St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-02-13

school" began Robert. whose father was
minister, and his parentage accounts
for his presence of mind as well as for
other facts in relation to him Here,
went on Rob, holding out the petition,
and then, looking at Miss Cars set fea-
lures, Rob halted.
She took the paper, read it carefully,
and laid it on her desk.
you may take your seat, Robert, -
she said, and went on with her writ
ing. %
The morning wore away, and at noon
no one knew whether Miss Carr intended
to grant the coveted holiday ornot. Just
before the afternoon recess, the teacher
spoke: - ~
81 do not feel that the school quite
deserves an extra days vacation she
said. Dismay spread over the room
"AnG as for me, really dread to-mor-
row, a long. dreary day to one away
from home and friends, and shall be
glad when the schoolbell rings Friday
morning. You may go On with your les
sons"
1t was leaden, the rest Of that day,
and at four o'clock the children filed out
in orderly array, and no one whooped
until he or she was several yards from
the little, one-story district school
house of Stony Brook.
After church the next morning-the
service was held in the schoolhouse-
Rob and his chum, Dave, were hurrying
home to get into their "other clothes"
when they met Hiram Glover, a boy from
.Beechham, theneighboring town, and the
home of Miss Carr and her soldier lover.
Hiram was full Of the news that Lieut..
Bradford had arrived home that very
morning, all unexpected by his mother,
having been sent from the front on re-
cruiting service for his regiment. A
great thought struck Rob.
Dave" said he, Il am willing to loss
my Thanksgiving dinner, If you'll get
your father to lend me old DOLL
Pm in favor" returned Dave, "but
guess you'd better take pas leave for
granted. Go and catch her. She's in the
pasture-I'll bring you bride, blanket
and surcingle from the barn. That's
the best / can do"
Il am going for you--and for all the
school" said Rob. solemnly, "and lose
my dinner for it! Remember"
1t took an hour to capture the wary
Doll. but just as the appetizing odors of
one o'clock, Thanksgiving day, began
to rejoice the hearts of men, women and
children alike, small, solitary horse
man was seen galloping over the hill
toward Beechham.
Mercy on us!" fretted grandma, as
soon as the minister's blessing had been
said, where can Robbie be? To think
of a boy of that age being late for
Thanksgiving dinner!"
But the Drowned turkey came on, the
mashed potatoes, the celery, the cram
berry sauce and spiced peaches, and then
came the mince and pumpkin pies, the
cider and the hickory nuts. but no Rob
appeared The minister's family be-
gan to get worried, but Mrs. Framing
ham said that whatever had happened,
one thing was certain. Rob had not
missed a good dinner. HE has prob
ably stopped at the Hopes, with Dave"
she guessed.
"Of course, he has, assented the min
lister, land it's ell the worse for the |
Hopes, and all the better for u.s. you may |
be sure!"
But Rob was cantering along the six
mile road to Beechham. Up and down
hill and along the pickering brook he |
went The jolly pumpkins smiled at |
him from the brown cornfelds, where |
they were piled up In orange-colored |
mounds; the crows cawed at him, the |
wayside dogs barizea. and the waddling |