Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-05-26

60 up the garrett window and try
1t from there, so as to have greater
distance. You see"
"Don't hoe quite so vigorously,
my dear" interrupted his mother,
as Toms energy increased with bis
interest iu the subject under dis
cnssion. "Of course yOn would not
think of dong anything so FOOLISH
"But perhaps girls, when you
we're young, didn't 60 far enough
In philosophy TO be so sure OF
things as we are in these days.
Now, l thluk 1t would be a very
pretty little experience to try. You
see, mother. Nature never makes
mistakes. She Is always the same,
and can always be relied upon.
ayes, dear, am sure OF that
so suie that 1 think shall tram
plant a few seedlings from tho
h)tDed, confident that she will OF
fail me in the wealth of sunshine
and soft rain which | shall expect
from her. They are well grown and
it is quite late enough in the sea-
son."
81 guess she wont,' said Tom,
with smile, ready to fall into his
mothers fancy.
"NOw, mother" he went Oh, as,
having raked bed of the warm,
moist earth, he proceeded, with
very gentle and palDstaRlng hands,
10 set in tho dainty mOrsels OF dell
cate green, "YOu can easily un-
derstand how perfectly the icsl-
tance of the air would bear me up
if tried 1t. l6On't know but you
are right in thinking 1t wonderful
that the man should come down all
right wbeU the wind twas blowing
aud might vhisk him about here
aud there aud everywhere. But
on a quiet day like this it would be,
sure, for the displacement of the
air under the umbrella would be so
gradual as TO make IL quite in
possible for any thing to go wrong.
Why Tom waxed more and more
enthusiastic-''it would be just
splendid to feel nothing under your
feet, and vet to have a perfect con-
tidence IN what you are about, eh,
mOthell"
"Indeed, Tom she said, laugh
ing, 81 think my confidence ~
what am about and III thin.s in
general, is much more perfect
when feel the solid ground under
nv feet"
"That's because you're not a
boy" said Tom, with look OF COM
miseration for his mothers fOrloln
condition, as he went to put away
the rake.
He was just nearing the age
when boys begin TO think they
know more than their mothers, or,
indeed, than anyone else in the
world. What special age that may
b., mothers are probably best able
to determine; bat their opinions
my be likely to vary, for it Is Ger
tainly a comprehensive one.
The first peeps gained by live
ly boy INTO the precincts of the
wonders of nature aud art usually
serve to fill him with exalted no.
tious of himself in beng able TO
take that peep. But it is always
observed that the further he ad-
vances into the sacred domain, the
more reverentIy does he tread, IN.
til at length the really knowing
stand mute and humble in view OF
the vastness of the yet-lO-he
known.
Tom, resting with happy con.
fdrnce IN his knowledge OF The
laws of nature, which knowledge
he rated far higher than his mOtE'
er's judgment and caution, based
upon Years of actual experience N
life, called upon his nearest fIlend,
Phil, TO share his Interest In the
matter of an aeronautIc exl eri
meut.
"a hundred feet-phew~ ex
cls int q Phil, when shown the ac
count OF The adventure on Harlem
High bridge. 81 wouldn't like i'
to have been he, would y0uW
: "Why nOt7' said Tom. "Hr wal
sure to turn up all right
"WOuldn't NouW
Phil looked at him with respect
"Of cOurse wouldn't" sti'
Tom. "Only there isn't any sncl
l high place any where about here
J. "Pshaw, now Z! You wOnldn'i d
" IL