The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-09-18

after it, Aunt May will undoubtedly
seize him and pull him back. 1t is
case where strategy is necessary.
He opens prayer-book, lifts 1t up
in his two hands, and, holding firmly
to the back of the pew in front with
his elbows, slowly slides one large and
heavily booted foot into the aisle. He
| wonders if the noise it makes scraping
about on the carpet sounds as loud to
everybody else as it does to him. With
wary uneasiness he glances at Aunt
May She turns leaf and her eyes
travel down the page. She is reading
the psalter, every other verse out loud.
And when it is her turn to read-lo!
insead of repeating the words of David,
she says in a soft, low voice, without
moving her eyes: Harry, if you don't
Immediately stop that noise I'll tell
your mother, and you won't have any
ice cream for dinner"
1t is almost like ventriloquism to
hear Aunt May say this. Harry, lost
in admiration of her powers, stares
at her, and, impelled by alarmed re-
spect draws in his foot. But it is
dreadfully hot Other little boys and
girls are waving fans, and their little
| bangs and curls are fluttering in the
breeze. Harry's flesh is weak.
He waits till Aunt May is absorbed
in the psalms, and this time gripping
tight with his elbows, slides both feet
into the aisle, and feels for the fan.
His body describes wonderful curve,
but he seizes the object of his reach,
toes, and carefully, slowly, breathless-
ly, begins to draw it nearer. 1t is
painfully exciting. He has to keep
his eyes intently fixed on the book,
while all the time he is drawing the
fan ever nearer and nearer. He al
most has it within reach, when-hor-
ror of horrors-one of his elbows slips
and he falls with crash, gripping the
pew with his fingers, and striking his
chin resounding blow against the
back of the seat in front.
OF course everybody hears him. A
dozen people twist round in their seats
and stare at him. Aunt May gives
him one glance, and then, fiery red to
the curls on her forehead, settles her
self back in her seat, and stares at the
minister
This accident sobers him for some
time. He is so good that Aunt May
only has to pinch him twice-once
when he puts his feet upon the back
of the seat in front and scrapes them
along with a loud noise, and once
when, thinking his bitten tongue is
bleeding, he puts his handkerchief into
his mouth, and then holds it up against
the light by the two corners, searching
for the CORY stain. He feels that only
exceptionally good conduct will con-
done for his past misdemeanors. Only
something unusual, something super
fine in it's perfect correctness, will
right him in Aunt Mays eyes. He will
be as like father, who is, of course, a
model of good behavior, as possible.
Frightened by this thought, he follows
fathers every movement. When the
litany begins, father leans forward,
bows on his hand, and responds with
rich, deep voice. At the second re-
Spouse, Aunt May gasps and lifts her
face. Harry's voice, loud and sonorous
as he can make it, fills the church.
He does it twice before she can edge
close to him, and, twitching him by
the jacket, mutter from the leaves of
her book: Harry, stop that noise"
Aunt May" lifting his innocent face
and large surprised eyes, I'm not
making specll of noise"
Don't answer those responses so
loud. Don't answer them at ALL"
''Why, I'm only doing what father
does"
well, stop it. Father doesn't roar"
Mamma has always told me to do
it," with an air of injured protest.
''She told me to before l left this
morning."
well, she wasn't coming with you.
I'm sure if she'd heard she would have
told you to stop. Won't you please do
it for my sake?" imploringly.
Harry consents and is silent.
Now father, having a good ear for
music and an agreeable voice, is fond
VI Joihih6 III luC hy lhuo. uO III
hymn is a particular favorite of his,
Onward, Christian Soldiers" and
Harry at the familiar strains pricks
up his ears. He asks Aunt May to find
his place, and studies the words
When father rises and uplifts his
melodious tenor, Harry also rises. The
first verse he huns softly. But in the
second he breaks out loud and joy
Gus, utterly oblivious of time and
tune. Even father is dismayed
''Harry's making a good deal of
noise. Can't you stop him." he whis-
pers to Aunt May, leaning forward to
peer uneasily at his musical son.
Harry does not notice the consterna-
ton created by his performance. With
his elbows resting on the top of the
pew, the hymn-book held up high in
both hands, and waving back and forth
as he beats time with it, he emits the
shrillest discords in happy uncon-
seriousness.
Social instincts are strong in Aunt
May. She is not yet past assembling.
With her eyes on her book, she draws
near her nephew, and treads on his
tooc FIRMLY ond farcolv Harry in ort