Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-04-19

mouth was one of decided disapproval
bordering on scorn. He wrinkled his
lips up on each side into little lines.
The sand was soft, and the gray
mare came on so noiselessly that the
boy heard nothing till Bonaparte dis
mounted. Then Doss got up and moved
back a step. He did not approve OF
Bonaparte's appearance. His costume,
in truth, was of a unique kind. 1t was
a combination of the town and cOun-
try. The tails of his black cloth coat
were pinned up behind to keep them
from rubbing; he had on a pair Of
moleskin trousers and leather CATERS,
and in his hand he carried little whip
of rhinoceros hide.
Waldo started and looked up. Had
there been a moments time he would
have dug a hole in the sand with his
hands and buried his treasure. 1t was
only toy of wood, but he loved it, as
one Of necessity loves what has been
born of him, whether of the flesh or
spirit When cold eyes have looked at
it, the feathers are rubbed off our but
terfiy's wing forever.
what have you here, my lad " said
Bonaparte, standing by him and point
ing with the end of his whip to the
medley of wheels and hinges.
The boy muttered something inaudi-
ble and half spread his hand over the
thing.
"But this seems to be very ingen-
ious little machine" said Bonaparte,
I, y,1
bending down over it with deep inter-
est. what is 1t for, my ladr
"Shearlng sheep"
at is a very nice little machine"
said Bonaparte. How does 1t work,
now? l have never seen anything so
ingeniousr'
There was never a parent who heard
deception in the voice that praised bis
child, his firstborn. Here was one who
liked the thing that had been created
in him. He forgot everything. He
showed how the shears would work
with n little guidance, how the sheep
would be held and the wool fall into
the trough. \ flush burst over his face
as he spoke.
II tell you what, my lad" said Bona
parte emphatically when the explana-
tion was finished, eve must get you
patent. Your fortune is made. In
three years time there'll not be farm
in this colony where it isn't working.
You're a genius: that's what you are"
said Bonaparte, rising.
"If 1t were made larger" said the
boy, raising his eyes, 'it would work
more smoothly. Do you think there
would be any one in this colony would
be able to make itY
I'm sure they could" said Bona
parte, "and, If not, why I'll do my best
for you. I'll send 1t to England. 1t
must be done somehow. How long
have you worked at itr
mine MONTHS" said the boy.
ooh, 1t is such a nice little machine"
said Bonaparte, lone can't help feeling
An interest In ii. There is only one lit
the improvement, one very little i'm
provement, should like to make"
Bonaparte put his foot on the ma
chine and crushed it in the sand. The
boy looked up into his face.
Looks better now," said Bonaparte,
doesn't It? If we can't have it made
In England, We'll send it to America.
Goodby; Ia, ta " he added. You're
great genius, n born genius, my dear
boy. There's no doubt about It."
He mounted the gray mare and rode
off The dog watched his retreat with
cynical satisfaction, but his master lay
ON the ground with his head on his
arms in the sand, and the little wheels
and chips of wood lay on the ground
around him. The dog jumped on his
back and snapped at the black curls
till, finding that no notice was taken,
he walked Off to play with n black
beetle. The beetle was hard at work
trying to roll home n great ball Of
dung 1t had been collecting all the
morning, but Doss broke the ball and
eat the beetles hind legs and then bit
off its head. And 1t was all play, and
no one could tell what 1t had lived and
worked fora striving and striving
and an ending In nothing.