The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-13

almost to appreciate it. He had been
offered a white Gus for IL more taan
once.
For two long months the Little God led
him along The primrose way. The poor
fellow thought it was the main road; ut
had yet TO learn it was a by-path. But
the Little God was not through with him.
Her brother, an uninteresting fellow at
first, had improved on acquaintance, and
though he scofed at Dicky8s devotion TO
his STRENGTHENING her a great baoy-he
had come to consider him a friend One
day. late in April, he led Dick out tc 4
deserted corner OF the grounds, and Tor
the sum of a small red top and a blue
glass eye that had been a dolls most
winning feature, consented 10 impart TO
him a song of such delicious badness mat
i. had to be sung in secret. He had just
learned it himself, and the knowledge OF
it admitted one to a sort OF club, whose
members were bound together by the
vicious syllables. Dicky was pleasantly
uncertain OF its meaning. but 1T contained
words that custom has banished from the
family circle. They crooned II fearfully.
with faces averted from the house, and
an eyhilarating sense of dissipation.
yellow belly, yellow belly, come an take
a SWIM
Yes, by golly, when the tide comes IN!
AS he slipped back to the house alone,
practicing it furtively and foretasting
the joys of imparting it to Peter, the sta
tleman, Cecilia appeared suddenly from
behind a large tree. She was all smiles
she was not afraid Of him any more.
Dancing lightly on one foot. she waved
her bonnet and began to sing, bubbllng
with laughter. Horror. What did ne
hear?
Yelly belly, yeliy belly, comm take a
thwim!
With, by
ooh. stop! Cissy, stop it. You mustn't
sing that he cried wildly.
She looked elfsh.
Why not? Dicky thingth it." she said
with a happy smile.
She had a heavenly habit, left from
babyhood, Of referring to her interlocutor
and occasionally to herself in the third
person.
But girls mustn't sing it, he warned
her sternly. Don't you dare tots a
secret"
She danced further away.
"Dicky thingth it. Thithy thingth it."
she persisted, and as he scowled she pur-
sed her lips again.
Yelly belly, yelly belly
Il won't sing it! I WON'T" he cried
desperately. Il won't if you'll keep still!
So there! tell you 1 WON'T"
She stopped, amused at his emotion.
All ignorant Of his sacrifice, all careless
Of his heroic defense Of her, she only
knew that she could tease him in an
entirely new way.
And the Little God, knowing that Dicky
would keep his word. and that Peter
would never get the chance for the scan
dalized admiration once in store for him,
strutted proudly away and polished up his
chains. His victim was secure.
Her brother, on learning the facts, sug-
gested slapping her weE-good heav-
ens!-and having nothing more to do with
her, for a mean, sneaking tattle-tale.
Here was an opportunity to break his
bonds. But to those who have served
the Little God it will be no surprise to
learn that it was on that very evening
that he made his famous proposal to the
assembled family, namely, that he and Ce-
celia should be really engaged like her
Uncle Harry and Miss Merriam, and in a
little while marry and set up housekeep-
ing in the guest chamber.
That's what Miss Merriam is going to
do" he explained, "and Cissy's grandma
is sorry, too; it doesn't leave her any
place for company but the hall bedroom.
But they've got to nave the room, she
s'poses."
THAT will do, Richard. You are not
to repeat everything you hear. And l am
afraid l need the guest chamber. What
chn1,1H we do uhny mint Nonnin ~ oc 0'
ooh Cissy could nave her crib right in
the room. She wouldn't mind Aunt Nan
ME- he replied superbly. she always
sleeps in a crib, and she always will. A
bed scares her-she'S afraid she'll fall
out. I could sleep on the couch, like
Christmas time"
But in the manner of age the wide
world over, they merely urged him to
wait.
1t was that very night that he reached
the top OF the wave. and justified the
Little Gods selection.
He came down to breakfast rapt and
quiet. He salted his oatmeal by mistake
and never knew the difference. His sis
ter laughed 1erisively, and explained his
folly to him as he swallowed the last
spoonful, but he only smiled kindly at
her. After his egg he spoke.
Il dreamed that it was dancing school
And [ went. And l was the only fellow
there. And what do you think? All the
little girls were Cecelia!"
They gasped.
"You don't suppose he'll be a poet, do
you. Rich? Or a genius, or anything his
mother inquired anXiously.
Lord, no." his father returned. 81
should say he was more likely to be a
Mormon!"
Dick knew nothing of either class. But
the Little God knew very we'll what he
was, and was at tina moment making out
his diploma.
Banker Arrested for Larceny.
by the Associated Fsess.)