Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-01
impractical Nathan.

kitchen door with a frown on his
ance between father and son, harness
Ing the horse on Sunday mornings to
the carryall, and this morning the dea-
con was late dressing, and Nathan, be-
ing ready. was caught in the tolls Of
the unwelcome task.
81 never saw such a laZy"-but
Kitty was waiting with her fathers
necktie and a smile. Come father,
we shall have to wait for you if you
waste time in scolding," she said
brightly, as she slipped the tie under
his collar and deftly tied a four-in-
hand.
Kitty was 16 and her fathers idol.
She was fond of outdoor work, and Of
ten lent willing hand with the plant
er and reaper, while Nathan much
preferred indoor tasks.
you are some comfort to me-"
Sissy. said the deacon. embracing her
trim waist with his big hands, but
Nathan"
SIS going to be credit to us after
he has been to college," interrupted
Kitty brisklv. Here he comes with
the carriage"
A tall youth, slender and effeminate,
came in at the door. and went to the
sink with an aggrieved look as he
rubbed soap on his hands, washed and
rubbed with such pertinacity that his
father exclaimed impatiently: Come
now, don't stand there and wash all
day. Well be late at church again"
I'm not going" answered Nathan,
shortly.
Here, father, your hat is brushed,
and we are all ready" said Mrs. Grim
shaw, bustling in. her bonnet on and
ready for the drive. She had planned
to be there when Nathan came in. for
the lad was obstinate and the deacon's
tongue and temper sharp and quick.
They were half way up to the church
before Mrs. Grimshaw ventured to re-
mark softly: "He will never make
farmer. School is the only suitable
place for him."
The deacon exploded: Farmer! I
should say not! Look at that hoss;
I'm ashamed to drive into town with
him."
"You send Nate to college, father,
and I'll be chore boy for you," Kitty
proposed eagerly.
"Td ruther have one willin' girl than
half dozen fin.cky, unwillin' boys"
replied the deacon. looking back into
Kitty's smiling face. 81 amt saying,
hot m
going to poster me into spending good
money on him. He don't deserve it."
The neighborhood was in sympathy
with the deacon. 1t was an undoubted
affliction to have visionary, unprac-
tical son. who touched each unpleas-
ant task pertaining to the farm life
delicately, and with aversion; still he
knew every bug and beetle which flew
or crawled in the fields, and was bet
ter acquainted with the insect life
than with the work on the farm.
There was jeering and laughter when
he came in contact with rural wits.
eff l had such a Ounce as that in my
family I'd dress him up in petticuts fer
a scarecrow." Farmer Gray was fond
of saying. l seen him milk COW
onct, and. l swan. was sorry for the
cow"
"He knows heap about bugs,
though" remarked another. Likes
bug huntin' better than he does his
dinner. Hear about his pertater bugs?
He gathered pan full of the critters
one day when his pa and ma was gone
to a neighbor's visitin. and when they
go back the kitchen was sight to be-
hold. Nate had put 'em in the stove
with Jest enough fire to warm 'em up
lively, and gone off to fix up butter
fly net. OF course, they crawled out
of the stove and over the walls and
ceilin'-you couldn't pint your finger
where there wasn't pertater bug
crawln'. 1t took Mis- Grimshaw con-
siderable of a spell to get 'em swept
down into pail o. hot water, and she
imagined she saw pertater bugs craw-
lin for some time afterwards"
Gust like him. Set him shoveling
sunshine and he's perfectly happy.
Nothin' practical about him. and I'd
give a dozen like him for one wide
awake, sensible girl like his sister
Kitty"
So far as his neighbors were con-
cerned, Nathan was irredeemably
sent to Coventry. but his mother and
Kitty had faith In him, and lost no
opportunity of urging upon Mr.. Grim
shaws attention the idea of college
education for him.
There certainly is something in
him, father, though we're not bright
enough ourselves to sec just what it
Is" said the mother anXiously, as the
time approached for the opening of
school in the fall. Nathan is lots
wiser than the most boys in some
ways. He came in yesterday with a
great, green moth with the loveliest
crescents on each wing; a moon moth,
he called it. and you should have
heard him go on and explain all about
it, and the kind of grub it came from.
1t was real interestin. tried to have
him show it to you. but he said you
wouldn't care"
"Thought his old dad didn't know