Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-02-18

I'D like mighty well to set out 4
lot o fruit trees-for Keeps you
know" pa had said, with his gentle
| appreciation of his own humor. But
there had been no time as yet. The
"orchard"-so dignified-thus far con.
sisted of scattering of old apple
trees and few middle-aged pear trees
The lack Of cherry trees had been
an especial grievance to Mother Keep
who cherished Chat was another of
pas gentle jokes) fond memories of
that part of the dear old New Eng
land orchard. But there seemed no
very lively prospect of making cherry
shrub and cherry spice, or of eating
the shiny red and black globes fresh
from the tree, in the new Virginia
home-that is, until Hanniba,
thought out his celebration for the
birthday of the country's father.
Then the prospect was lively!
1t was decided to plant two cherry
trees-one apiece; and, later still, lit
tie Alaric was taken into partnership
and graciously permitted to take an
active part in the celebration. The
Keep twins, however, earned all the
money to buy the trees.
The time between St. Valentines
day and Washington's birthday be.
ing short, it was necessary, as Luther
Ben said, ''to HUSTLE Besides, there
was little Alaric's tree to earn, too.
Perhaps it was fortunate for the
Keep twins soft little muscles and
bones that the nurseryman at Eagle
Lake sold his wintered stock of
young trees at unwonted low rates
or was it that he did it spontaneously
at sight of his small customers?
They were so unwontedly low! Al
any rate, on Washington's birthday
the Keep twins, with grave cere-
mony, planted three spindling little
cherry trees in one corner of the
orchard" Alaric trotted at the tail
of the short procession, and was al
lowed to steady the trunk of his own
tree, while Hannibal planted it. The
Keep twins sang all the verses of
Hail Columbia" between every plant.
ing.
year went by, in which the three
trees grew thriftily, and the Keep
twins learned wisdom. For, instead
OF cutting down the cherry trees for
the next celebration, according to
the programme, they planted another
three! That made six. And the
third Washington's BIRTHDAYS trees
made nine. Nine hearty little cherry
trees make quite "a many" as Black
Aunt1e said admiringly. And Mother
Keep grew SO enthusiastic over the
solemn rites and ceremonies, and so
aroused pas enthusiasm, that, at the
fourth celebration, five little trees
set foot in the kind Virginia soil and
took root.
BY that time, the Keep twins were
growing up at a great rate and be.
ginning to talk about going to col
lege! College?-the little 'sNibble,
and Luther Ben going to college!
Black Auntie spread their bread will;
jam persistently and refused to rec
ognize their superior inches. Mother
Keep went in at night to see it thew
were tucked up; and the Keep twins
themselves filled Black Auntie's chin
basket-or didn't fill it, as of old.
But it came just the same-the day
when Mother Keep and pa and Black
Auntie and "little" big Alaric stoox
on the doorsteps and waved good bv
to the Keep twins, going to college.
1t had to come-like the measles. IA
said
That Washington's birthday the
ckerry trees were planted by proxy.
and Alaric sang Hail Columbia
alone. But it was a worthy celebra
ton enough, for pa-as he had dore
for several years-added apple anc
peach and pear trees to the PLANTING
for Keeps" you know. And ir
that wise, how the orchard crew.
How the country's great father-its
godfather-would have smiled be
nignly upon it's straight rows, and
in his great heart. been honored!
When the Keep twins came HON
the first long vacation, Black Auntie
was making cherry preserves in tn.
little out-of-doors kitchen, and, or
the table in the hall, pyramids O.
rosy-jacketed little fellows greeted
them-and acknowledgements Gen
tleman.