequent and II longer
duration. We were also falling far
short of the schedule time as computed
by Walters scientific deduction" and
we saw very plainly that we were in q
scrape.
Neither would turn back, however.
although think if either had proposed
giving il up, the other would only too
gladly have acceded to the proposition.
1t was case of zones afraid, and the
other dassent," both of us hesitating Ia
be the first one TO cry baby, SO we went
on. Mypoor brother was limping pain
fully, unaccustomed to such eNerton,
and exhausted by the heat of the July
day. / would have been in fairly good
condition, had 1 not chosen this par
ticular day to 'break in" pair of base
ball shoes.
You all remember how the boys used
leather, and also a habit they had of
slipping up and down at the heel, owing
to a popularity of construction. This
pair of mine was no exception to the
general run and had slipped and rubbed
until two beautiful blisters rewarded
their efforts, making it simply torture
for me to walk.
At last took them off, and walked in
m fka.ar hen
feet left to walk in, then il became my
own feet. How | wished and longed
for the calloused pedal extremities OF
the bare footed urchins | had often
rdiculed. l will not dwell on the pain
full subject. 1t brings u too vivid recoI-
lection of the suffering, even at this
distant date.
Everything must come to an end
however, and when finally we could
see the clear water of the pond glisten
ing through the trees ahead, L think |
could have reconciled myself to my af
Fiction, lad il not been for apremonition
of distracted parents searching for lost
boys. The gentleman who kept tn.
hotel at the pond acted the part of
ministering angel when we presented
our case to him. 1t being past three
o'clock. you can imagine that we had
developed quite healthy appetite, but
an account of stock, quickly taken.
showed our joint assets to be Just seven
cents, not very encouraging surely for
two half starved boys. but our sympa
thetic landlord stood by US nobly, when
we informed him who we were, for he
knew our father, and what a dinner he
set out for usi
If my bare and swollen feet caused
some little amusement among the
guests, it did not detract from my APP
petite. and Walter was certainly not too
tired TO eat. We felt much better after
our dinner. and would have started i'm
mediately on the return tramp, but our
landlord would not hear of it until we
had rested. He let us take one of his
rowboats, and, pulling around to little
cove. we had a refreshing swim. We
were both feeling pretty nervous over
the sequel, however. and decided post
ponement could not lessen the evil, AMI
would only make matters worse So
returning the boat, and thanking our
kind-hearted host again, and promising
to send him the money for our dinners
we struck out on that weary hOmeward
march.
How we ever got there / do not know.
Ny blistered feet were evidently in e
state of temporary insensibility, a
they gave me very little pain. but | felt
there must be a sweet hereafter in store
for them on the morrow. Walter was
pretty nearly gone, and stops were
necessarily called every few minutes.
1t was now dark, and our state of
mind was far from enviable.
The old town clock was just striking
ten when our front gate opened and two
dust and travel-stained pedestrians
dragged themselves wearily up over the
front steps and walked in upon circle
of woe-begone mourners-
In second we were hugged and
kissed by about ten different women.
who had come in to comfort our nearly
crazed mother, who, as mothers will
imagined every conceivable manner of
misfortune, and she fully expected to
see our lifeless bodies brought in at any
moment.
Father had secured two teams. AMI.
with another gentleman, had been
securing the country since four O'Clock
that afternoon, and now half the villag-
were making preparations for tho
rough search when in we walked. They
were glad to see us again alive and
well that father did not have the heart
to punish us, thinking, no doubt, as
he glanced at Walter asleep in his chair.
and then at my bare feet, that we werc
already punished enough.
L believe the next day he did forbid
us to leave our yard for week, but this
was very mild sentence, as neither OF
us was in a condition to do much walk
ing for that length of time.-Golden
Days.