Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-10-09

OF the ScNthc, ana the Struggling
bushes began to look more neat
, There were left untouched only tn,
Haunting hollyhocks and bouncing
bets.
"Thcy'rc too pretty to cut down.
thought Terry Maybe she'll like
'cm. | do
The precious time sped by but
Terry had made his plans carefully.
lie rightcd the ,agging gate. lie
rakcd up the grass, and concealed it
beneath the bushes. He even had
time to mend some of the broken
windows.
And as finishing touch he painted
the brown old pump a marvellous CO.
lcstial bluc' That was his final tri-
umph. He stood back and gazcd
ontranccd at the work of his brush.
1T looks great. ." he muttcrcd, but
hope she won't want a drink. It's
got a heap Of dyicr in it. but it won't
dry a, quick a, that Thcrc'smother
blowing the horn! I've got 10 hurry
home to breakfast
Mrs. Quinn went with thc girl to
the Parsons place. In her crisp
starchod ,unbonnet and print dress
she plodded heavily beside the ,lcn-
der girlish figure
All thing, were favorable this
morning. Nature abcttcd the boy in
his kind little plan. What had looked
drcary and unattractiye the previous
night looked bright and pleasant un-
der the spell of the clear. new dav
Ana the girl did not recognize the
Parson, place in its new dress. She
thought she had never seen it before.
what queer little place" she !
said, As they approa .hei it. But it
looks As if somebody cared for it. ! |
rather like it,"
This is the Parsons place" said
Mrs. Quinn.
"The Parsons place? This; Oh, |
Oh, | thought it would be-diTcr-
rnt! ! didn't know it was going to
be little and-and--queer."
She gazed about her almost in
horror. But gradually the neat
yard and trimmed bu,hc, - the
bouncing-bct, and the noddiug hol.
yhocks-appoalcd TO her. The little
place grew plca-antcr to her. and she
nodded slowly.
But | rather like it," she laid.
1T look, as if somebody carcd-not
onely and neglected like one | saw
asst night. Oh, / couldn't have borne
hat. Yes, like the flowers and the
lushes-there', q shady place for
mothers couch. Molly could keep
house over there among those thick
pushes. There could be soft. full |
curtains at the windows and chairs
.et round in the yard, and be air is
wonderfully sweet
But oh! but oh, the pulp' Was
anything ever bluer; The girl went
up to the brilliant appari-
ion, but Mr.. Quinn calico her back
n a panic.
Look out" she warned. Terry,
l mean somebody's just btcn paint
ng that. YOU get all bIucd up, my {
lear.'
Terry had just-somcbody had Just
'een painting the pump, Queer.
queer anybody should take pains to
paint an abandoned pump!
But it isn't so qneer a, the pump
tself,' the girl thought. II dom: !
Wonder that somebody took pains! |
Wonder if it could have becn-I be- !
icye it was. And the grass. Of course !
he cut that. That's why its so ,
hort She wheeled and faced Mrs.
quinn with shining eyes.
Il believe somebody has done all
his she cried. Il believe it was
our boyw
"Terry's good boy" murmured
is mother, smiling. +
Hes great" the girl said. with
II unsteady little laugh, but | don't Z
elieve he'd want me to thank him"
Mo- Mrs. Quinn cried, with GEN
.c emphasis. Dear heart, no. Terry +
ouldn't!' :
"Then you must DO it formc Tell
i'm it has made all the difference in 7
ne world. Tell him | like the Par 10
ms place-and the pump is bcauti- Il
II, ! never knew what the country a
as like before, or a country boy. I'm ,
glad | know now" N
fIbn .,r,,t I'm, ell y