The true northerner., 1899-02-01


breaking that fence down, climbing
over it as you do, nearly every day
If you do not stop it, | shall have
bill of expense for repairs"
Yes, sorr." said the Dooley boy,
calmly; and he walked around to the
front of the house, and went out by
gate.
left the gate open behind him.
the minister did not notice that,
was working on his sermon with
\ fervor. when his ears were as
by a startling din in the gar
$5.C
rushed again TO the window, and
61O 1.-THE Dooleys' cow-which com
PANy grazed on the highway, con-
trary TO law and order-crashing and
stamping around among the vege-
tables and flower beds, pursued by
Mrs. Hathaway with a broom, Aunt
Maria with feather duster, and Brid
get with a mop, each loudly lifting
her voice against the invading cow.
Just then Ernest Hathaway, the
minister's son. coming home from
school, arrived upon the scene.
"Hi! hi! I'll head her Off" he
shouted. And he vaulted over the
fence, in imitation of the Dooley boy.
Unluckily, the palings of the fence
were already loosened. Tney gave
way, and precipitated Master Ernest
into the strawberry bed, with long
rent in his new jacket and a painful
bump on his knee.
Nearly a week elapsed before the
Dooley boy ventured again. Then he
sauntered past the parsonage, and cast
n longing glance at the strawberry
bed
1t chanced that little Rose came tod
ding at that moment down the gar
den path, and called out to him, in
hSr. pretty, cooling lisp:
"'Uilo, Jimmy! Where it'll 90 do
in'?"
"Hullo. Rosie! Come and see met"
said the Dooley boy, STOPPING down
and holding out his hands TO her be-
tween the palings Of the fence, while
a broad grin of genuine delight spread
over his freckled face.
Picking two or three big red straw
in her chubby little fist, put the stream
ing, crimson mass into the Dooley
boys hand, lisping, with seraphic
smile:
"@awberwies-dood! Jimmy eat
'um chawberwies!
This temptation was more than the
Dooley boys flesh and blood could
stand. He swallowed the crushed but
enticing fruit, and held out his hand
for more.
Rosie, with a gurgle Of pleasure,
stopped down 10 clutch another berry,
and the Dooley boys mouth watered
with eagerness. Just then a wrathful
voice from the direction Of the kitchen
door exclaimed:
what are We doin' there, We young
raskil Get away with your mis-
chief"
And Bridget came down the garden
path like whirlwind, picked up the
struggling Rosie, and poured out the
vials of her scorn.
"You're the worst good-for-nothin'
boy in this neighborho ood! Amt you
ashamed to be maxim the little inno-
cent help you steal strawberries"
81 didn't" said the Dooley boy, red
dening under his freckles. 'She give
'em to rue herself. / never asked her
for 'em."
But Bridget bore away the baby,
Kicking and protesting loudly.
"No, no! Timmy not bad Timmy
dood boy! Rosie gived him chaw-
berwies-her did"
Bridget's view of the case, however,
was accepted; and Rosie was told that
she must have no more TO do with the
Dooley boy.
although" said gentle Mrs. Hath
away, 81 should not wish my little
girl 10 suppose there was anything
wrong in giving him a few straw
berries. You should have asked
mammals permission, Rosie dear"
Ernest, however, continued TO
watch for the Dooley boy, and walk
with him TO school, and forgathered
with him, in common with his mates.
His parents did not feel like setting
an interdiction on his friendly in
tercourse with a schoolmate, except
for hagrant cause.
Such cause appeared TO have arisen,
Avhen Ernest came home, one Sat-
urday afternoon, in state that made
his mother and aunt look volumes of
dismay. He was soaking wet from
head to foot, and smeared to the waist
with black mud and green slime. One
shoe was missing. His white straw
hat was stained with mud and water,
and his face was dirty.
"Why, Ernest Hathaway" cried
Aunt Maria. "What have you been
into now?"
"Tve been into the pond hole down
in Cedar swamp, Aunt Maria" said
Ernest. looking half ashamed and