Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-07-18

boy could hear the pleased and hurried
lapping of the starving animal.
Sitting back on his heels. he stared
across the dumps in a kind of comical
| dismay. lies going to live, and now
I've got two wolves to feed-One in.
side of me ana the other inside Of that
dog-anI step-ina's nose getting sharp
er and sharper from denying herself.
believe ought to have this dog put
out OF the world. III tell policeman
tomorrow. Hello. boy. have you tin-
| iSh2d:"
| The so@nd Of lapp.ng had ceased and
,Lere WIS !; scratching inside the box.
| When tie boy stretched ont his hand
| ;o.' the bowl he found the dog had
rI:.ly raised himself and was weakly
pi sins the air.
lest il lie isn't trying to shake
| hands" muttered the boy. Some ones
taught him that. Very well, old fel-
low: you're powerful dirty. still III
not refuse to shake Il paw. Yes, it's
all right. I'll not give you up to the
poAcc-not after that paw shake.
Guess wouldn't like any one to shoot
the life out of me. Good night, now,
but before l go listen to me and take
another look at that brown cottage
pointed out to you. Don't you so near
| it. There's lady in it with double
barreled eyes and an awful mouth full
Of swords and ears that can hear a
mile Off. You're goner If you venture
near her. Dye hear!"
The dog did hear and understood.
He curled himself up OH his bed. and.
hastily replacing his shelter, the boy
ran back to the house.
When his stepmother returned he
was at the sink, whistling cheerfully
| and washing his soup bowl.
WAS it nice, Thaddy?" asked Mrs.
| Timbs.
Lovely. step-ma." replied Thaddy.
81 guess IL you just knew how that
soup was appreciated you'd think you
| were the best cook in creation"
II thought you weren't very fond OF
SOUP Thaddy," she said suspiciously,
"but I just had to make that because
had the bones"
"Step-ma." said Thaddy solemnly.
cant you believe me when tell you
| that that soup went right to the spot"
"Yes, believe you, Thaddy. You've
never told me lie yet" she returned
kindly.
Thaddy at once became detected and
stifled heavy sigh as he put his bowl
on the dresser and went to cupboard
for his schoolboOks.
isn't it too soon to work after eat
ing?" asked his stepmother.
NO" said Thaddy soberly. "it isn't"
81 should think you'd want to rest
awhile if you've disposed of all those
| muffins," continued Mrs. limbs, with a
gesture toward the empty plate on the
table.
The boys eyes twinkled. Strange to
say, they make me feel more like work.
I'm just crazy to get education enough
to start in business"
you'll get on, Thaddy." said the wo-
man proudly, If you keep up your
steady ways"
I'm going to get on" said the boy
doggedly. Work doesn't scare me.
Fact is. love it. Now, what has my
brain got to get outside Of tonight? AL
zebra, geometry. modern history and
geography" And he piled his books up
In front Of his seat at the table.
His stepmother pushed the lamp
nearer to him, and the boy, sitting
down. was soon absorbed In his tasks.
Presently she heard him snickering.
whats the matter, boy?" she asked,
looking up from her darning.
I'm reading about the Eskimos, step
ma. They're awful eaters. Two Eski-
mos will easily dispose Of a seal at
sitting, and man will lie Oh his back
and allow his wife to feed him tidbits
of blubber and he.a until he is unable
10 move"
Pigs said Mrs. Timbs shortly.
"And the other evening" continued
Thaddy, Il was reading that in some
parts Of India there is such scarcity
| of food that many natives never know
what it is to have full meal. They
do not starve to death, but they are al
ways mildly hungry
Il guess some white people know
that feeling" observed Mrs. limbs
calmly.
Thaddy looked ut her sharply; then
/ 1, n closing
his book, he laid his head down on his
arm. "Oh. Lord, it's hard to be so
| poor.'
LIT is good for man that he bear
the yoke in his YOUTH" said Mrs.
Timbs calmly.
The boy flung up his head. "But
what about women? Does the Bible
say anything about yokes being good
for young women who marry men old
er than themselves who die and leave
big bc.:' II Ling up?
His stcnno her smiled Il guess I'd
be lonely without YOU. Thaddy."
The boy pounded Oh the table with
his fist You daisy-just you wait un-
| til I'm twenty y-one. I'll take that yoke
off your neck pretty quick. What are
you laughing att"
Nothing much-just the notion OF
daisy with yoke on"
The boy laughed, too-laughed from
pure youthfulness and light hearted
ness.
| Finally he sobered himself. 81 guess
we can have a little fun II we are
poor"
The woman smiled shrewdly at him;
then, taking up his old sock, already a
mass of darns, she added another to It,
| After time she heard him gigglins
again. whats the matter now,
Thaddy"
I'm reading about fat king" he
snickered. "Step-ma, when get in bust
ness I'm going to fatten you up to 800
pounds"
What has sent your thoughts to food
this EVENING"" she asked curiously
You seem bewitched."
"Oh, nothing" he replied, and, clos
ing his books, he got up and went to
the window.
II think I'll go to bed" he said
drawing the curtain aside and looking
earnestly out"
What is there outsider" she asked
getting up and going to him.
The moon and the ashes," said
Thaddy calmly, land the usual blue