The Holly chieftain., 1898-07-01

smart birds we're enjoying those worms
q delicious .0r-the first boom ot the
new cannon which I hope Wiz not e2-
pgoGe in Your faces before the dag is
over and the -artle-te-Oang 1f the hrst
huuca Of arsrracse~s, tLraEI mall
c.ousLy under your poor Glcle's win
dow. Wan. v0E see, your uncle Is GO
'-r t. r.tur~ .n.G for evil n hope you
NJ! INK 10 is gooGl), and is going 20
tell you story tel! you aow It hap
peued that Mr. Duc:cwort... Jr., wss
once on a time up aad stirring IL
lively manner about three o'clock a. n
But first Of all I rzHzt tell you who
Johnnie was and where be lived. John
MES home was a wee little house, as
neat as a pin aud as yellow as butter
cup, that stood all alone on a small fat
plain, sort OF clearing by the raIl-
road, which was As hot as pepper IN
summer and as cold as Greenland IN
winter. From the windows on one side
OF this little house, built BY our hero's
father. could be seen the railroad tracks
Eiisteuing at short distance; and from
the windows on the other side could be
seen narrow river thar glistened far
more charmingly. SaJdhnrie's mother
had always thought, and invariably
took her sewing TO the window in the
parlor, from which. when she raised
her eyes from the enormous rents made
BY her son in his clothing. she could
watch for moment the peaceful, flow
ing water. Father DuclUyorth how
ever, always drew his chair to the op-
posIte side Of the room In his rare hours
nt leisure Rnd every now and then.
dropping Us paper Into his lap. he
would gaze out over his round glasses
lovingly at the straight dasHes Of steel
His face would simply beam with de-
light when the house 0rgan to auIver
gently, then 10 shake more and more
violently and then 10 dance rs a thur-
deriGg train whFzzed BY. When slow
freight tangled over the tracks. he
would lean out Of the wfnGaw and aG-
dress funny remarks to the men on
board, for Mr.. D@clSworth knew all the
'hauGs." All his life he bad worked re-
pairing those rails, and he loved them
NEXT TO his wife and Johnnie. Mr. Nc
KinIey could not be prouder to be pres
ident than John Duckw0rth was 70 be-
long 70 the section gang" a company
of men employed TO keep the track, in
order. He used 10 'ay to his son: ~is
your life is "a straight and hawlrss and |
bright as them rails youW reach the
place want you 10 get to all right. ri
be there to meet you and your good
mother" Johnnie did rot half under
stand this wise saying, yet he always |
looked politely solemn. but Mrs. Duck !
worth ever brought to earth this one
flight Of her husbands fancy by beg
giEg him not to make her so sad: and
then she always added-partIy. it would |
seem, as II to show her OWE ability fo- |
speaking faucifulIy-that she hoped |
JohHnie's life would be as deep and as
clear as the river. So Johnnie grew up
with q poetic awe for the river and the |
rails. He learned all about his fathers
business, and Mr.. Duckworth took Just |
pride In his sons knowledge. doubt |
IL many boys know as much about cars
and engines and their tricks and man
rers" as Johnnie knew.
After poor Mr. Duckworth had died |
Of suustrcke while repairing some
sleepers few miles up the track at the |
AAtAAN image NlHll1l4s .IDlIAlrs d4NHDaGn I
overwhelmed with grief, told his moth
er with pride that as soon as he was |
Old enough he wanted her TO make him /
some Jumpers, and then he would take |
his fathers place in the section gang |
and would support her Mrs. Duck
worth smiled through her tears, and /
was brave and patient for her boys
sake.
The months passed slowly by. aud
two years had gone since Mr.. Duck
worth's death, when my story begins
Through these wears Johnnie had
trudged regularly to the little school
house, which was n long ways off, and
was standing finely in his lessons; and
his mother spent her time missing him
and expecting him, and sewin9to sup
port him. Her neighbors used to ask