The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-08-23
Cruise Of the White Dove
NTONDER and delight thrilled the
Wv Mangqtl boys when the railrond

HTONDER and delight thrilled the
Wv Mangotl boys when the railrond
gang reached the edge Of the prairie
claim. For days, almost for weeks,
the slow approach of the laborers had
been watched First. just above the
horizon. then creeping across the level
paint seemed that they would never
come.
Rob, Tad and roly-poly Link stood In
line. gazing curiousiy as the wicldcrs
OF pick and shovel crossed the boundary
of the farm.
want u ride. bubs?" called one of
the men. motioning toward the fiat
push ear standing ON the newly laid
track.
Course we do" and the three boys
soon sat on the long car, their six bare
brown legs hanging Oft, while the men
trundled them along the track toward
the piles of rails and ties.
That was the beginning. The men
stayed for n long time on the Mnngold
rlaim. for there were along the creek
bluffs and hills 10 work through. The
boys fpirly lived beside the track and
pushed the now little used Hat car back
aud forth, enjoying the novel play.
thing.
Wish we had an engine" remarked
Tad one summer day, gazing away Ia
the north; sits such hard work push
ing"
There were no grades on the line
from the bluffs northwnrd. and the
boys richly earned all the rides they
secured.
Rob. widc-hattcd and brown checked
lad Of II. had an idea. Perhaps itcamc
because OF seafaring ancestors back In
Maine, the family's native state.
~ know" he cNclaimed; lets put
up u snil!"
A shout arose from the trio. and n
council was held ms they sat on the
edge of the la tered car platform.
what can we make II Of and where
can we get it?" asked Tad. rather in
definitely.
Rob thought u minute. Then he
whispered something to the others,
and n series Of chucklcs and lcg.slnp-
pings followed. The three hurried
through the prairie grass homeward.
Father had gone to the county seat
town 20 miles away; mother was pa
tien,ly finishing the weeks ironing in
the summer Kitchen.
Cautiously Rob led the way TO the
little unpainted granary where were
kept the implements and tools be.
longing to the farm. Over the plows
and binders he crawled until he came
TO n pile of brown sacks--long. close
woven and soiled. When the sheep were
sheared In the spring the hceces were
hacked In such receptacles, tramped
down by Rob's bare feet, A few of the
sacks had been left and were tossed
on the grnnary floor, forming one OF
the fayori,e resting places of the three
boys.
"Just the thing" declared Rob-
holding one high In the air. and when
Tad had Joined him they quickly ripped
the stitching and had before them sev.
rral large squares OF bagging.
"Now for mast" Nothing In quite
90 scarce ON the prairie claim, long
miles from n lumber ard, AZ Q stick OF
timber. but the grnnary itself was a
resource. Climbing among the rafters
Rob found long narrow board which
he thought would do and could be
spared. Down Il came Gathering to tn,
floor.
Days Of labor followed before the sai
was completed. With "A picture from q
magazine MS n guide, with some cort
and wire for fastenings, Rob measured
md sewed, and drea med of the sen, nj
most making himself believe that h,
was to guide an obedient sioop o,el
blue waters.
When Il was ready he lifted the oa,
apparatus against the granary wall
There were three timbcrs-the nm
right mast and the cross. pieces hold
ing the big and nearly square snii.
Wen call Il the White Dove" ap
nounced Rob.
"But II ain't white" protested Tad.
"Nevcr mind-thbt was the nam,
Of grandpa's boat, and he sailed 10 tn,
Newfoundland banks In IT,"