The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30
Robins Trip to
the Country.
BY LYNDON BURKE.

When Robin Cheverton became "puny"
this spring and the doctor said he must
be taken away from the strain OF school
1t was decided to send him to visit ns
cousin, odin cheverton, In the country.
Robin knew nothing OF country ways,
and consequently appeared to his cousin
green enough TO match the grass.
He Is all stuck np." said odin to him.
take the starch out OF him."
AREN'T things in dreadful repair"
thought Robin, noticing the unrepalred
house, the Uttered farmyard and the tum.
bled condition Of the fence around the
barn lot.
~ don't know whether can stand him
or not" was odln's mental comment.
II am half homesick already unused
Robin, with a sinking heart
He controlled his feelings and extcr'~d
his hand 20 0dln, who laid a int paw In
MS hand, without closing his fingers al
'Ughl 1t feels like a snake" thought
I'm fix him tonight" said odin to
Despite the fact that 1t was threatening
rain everything seemed strained and dry
time in the country. Robln discovered.
was about O'Clock. A little before that
hour Odln slipped upstairs where the
two boys were to sleep, and when bis
answered; "Nuthin'." Robin being com
pany," the boys were, provided with q
light as they assembled 10 the loft. ana
Robins heart sank within him as he be.
held straw-tick bed In an unfinished
attic, where the rafters and cinpboards
showed. There was only one window IN
the room, and 1t was down. Robin asked
PEI mi. jton TO open IL.
Don't care, IL we don't catch cold,
grumbled the cousin, and few minutes
later was undressed and In bed. Robin
prepared for rest at more leisure. lie
was not used to retiring so carly and
knew he could not sleep;
'Shall | blow out the lightr' he asked.
Odln heard him, but the idea of leav-
Ing the light burning all night seemed to
him the very acme OF foolishness, and
so, instead Of replying, he fetched re
Robin knew he could not sleep. and so
he sat by the window and watched the
gathering storm. 1t was to him an impress.
sive sight: the air was fresh and cool and
his mind was taken from what would
otherwise have been the unbearable snor-
ing of his cousin Odin. But that IN
worthy was only pretending. After
awhile the snoring ceased and he raised
himself on his elbow.
"Pity you can't go to bed and let fei.
low Sleep" he grumbled.
robin npologized and retired. In the
meantime the storm had been coming
nearer and the big drops Of rain began 10
pntter off the board roof Few feet
above their heads. sounding, strangely
loud. As the rain, Increased In violence
1t became deafening roar. soon drop
Of water, fell directly ON on hopin ss face;
IL, and directly a stream poured on bis
neck. At the same moment ne heard
litter aud In the Hight of fash OF light
ming he saw ais cousin sitting up In bed,
with grin on his face.
''You rascalP' he exclaimed: Tint is
what you were up to- And he pulled
the bed forward about two feet, the
noise of 1t being drowned In a roar Of
thunder. moment later odin sprang
"Wowp' he cried. at caught me square
on the neck and ran down my back. Geel
He had been moved directly under the
drip he himself had provided.
''Did you do 1t on purposef asked
Odin, referring to the bed having been
pulled under the drip 80 as to bring him
under It,
In And that Is what you came up
stairs for, to slip that board away, SO l.
would rain on me. oh, you are joker.
Odin liked his cousin a great deal bet
ter since he found he could plan and take
a trick. Odin saw Robin In the bed rear
ranging the clapboard so the rain would
not catch them, and went to his assist
ance Soon they had the leak stopped
and turned the pillows to the other end
of the bed so as to avoid lying in the
wet spot. When they retired again Odin
told him all about a plan to meet some
neighbor boys the following day, except
that he failed 10 reveal some tricks be
had In mind to take the starch out OF
Robin" The next thing that worthy
knew they were calling him to get up,
and he smelled the aroma of boiling cot.
fee. 1t was yet dark.