The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-14
cHUCKY.

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 church willingly for the first time His previous attendance was not prompted
 by piety unless the reverence in which l he held his mother might be called a sort of vicarious piety. He had gone to church because she wished 1t and be- cause she sometimes wept in fear that
 he was destined to be "a trial to her deVout heart. But now he went adly almost eagerly and her gentle race shone as it had not shone for weeks Having achieved short hair for the first ! time since babyhood, Chucky had an i oHermastering desire to show hlmsef. He yet wore the big lace collar and the low cut shoes, which in his mother s | wistful eyes served as fiimsy but palp- able barriers against the hardening l influence of years Deep down in his rebellious heart Chucky longed for the day when he might wear a sweater and long pants. He would have served as acolyte if they would only let him appear behind the altar rail in the, to him. glorlfied attire of incipient man hood
 The girls of the town thought that the boy was tough for his size. They did not know that he was only develop ing that ambition to repress bis weak ness only to show them at the time and in the manner which, to his small mind, seemed most seemly and pest. But the second Sunday after his birth day a sudden reversal of temper pug zled his mother. When she told him to prepare for church he sulked, objected and finally howled his protests. She threatened, coaxed, bribed. He should have a penny for himself. He should get holiday from school. She would tell Father Tearlake.
 Why won't you go my son?" asked his mother.
 T don't want to-
 That was the only answer he would give.
 She told him he might wear his 'every-day waist" with the turndown collar, that he might have his boots anything in reason if he would go. That was the final argument, but 1t only served to dry his tears. She was puzzled and ventured to appeal to his father who, unhappily for her hopes, set Chucky no lofty example either of
  piety or unmanlike obedience.
 Send him up to me said the fath- CT. and I'll find out why the boy has lost his sudden streak of devotion I'll take him to church if you say so, ma, but I intended-that is, I hoped to go fishing"
 When the child slouched into the room his father, immersed in a book, mumbled: Whats the matter? Are you sorry you had your curls cut off Chucky?'
 No, sir"
 "will you go to church with me-"
 "Yessir.
 will you go alone?"
 My boy.'' said the father laying down his book, you're afraid of some body. Has the Schneider boy got you 'bluffed'?"
 He runs out at me" said the child shifting his feet
 Why don't you get back at him ?'
 He's bigger'n me, sir.'
 "Get a rock or--haven't you base ball bat?"
 "Yessir tbrightening)"
 Well. take that with you, and if he tries to run, you score him
 All right sir,
 The boy stamped down into the base ment like a soldier under orders, His father watched him go down the walk under the sitting spring sunlight With his war club over his shoulder like a Puritan going to the meeting-hcuse in the days when the Indians lurks d And together for space the mother and father of the oyiwatted in the veranda to see whether their son would come home routed, weeping, perhaps beaten, He did not come.
 T guess he ran the blockade, said the father.
 'I'd as lief he stayed al home as to fight on Sunday" said the mother rue- fully.
 But at noon he came back, his bat proudly hoisted on his shoulder; his clothes in tatters, his faca sne1red with dry mud and congealed blood his eyes sparkling, his prayer book clutched in his dirty brown hand.
 "In heavens name what happened to you?" cried the mother, holdlne him by the shoulders "are you hurt? Where have you been?"
 T been t church, ma, O course" He was breathless, but 1t was with tri- umph, not dismay.
 You've been fighting. sir" said the her eyes filling with tears of shame and pity, "and on Sunday? Why did you do 1t ?"
 He run out at me, He's allus run nin' out at me,
 Who? Who's been running out at you?"
 "Schneider's boy. He calls me "Clar- ance,' and said he wuz goin' for t vhoop me-
 And what did you do?" asked his ather, laying a soft hand on the colico gown.
 T let'm have it, sir" duoth the reckled boy, looking up in hesitating confidence
 And what did he do?"
 He jumped me, sir, answered 1hucky, gaining confidence as he looked nto the fearless, brightening eye of lis father, he jumped me, an we kind r fell over, an it wuz muddy, an he cratched me an hurted--'
 Say hurt my son." sighed the wo- nan.
 ''I hurt my head on the gutter, but adm down, an I whopped him ood--"
 Say well, dearie," spake the woman,