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

Uncle Sam gave her last Christmas.
Harry listens with an air of condescen-
sion. Yes, he will be good and sit
perfectly still.
"It won't last very long," says Aunt
May, pleadingly; lust keep quiet and
you won't find it very long"
Harry smiles, and promises, and
starts out in an exemplary attitude, his
eyes fixed on the minister. But 1t
seems to be very long sermon. 1t Is
extremely hot, and Harry thinks OF
Aunt Mays promises, and wishes he
could go home and screw and unscrew
the opera-glasses. In imagination he
selects his candy and saltwater, and
thinks that he will insist on the latter
on the way home.
Aunt May begins to breathe natural
ly, and actually listens to the sermon.
When Harry cautiously takes all the
turbed for a moment. He sets them
up on the seat beside him in the form
of a house, and tells himself story
under his breath, about its imaginary
occupants. Aunt May is in peace. She
has known him to amuse himself so
for hours. He opens unseen doors for
the exit and entrance of his hero and
heroine They mount imaginary horses
and ride away. They come back and
battle softly, kill each other, and the
survivors make up. Harry is en-
crossed Aunt May folds her hands
and is at rest.
Presently she feels gentle touch
on her arm and Harry whispers: aunt
May, has Mr.. Jones glass eye?"
Keep quiet. 1 don't know"
Bridget said he had I've been
watching him ever so long, and he's
never stopped winking. And last sum-
mer our waiter in the Catskills had a
glass eye, and he never wank once all
summer"
Eyes, yes, know. Now do be quiet."
Harry subsidies, presently to muir
muir: ''When's the man coming round
for the money!"
'Oh, very soon now" cheeringly.
Can 1 give it to him.
Aunt May puts two silver pieces in
his hand. Harry clinks them, then
drops one in the bottom of the pew
and it rolls out in the aisle. He scram-
bles after it and comes up with red
face.
81 didn't really mean to do that"
he explains in loud stage whisper,
"but it was so hot l was trying to see
if they'd both stick to my fingers and
one did, but the other fell Off
Aunt Mays spirit is broken by this
time.
"Just few more minutes, Harry"
she begs, cant you manage to keep
still for few more minutes?"
eff it's only few l can, but you've
been saying that for nearly an hour"
well, really it's only short time
now AS soon as the minister comes
out of the pulpit-that's where he is
now-it will be over. Do, like a dear
boy, try and be still till then"
"All right" manfully, 81 will"
He really does. He is exemplary in
his absolute quietude AS the minis
ter turns to descend the pulpit steps
Aunt May draws a great breath of re-
lief and then starts-for Harry snatch
ing up his hat, is gone. 1t is done so
quickly that she has just time to reach
backward and seize his shoulder over
the back of the pew.
Come back" she gasps, what has
happened to you? Are you crazy?"
'You said it would be over when the
minister came out of that place he's
been standing in," says Harry, in his
disappointment and surprise, speaking
aloud in his natural voice you did
say that, Aunt May, you know you
did," he reiterates, as she drags him
back into the pew.
Aunt May holds him after that. 1t is
only for few moments as she said,
but for those few moments she MAIN
tains strong, close grip on him. Even
when he drops the money in the plate
she does not relinquish her hold. AS
at last they go out side by side, Harry
says, joyously: Now, Aunt May, re-
member the soda-water and the candy
and the opera-glasses!"
And he wonders what makes Aunt
May say to father: Another Sunday
like this and should have nothing but
the deepest sympathy for King Herod
when he killed the children. San
Francisco Argonaut.