The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-02-07
''What. You and me-give Miss NIere

NIiSO MIN 10 SHOW we re SOIIy-
she's going? The fellows will like it
first-rate. Let's tell 'em right off"
And the two slipped down from the
fence and scampered away to find their
friends.
What shall we give her?' asked
Sammy Pertaine when they announced
their fine plan.
We'll" said Will, I've thought and
thought, and l think dog would be
Just an elegant present"
Shed like ring, 1 think saSd
Nick; most girls do
Miss Meredith amt a girl" objected
Sammy.
She used to be-" was the crushing
answer. Anyway, she does like rings,
or she wouldn't keep looking at that
one Mr.. Bevan gave her, so there: 1t
is an awful ugly one, too, just one big
white stone-looks like piece of -uass.
We can get her a nicer one than
that"
Well, now" said Sammy, 7 thin
that's a splendid present, fellows. Let's
get her a ring, a real swell one, with
red and blue and green and yaller
stones in it-just damned with 'em.
Hey?-what do you think?"
But VIII still chung to his first idea.
Squire jennings got some new fox
terrier pups; praps he'd sell us one
cheap. My pa knows him.
All right" said Sammy. Wen get
them both. If we've got money
enough" he added.
On examination it was discovered
that the finances of the crowd amount
ed to SO cents. That's not enough, ="
said Nick. THAT would hardly buy
the ring even. We must raise some
money, and pretty quick, too, cause
Miss Meredith's going to get married
week after next"
Lets each bring a dollar on Fri
day, at the next meeting Of this club
for buying Miss Meredith's present"
suggested Sammy. THAT ought to be
bushels of money"
How'll we get the dollar?" asked
lazy Jed Tyler.
Earn it,, said Sammy, briefly. Just
then the bell rang for afternoon ses-
sion. and the meeting adjourned.
During the following week, Miss
Meredith observed with surprise and
delight, never were scholars more stu
dious and orderly than hers. To be
sure she noticed many winks and mods
and smiles going on, but as they did
not interfere with the work she nevee
spoke of them. AS soon as school was
over, off they hurried, in eager. anxi-
Gus groups, or alone and business-like.
Sammy weeded the garden and
gathered vegetables for market. Tod
Fisher posed for a visiting artist, and
when his four days were past declared
he had never worked so hard in his life
before as he did then, sitting still.
Several boys went berrying up the
mountain, and took their pickings to
town to sell. Even lazy Jed found
job he liked, for he got a situation at
the County Golf club as caddy at 10
cents an hour. 1t did not take him
much time or trouble to earn his dol
lar. Call that work?" he said. why,
l just stood around and watched other
people work, I did"
Will and Nick were in great per-
plexity. All the outside jobs were
quickly snapped UP, and at home folks
had nothing for youngsters like them
to do" On Wednesday they sat to-
gether, almost hopeless. on the old
fence behind the school and held
council.
i've got it at lastv' cried Nick.
pond lilies, Summer folks like en-
why didn't we think of that be-
fore?" cried Will, and off they dashed
to the pond, where Nick's boat was
tied.
Sturdy pushes soon sent it out from
shore, and then sleeves were rolled UP
and arms plunged into the deep, cool
water after the lovely blossoms. They
secured enough for ten punches, and
these, slowed away in a basket and
covered with moss E?re carried down
to the Hotel Shagmore. There at
cents a bunch they sound quick sale,
and the supply ran out long before We
demand was exhausted.
Wen come again tomorrow prom
ised Nick. We'll bring twenty
punches or more tomorrow" he added,
to WEI.
Lots of people will buy them every
day." said Will. Zone old lady prom
Used to get two punches day as long
as they lasted, and after that were
to bring her berries and ferns"
'.Hooray for the new firm, Westerley
& Thomas" cried Nick, tossing tEe
empty basket in the air and catching
it. Were in business for the sum-
mer, Will
Mr.. Jenning meanwhile had been
called upon and had promised his
handsomest fox terrier puppy. When
the boys gathered again on Friday,
eager to tell of their success, all that
remained was to choose and buy the
ring. This business was intrusted to
.'Westerley & Thomas" as originators
of the plan, and it was with happy
hearts and a fat pocketbook that Nick
and Will started for the city next day.
The boys were again assembled to
see them off. Be sire you get the
very SWEETEST ring you cam" tried
Sammy. as the car started, and The
new firm swung their hats in answer.
So they took care TO pick out the
handsomest and SWEETEST ring in the
jewelers. case, and greatly to their sor-
row it was too much for their humble
means. The storekeeper, seeing their
disappointment, soon got them to tell
the whole story, and then took down
another case of rings which he said
were not quite so expensive.
There, that's the one we want!
cried Nick, and Will agreed in his
opinion, adding, as he examined the
new find, its even sweller than that
other one that costs more. l tell you,
this ones just galumplilg."
The ring contained a huge red stone,
set in circle of smaller blue ones
so the boys described it, for they did
not know the names of the jewels. At
any rate, there was no glass in it,
they thought with satisfaction.
The other boys were delighted with
their choice. and it was decided to
present the gifts the next Monday aft
ernoon as soon as school was over
Squire Jennings stable boy, Kit, would
bring over the puppy at the right time
and the ring would already be there
safe in Wits desk. The club broke up
for the night, declaring THAI .-rne new
ring beat Mr.. Bevan's all hollow"
Excitement ran high in the class
room on Monday Would the after
noon session ever endi At length the
history lesson, the last for the day,
was announced. and Sammy Pertaine
was called uDon to name the battles
of the revolutionary war. With eyes
that tried not to wander to the clock,