Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-02

smart birds were enjoying those WORMS
OF delicious joy-the first boom OF the
new cannon (Which hope Will not ex-
plode in your faces before the day Is
over), and the rattle-te-bang OF the hrst
bunch Of firecrackers, thrown mali
ciously under your poor uncle's WIN
dow. Well, you see. your uncle is go
ing TO return good for evil Il hope You
will think it is goodD, and is going to
tell you story-tell you how it hap
pened that Mr.. Duckworth, Jr, was
once on time up and stirring in
lively manner about three o'clock a. m.
But first OF all must tell you who
Johnnie was and where he lived. john
MES home was a wee little house, Us
neat as pin aud as yellow us butter
cup, that stood all alone on small hat
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
glistening at short distance; and from
the windows on the other side could be
seen u narrow river that glistened far
more charmingly. So Johnnie'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 q moment the peaceful, flow
ing water. Father Duckworth, how
ever, always drew his chair to the OPP
posite side Of the room in his rare hours
OF leisure, and every now and then,
dropping his paper into his lap, he
would gaze out over his round glasses
lovingly at the straight dasbes Of steel.
His face would simply beam with de.
light when the house began TO culver
gently, then to shake more and more
violently and then TO dance as thun-
dering train whiZzed by. When q slow
freight tangled over the tracks, be
would lean out Of the window and adj
dress funny remarks TO the men on
board, for Mr.. Duckworth knew all the
"hands." All his life he had worked re-
pairing those rails, and he loved them
next to his wife and Johnnie. Mr.. Nc
Kinley could not be prouder to be pres
ident than John Duckworth was to be-
long TO the ''section gang" company
of men employed to keep the tracks 10
order. He used to say TO his son: eff
your life Is as straight and flawless and
bright as them rails you'll reach the
place want you to get to all right. III
be there to meet you and your good
mother" Johnnie did not 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
ging him not to make her so sad; and
then she always added-partly, II would
seem, as II to show her own ability for
speaking fanclfully-that she hoped
Johnnie'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 oil about his fathers
business, and Mr.. Duckwortb took just
pride In his sons knowledge. ] doubt
II many boys know as much about cars
and engines and their tricks and man
pers" as Johnnie knew.
After poor Mr.. Duckworth had died
Of sunstroke while repairing some
sleepers few miles up the truck at the
little village station, Johnnie, although
overwhelmed with grief, told his moth
er with pride that Us soon as he was
old enough be wanted her TO make him
GONE Jumpers, and then he would take
Ms fathers place In the section gang
and would support her. Mrs. Duck
srorth smiled through her tears, and
was brave and patient for her boys
take. ~ q.
The months passed slowly by, and
two years had gone since Mr.. Duck
worih's death. when my story heglHs.
Thfoafh these years Johnpie had
trudrtd regularly 70 the little school
konse. which was long why's on. and
uns standing lneIy 10 bis lessons; and
ii. n1|klI SPIN. hsf time missing him
ard .p.c|'11 t'1' sd sewing 10 snp'
rr W ~ ..'II1Q1l reed p sat