Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-31


 such an easy thing as that! I'll get my mouth fixed for it when he comes back. 'Sam,' I'll say to him, Sam. I'm glad to see you, Sam; and, Sam, I've had a nice morning under the l trees, Sam.f reckon the oftener ] say it for spell, the easier it'll come. I'll practice it off and on the rest O the morning to keep my hand in,'' said Uncle Hiram, wisely.
 Sammy's thoughts, as he hurried down the road that led to the Lap ham house, were not very comforting.
 I'm nothing but what the children call 'fraid cat,' that's all am!" he | said, bitterly Any other boy would speak up to the judge and make him remember and perhaps get chance. | Uncle Hiram minds, too. He's hardly | talked about the old war times, when he was Drummer boy and got his wounds, once, for the last week. He'd rather be in an attic in Boston and know I was working my way up than to stay here in Moorby; there's mo- body here he cares enough about to make him want to stay. And I might earn money enough to buy him a wheeled chair before long. While mother lived I couldn't go, but now l could"
 Mrs. Lapham's house faced the south, and as Sammy entered the yard heNlooked for Mrs. Lapham's smile at the window of the room where all her days were spent.
 She had been bedridden for ten years; the old sitting room of her early married life had been changed to her bedroom, and every morning before MT. Lapham started for his Harness and Shoe Shop he dragged | the bed close to the window All passers-by were used to the sight of Mrs. Lapham's pale face propped into view by the many pillows, and her thimble tapped many summon to enter on the lowest righthand pane. l There was no face at the window that morning, although, as Sammy drew close to the house he could see that the bed was in it's usual place As he stood a moment irresolutely at the turn where the path branched off l toward the woodshed, man hailed him from passing cart, saying Hull To, Sammy! How's business with you these days?"
 | Fair" returned the boy, soloerly, l adding under his breath, "I wish peo pie wouldn't call me .Sammy!' It's such a baby name!"
 There came tap at the window as the cart rattled out of sight and Sam my turned quickly to see Mrs. Lap hams face, white and drawn, ct the pane.
 'Why, she looked as if she was cry ing!" said the boy to himself, star tied out of thoughts about his own troubles. as he entered the house. l EdThereBwas noi longenOa amy doubt in \ his emfnd when he stood in the door way and saw the invalid's great dark l eyes.
 "Sammy!" she cried, in a high, strained voice. "The men are at work in the judges meadow, and he's there with 'em! They're going to cut down all my willows and my old apple tree, my dear old apple tree, Sammy! John Roberts is there with lem, su- perintending under the judge. I tapped him in this morning just after Mir. l Lapham had gone, and he told me. l Why, Sammy, it seems as if those trees belonged to mel My view,u be all spoiled, and it's everything I have to look at, that meadow is, Sammy!"
 ''Yes'm, know" said the boy, with quick sympathy. sT suppose he thinks the meadow'll be better with out the willows, and that the apple | tree doesn't bear much of any fruit. He doesn't realize about you, Mrs. Lapham, the judge doesn't; I don't believe he even knows about you. You see he's only here in the summer, and he doesn't see much of us village peo- ple,' padded Sammy, gently. ''It's an awful pity, Mrs. Laphams' .br
 eff he knew," said the invalid, crushing her handkerchief between her clasped hands, eff he know, do you suppose he'd leave the apple tree, Sammy? Look! Here's where see the buds on that long branch first; and then | the blossoms come, all white and | pink, and then the apples. And the branches are lovely even when they're bare; and you know how they shine | in the snow and ice. I've shown you so often. The road is so narrow; how can the judge help knowing about me, Sammy? How can he, with that apple tree right opposite my window, close against the wall? O, Sammy! And the windows shine so in the sun after raini I shall be gone before they could grow high enough for | me to see them again."
 Samniy's face flushed curious red | in streaks.
 T will go and tell the judge about it, Mrs. Lapham," he said.
 Then he turned on his heel and | rushed out of the house.
 Even ready-tonguedp people hesitated to ask favors lightly of Judge Saun-
 ders, who was counted just, but by n
 means benevolent. Fear and excite | ment choked together in Sammy | throat. Many ideas shot through tn l boys brain as he ran along the roa 1 to the break in the wall where tn meadow bars were down, and acros l the meadow toward the tall figur
 of the judge. But more wildly thal
 all else there rose before his mind tn