The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-08-02

sick
Mamma" he said at last "I don't
think this Is very nice country" and
two big tears that had been slowly
gathering in his eyes spashed down
on the window sill.
Just as other tears were gettlngready
to follow them, rap came on the
door Mamma opened IT, and there
stood a very small, plump, round faced
boy and a small girl.
Come in said Mrs Andrews, cor
daily. My little boy will be very
glad to see you He has been quito
lonesome" Tommy came shyly for
ward.
Then mamma was needed IN the
kitchen alone.
What's your name?" Tommy asked
the little boy.
Napoleon Bonapart Green" said the
boy in a voice surprisingly large for
his size.
Mine is Mary Margaret Green" said
the little girl, "but they call me
Mamie"
Then they looked at each other AMI
twisted in their chairs, and grew more
uncomfortable every minute, because
they could not think of anything more
to say. Suddenly little Napoleon, in
an agony of bashfulness, popped his
thumb into his mouth. Mamie nudged
him.
Leon! Leon! she said reprovingly.
He jerked his thumb from his mouth,
thrust both hands deep into his small
pockets, and sat looking at the carpet,
growing redder and redder every mo-
ment.
Tommy was very sorry for him. He,
too, turned crimson. Then he said, in
a low voice, Never mind. | used to
do that, too"
He never does it only when he feels
bashful," said Mamie, apologetically.
Did you ever play tumbleweeds?
No, anwered Tommy. I've played
Black Man and steal Sticks and ~"
"Oh, tumbleweeds is the most fun.
The wind is beginning to blow hard,
and we came over to get you to play.
Come on"
Tommy put on his cap and they went
out
we must go outside the fence, on
the prairie" said Mamie. ooh, there
comes one!"
A round, brown object was rolling
over the grass toward them, and
Mamie ran and caught it and showed
it Tommy.
A tumbleweed is a curious thing. It
is shaped like cabbage-head, but is
often much larger; and it is bushy, not
solid, like a cabbage Sometimes the
top is as large as a bushel basket, but
it has very small root. When this
root dies and the top turns down, the
first high wind that comes along
snatches Mr.. Tumbleweed out of the
ground and sends him flying hither
and yon.
Here comes another" cried Mamie.
The moment it has passed them Ma
ME and Leon ran after it, but Tommy
waited. He saw another coming. II
was little weed, but it led him a merry
chase. 1t you'd stop a minute and
Tommy would almost have his hand on
it, when up would come another gust
and off the weed would go again. At
last he simply fell on it and held it
fast, That is the best way to catch a
tumbleweed or a football AS he
marched proudly back with it Mamie
called, aren't you smart? We lost
ours. Mr.. Wind took it.
Come and we'll chose our places in
the barn." she continued you put
yours in the manger, and Leon at tho
back and I'll put mine by the door.
Well see who will get the most"
The wind rose higher and higher and
the tumbleweeds came in squads and
then in armies. "Mr. Wind" took a
good many Of them. but the children
had all they could attend to-
Il can't run another step!" painted
Mamie, at last, dropping on the barn
floor.
Il must have one more!" cried Tom
my. eve won't count it in the game
He looked out on the prairie and saw
large tumbleweed rolling toward him
and grandfather of all tumbleweeds.
How Mamie and Leon shouted when
Tommy came dragging it by the root!
When they counted up, Tommy had
the most, not counting the grandfather.
Il think this is a pretty nice coun-
try, said the happy-eyed boy, when he
went in to dinner. "A boy can shut
his eyes here, and run and run and run
and not hit anything, unless ne steps