The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-04-28


sight OF a pretty little clock, about
the size of silver dollar, which she
had many time admired on Uncle
Eric's study table.
"And / think this must have been
given to you to teach you to be
more punctual little girl"
'Oh, oh-how beauttTul!" cried
Philhs, trembling all over with de-
light. ''Is it really mine? And can
I wind it with this lovely little brass
key2"
"And be very sure you don't lose
the key" said her mother. ''For care
lessness is one of your faults, as well
as unpunctuality."
'I'lI be very careful . promised Phil
lis, retreating with her little clock in
one hand and its key in the other.
For Patty, the scholar Of the fam-
lily, there was fine new diary-bools,
with gilt edges and a tiny socket to
keep its accompanying pencil from
straying away
"Oh, how NIGEL" said Patty. 'Iu
write down in the pages at night
everything that has happened during
the day, and when Uncle Eric comes
back, I'll read it all aloud to him"
poor Uncle Eric!" said Nathan.
perhaps he'll think he had better
have been shipwrecked first, or eaten
up by the cannibals."
For Sam, last of all, there was a lit
tie brown-leather pOcketbool, some
what worn, lined with cheEy silk,
with an especial space for postage
stamps.
He looked at it with rather a disap-
pointed expression of countenance.
"Only this!" said he. Goodness
me! Uncle Eric must surely have
meant to play joke upon me, be-
cause I never have any money to put
into a pocketbook!" He turned away
on his heel. tt,If Uncle Eric had meant
to remember me" he grimbled, why
couldn't he have given me that pretty
little ship of his that the old French
sailor made for him2 or the magnet
OF tbe music-box inside the paper
Weight2 l don't think much of an
old lei tler poclxetboolt"
The more he thought about it, the
less he was pleased with Uncle Eric's
remembrance of him; and at last he
wrought himself up to such condi-
tion of mind that he pulled the pock-
etbOok out of his pocket and flung it
out into the row of leafess currant-
bushes that sldrted the garden fence.
And then he went about his business
and studies, feeling relieved
This was in the morning. When the
long afternoon shadows began to lie
on the snowy ground, Sam drove to
the railway depot with the horse and
cutter, to meet his father, who went
daily to the city.
"Father, said he, 81 wish you would
give me a dollar"
Mr.. Buddington looked grave.
ga dollar" said he. ''What do you
want of dollar? Don't you know
that dollars are not picked up, like
butternuts, under the trees?"
81 want a new sled awful bad" said
Sam. 1--WE tinkered mine up, and
tinkered it up, until it won't hold to-
gether another day. And Lew Peck
is going to have new one, and he'll
sell me his old Eagle for dollar and
half, and take out the half-dollar in
my pocketknife with the corkscrew
blade"
THAT is the arrangement, is it?'
said his father, half smiling.
''Yes, sir" Sam answered. "And the
Eagles an out-and-out beauty, AL
she needs is a set of new steel run.
ners."
"Wen," said Mr.. Buddington, 'I'I
think of it, and if there's a dollar tc
be spared, III try to help you through
with this bargain"
sFatbeT said SaQl 81 wish
rich. wish had all the money that
1 wanted to spend"
"And how much would that be?'
asked Mr.. Buddington, amused at the
lads earnestness.
"Oh, I don't know" replied Sam
"Five dollars, I think-or perhaps ten
| Ten, I guess, father. Oh, i could get
whatever 1 wanted for ten dollars!"
We'll, you are about as likely t
get ten as five for all I can see" oh
served his father. There's Jake. Yol
had better go around to the barn will
him, and see that Sorrel is quickly un
hitched and well blanketed."
Jake, the little colored boy VIII,
helped around the barn and poultry
yard, was in great excitement.
81 done found you's pocketbook
Mr.. Sam" he whispered, mysteriously
as they were unbUckling the traces
"outen. in de curran' bushes. Here i
is! Wild bright, new cent into it! {"
"a cent, Jake2"
"Clar in de inside said Jake. g
found it outen in de curran' bushes.
LET me see" said Sam, dropping
his part of the harness.
Sorrel, who was by this time sufi
! ciently detached from the sleigh
shook himself, and walked deliberate
ly into the stable, and Jake grinning
Iy handed the poclIetbook to hi
: young master.
j He was right. In the very innel
most pocket-one which, in his hast
and displeasure, Sam had neglecte