The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1905-12-14

81 IA and Billy pig. Your Aunt
Anna expects u.s.
24 he paused and looked from face to
ACE. screwing his own into q whimsi-
sl knot.
"Now comes the tug of war. l want
4 your mother to go, and she won't 20
Without me-"
M The girls looked rather blank. Then
sara's eyes suddenly widened, and her
3 face took on trance-like look that
her sisters knew well. Julie pinched
4 Cora, and whispered in Betty's ear,
.Don't you say word. Sara is plot
ding something, and it will he more fun
"A than the fair"
"Do 60, mother" said Sara, starting
out Of her reverie. 1--WE girls went last
year."
"Old Nero is as good as a lion to pro-
sct u.s." said Julie.
Rather better" said Ben. dryly.
81 sThe lion might take a notion to eat
X you If tramps were scarce"
8 1.-THE tramps - and other disreput-
B able characters will all be at the fair"
4 retorted Julie.
ut would be such funp' sighed Cora.
sWe've never kept house all alone. 1t
is only twenty miles, and 1t will be
only week; and Aunt Anna has a
telephone"
"What does Bettykin say?" inquired
Mr.. Payson.
"I'll say my say after I've had a pri-
vate conversation with Sara" Betty
announced.
} This conversation took place in the
han-yard, and it was not strictly pri-
vate, for Cora and Julie We're present,
to say nothing of the hens. AS Ben re.
marked, sarcastically, the hens had
their mouths open for corn and the
girls for chunks of wisdom. Sara scat
tered several handfuls of corn and then
turned to the waiting sisters.
i "We'll pick the apples" she an.
nounced. The girls looked aston
ished. but not disappointed. Sara's
schemes were usually worth far more
than their face value. Scattering
more corn, she unfolded her plan:
"They were ready three weeks ago.
but father has been too busy to think
about them. Well pile them in the
apple-shed, and you can imagine
fathers surprise when he sees them"
'He won't believe we did it!' cried
Cora, taking fire. But do you ready
think we camp
we've helped father always. There
fbran 1nnu hnr ~,
one apiece for you and Julie and me.'
Betty's lower lip dropped, but Sara
pretended not to see it.
"We'll take the two little hand-carts
and fill one" she went ON quickly;
then while we are filling the other
Betty can wheel the first to the shed
and empty it,"
Sara paused and looked doubtfully at
Betty.
at requires great care" she said,
artfully. "They have to be handled
like eggs, and graded"
Betty swelled like the frog in the
fable. II helped father year before
last, and he said l could grade as well
as he!' she cried, nodding vigorously.
What do you suppose the children
are up TOT" Mrs. Payson asked, I'M
easily, as the wagon ratified down the
road through the dim light of early
dawn.
I'VE can trust Sara. 1 think" said
Mr.. Payson, equally.
In the house they had left, Sara was
marshalling her forces.
''There won't be much homework.
for mother has left rations for regi-
ment in the pantry. I'll take the dishes,
Cora ard Julie the beds, Betty the
hens. Then no, for the orchardw
When the little procession of carts
and apple-pickers clattered cit of the
barn-yard the misty morning had bios
somed into a perfect golden day. The
fair committee congratulated them
selves on the fine weather with an air
of proprietorship. Old Uncle Billy
Peters, the only full-grown man left in
Benton township, stretched his rheu-
matte limbs and thanked the Lord for
his share of sunshine. The Payson
girls said nothing. but they knew that
the very heart of that glorious day
throbbed in the dear old orchard,
where the fragrant breath of dying
grass and clover was spiced with APP
pies, and fiocks of birds bid a noisy
farewell to a favorite summer resort.
1t was hard work. but they were
strong, young creatures, accustomed to
toll. And the October air was inspirit-
Ing. Mrs. Payson's fears for Betty
proved groundless, for the weary child
nodded over her plate, and before the
others had finished supper dropped in
a sound slumber on the kitchen lounge,
to be hailed thence by her sleepy sisters,
and dragged, struggling and protesting,
upstairs.
1t was Sara who awoke before day
light, and relentlessly bounded the
urowsy girls from their warm beds.
The days In the orchard were delight
ful; but, oh, the discomfort of rising
and dressing and "choring' in the