Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-05-26

took long walk over the hills, coming
back with arms laden with woody treas
ures. Blue bells, dogwood and redbud-
in their delicate loveliness they would
compare we'll with the choicest treasures
of the garden. Twilight was advancing
as he neared home, Passing by Rob's
garden, he paused for moment to in
hale the perfume of lilac which hung
over the fence, when his attention was
attracted to movement inside.
Looks as if nobody was at home, he
said, remarking the closed and shaded
window Then as his eyes strained |
through the shadows he perceived that
COW was quietly feeding on Bob's choic-
est flowers.
Laying down his burden, he bounded |
with a shout through the front gate,
which had been left open by some care
less hand. Seizlng a stick, he dealt so
vigorously with the intruder as soon to
send her flying through the back yard
and out into the alley. Through this
he went himself, fastening it, and then
returning to the front to see that the
gate there was securely closed. Recov
ering his flowers, he went home. But
where was he to put them? The eve-
ming was chilly, but inside the small
house it was close and hot. Very well
he knew that the tender bloom would
wilt in the uncongenial atmosphere.
There was no place outside where he
could be sure that they would be safe,
but with many misgivings he at last hid
them under the steps of back porch,
resolving to be up early to guard against
marauders.
Meantime Rob Wells, with the other
members of his family, reached home an
hour or two later, to be met by the
kitchen maid with dire news.
Eyes gardens about ruined" she
said. 81 heard noise, but before l
could get there the meddlin' thief was
off. I've took light out to see and it's
oh, my! He might "a been satisfied
with thievin' without tramplin' things
down So"
who was it?" cried Bob in wrath.
Couldn't you see anybody"
We'll wouldn't like to be put on my
oath to say it, but if ever boy that
just caught the sight of runnin through
the alley gate looked like one boy more
than another that boy would be Will
Barnes"
Just like him. He's always looking
enviously at my flowers. And now
just before Memorial day"
Il smoothed things up a little" added
Jane, as, choking with anger and with
tears which he could not repress, Rob
hurried out and bent over his dearly
loved flowers, breathing out wrath and
threatening at the destroyer.
"I'll go to him the first thing in the
morning I'll tax him with it. I'll make
him own up, and then we'll see who's the
best fellow"
Jane, full of indignant sympathy
told the milk boy and the grocer's boy
so that by the time Rob was on his way
in the morning to call Will to account
half the boys in town had heard tha
Will Barnes, possessed by spirit o.
spite and envy, had spoiled Rob Wells
garden.
Meanwhile Will, having after his loni
wood stroll oversight himself, had com'
down in haste to look after his flowers
only to find that more alert eyes had dis
3, covered them. All the children in th
Le row were quarreling over the wonderful
find under the porch AS with sinking
10 heart he was turning away he came sud
or denly face to face with Rob Wells. Th,
lie latter felt himself full of words wit
10 which to overwhelm his foe, but he nov
l. stood for moment for pure lack of an!
lie thing strong enough. And at sight q
s, him Will suddenly forgot his own tror
lQ IN Pnln'S Snn1ouuh al cinail q
ID one.
~ oh" he began, with look of fran
IL sympathy, how is it about your gardeI
III anyway? If l had only got there fe'
10 minutes earlier | might have had the
TO old COW out before she had done muc
u mischief 1t was little too dark for n
GU to see," he went on, as Rob stared int
ss his face without speaking. Did yc
~ find things very bad?"
eh "It was-a COW, was it?" said Ro
taken quite aback by this most III
40 looked-for turn in the matter. And yo
'1A drove her out?"
IL "Yes. How is it going to be with yol
- =, decoration flowers?"
NJ Come over and help me fix them up
- said Rob, after a pause.
Il will, after breakfast"
- For an hour the two worked togethe
-. setting the beds in order, finding mut
-.s .-s better supply left than they had dar'
20 to hope. Rob, as he went on, was layiI
" the flowers in two lots.
These are for you," he said as tn
40 finished Yes, indeed" as Will objec
Ine w ed, "if it hadn't been for you shouldI
~ ~, have had any"
dv M ROB-" said VIII, as they walked t
~ ,av gether to the place of meeting, 81 did,
~ do that you thought did"
a why didn't you tell me so before
,on said Rob, half Indignantly.
Oct "Oh, l was mad at your thinking
.iaI and wouldn't"
We'll be friends after this"