The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-06

ne inquired, with interest.
Some Poles are very tall interpolated
Arthur, before his mother could reply,
which effectuaIly closed the chronological
speculations Of the family for a few
minutes, while Mark rolled his brother
out of his hammock and began to give
him mock chastisement, which was not
quite so amusing to Arthur as to Mark.
That evening. while they were all sitting
in the little parlor, Mrs. Robbins had her
first opportunity to ask Mr.. Wellman what
he thought OF Marks scheme for the re-
lief of the paupers of Farleigh. He laugh
ed when she introduced IL. Mark had
told her that Mr.. Wellman thought it was
"ail right" but she could not quite see
how this could be.
Eyes, the boy has evolved a great plan.
Mrs Robbins" he said. as he moved his
chair up nearer to hers.
Then you don't think Il rdiculous?''
There was a note of relief in Mrs. Rob-
bins voice. She had great confidence in
Mr.. wellman's good sense, ana she knew
that he would be more than Just to Mark.
"Why--not exactly" he said slowly. 1T
Is a little reflection on Farleigh and Far
leigh methods. Mark himself allows that.
1t makes out that we haven't used our
paupers right. We haven't meant to abuse
them, but this hiring them out is new
wrinkle / wish we could afford to pay
things, but we can't. ! won't say that
am satisfied with the way our plan has
worked; maybe there are others who feel
dubious about II. too: but thing has got
to be tried before one can tell how 1t VIII
work, and we are just making trial of
this plan, that's all. The Skiltons didn't
mean to overwork Widdah Gershom No
body thinks they did; but here she is
missing and probably dead by this time.
Then Aunt Polly Nichols isn't happy, and
neither are some of the others; but IL the
truth was told Aunt Polly isn't any too
happy anywhere. Mrs. Stickney will tell
you that. The old lady used to say. oh.
suz,' as the boys tell about. almost as
much at the town farm she does up at
the Kelseys" AS Mark says, special
meeting could be held, IL necessary, or
the matter could be decided at the No
vember meeting, If 1t was put into the
warrant beforehand. The thing is to raise
the money. If that can be raised and the
boys should choose to give 1t, why, | i'm
agine Farleigh folks wouldn't be too proud
TO take it: and the arrangement could
be easily made with the Stickneys At
any rate the boys will have something to
keep them out of mischief and we all
know that boys must be kept busy"
"Of course, their chief revenue must
come from the blackberries, remarked
Mrs. Robbins There are no blackber-
ries like those In Farleigh, and the boys
are good pickers. If they can command a
steady market they may make more
money than we think"
well, with Mark to manage things,
they may CO." laughed Mr.. Wellman. HE
will be a regular blackberry king. His
idea Is for himself to keep all the ac-
counts and oversee the picking doing all
the active work beside that he can. l
know him well enough to know that he
will try to have the square thing done all
around He will make a good king of the
blackberries, | don't doubt. It's a queer
idea" he concluded. but | can't seen any
ton and theren be criticism, but l fancy
1t won't amount to enough to discourage
Mark. l Will try to help him all / can
Thank you, Mr.. Wellman. Mr.. Rob-
bins and appreciate your sympathy with
the boys. There are few men who would
put up with their whims You do. And
now-had this thing better be spoken of
outsider" (Mrs. Robbins had little respect
for the would better" fad. She thought
that what had been good enough English
for Swift and Addison and Goldsmith was
good enough for herr
II wouldn't say much about 1t at pres
emit" said Mr.. Welman slowly. ut will
get out soon enough. It's all so uncertain
and then Mr. Robbins may have some
lnlnB inherent 10 say from anything tHdt
We have thought of as yet"
Mr.. Wellman took the Bible down for
evening prayers When they were over
Mark stopped only long enough to con-
iide to his mother that he had thought
OF two or three boys on Farleigh hill
who would Join in" he was sure And
there are Lyman Walker and Whit Nc
Donald and the Swinton boy" he rumi-
mated on. They'll all help little-and
lots of other village fellows that we
play bali with"
That's quite boy of yours, Mrs
Robbins remarked Mr.. Wellman as
Marks footsteps died away in the upper
hall
Hes a pretty good boy--but why do
you suppose he will treat his little
brother SO sometimes" sighed Mrs. Rob-
bins.
"Oh, boys can't be perfect any more
than the rest Of us" explained Mr.
W1oilman, with cheering philosophy.
III they will only prove that they try
most OF the time. We ought to be sat
isfed."
A letter received little later from
Mr.. Robbins conveyed his appreciation
OF Marks scheme, and 1t was from that
time forward considered legitimate
and established undertaking.