Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-29

NCli, ouCu WuDlGlul ways LcRe
 did see. Nobody'd think you were ;
 day over fifteen"
 "Im not" said Red stoutly, land,
 catching her chin in his hand and turn
 ing her face up toward him, nobody (
 put your score much higher than tha
 neither if they trusted to their eyes
 this morning."
 The compliment hit so tender a place
 that Miss Mattie lacked the resolution
 to tear 1t out; besides, it was so hon
 est that it sounded much less like q
 compliment than plain statement of
 fact. She bent hastily over the fire
 I'm glad I look young, Will," she said
 softly.
 Som IT. he assented heartily.
 "Whats the sense in being old, any
 how? I'm as Timber and good for
 myself as ever I was in spite of my
 forty years.'
 "You're not forty years old" ex-
 claimed Miss Mattie You're joking"
 Mary joke-forty round trips from
 flying snow to roses since I hit land,
 Mattie-why, you were only a little
 girl when I left here-don't you re-
 member? You and your folks came to
 see us the week before I left I got a
 thrashing for taking you and Joe to
 the millpond and helping you to get good and wet. The thrashing was one of the things that gave me hanker- | for with the hickory, father. Spare the clothes and spoil the skin was his motto. He used to make me strip to the Waist-phee-hew. Even a light breeze rested heavy on my back when dad got through with me. Say, Hattie, perhaps I oughtn't to say so, now that he's gone, but I don't think that's the proper way to use a boy, do you?'
 "No, I don't" said Miss Hattie. Your father meant well, but his way was useless and cruel'
 i've forgiven him the whole sweep said Red. But, d-n me, if I had a boy I wouldn't club the life out of him; I'd try to reason with him first, anyhow. Makes a boy as ugly as anybody else to get the hide whaled off his back for nothing-once in awhile he needs it. Boy that's got any life in him gets to bq Boo much oc- casionally, and then warming is healthful and nourishing. Lord you'd think I was the father of my country to hear me talk, wouldn't you? If somebody'd write a book, What Red Children 1t would be full of valuable information. How's that breakfast coming on?"
 All ready-sit right down, Will"
 Go you!' cried Red, and incautious- ly flung himself upon one of the kitch- cn chairs, which collapsed instantly and dropped him to the floor.
 Mercy on us. Are you hurt?' cried Miss Hattie, rushing forward.
 "Hurt? said Red. "Try it! Just jump up in the air and sit on the floor where you are now, and see if you get hurt! Oh, no! I'm slot hurt, but I'm astonished beyond measure, like the man that tickled the mule. I'll take my breakfast right here-shouldn't wonder bit if the floor went back on me and landed me in the cellar No, sir! I won't get up! Hand me the supplies. I know when I'm well off. If you want to eat breakfast with me. come sit on the floor. I'm not going to have my spine pushed through the top of my head twice in the same day"
 Will, you are the most ridiculous | person ever did seer said Miss Mat | tie, and she laughed till she cried in | sheer lightheartedneSs. But there's q | chair you can trust. Come on now"
 Well, if you'll take your solemn oath that this one has no mustache to deceive me-" said Red doubtfully. Tt looks husky. Well. I'll try It. Hooray! She didn't give an inch! This kind of reminds me of the time Jimmy Hen tricks came back from town and walked off the edge of the bluff in the lark. It just happened that Old Scot iy FeTgusOn's cabin was underneath him. Jim took most of the roof off with him as he went in. He sat while to figure out what was trumps, having come 1JO feet too fast to do much thinking. Then. Hello" he yells. Dld ScOtty was a sleeper from way lack. but this woke him up.
 Hello! says he. 'Was'er matterT aFfTr1 h1 ,y,a-. 4f,... ! lwake get. so he says. Why, was ID on the bluff there. Scotty. and. see ng it was such a short distance, I bought I'd drop in"
 "'Aw ri'.' grunted Scotty. Make 'self f home and with that he rolls 'ver.
 Jim eoGldn't wait for morning. and. hough his leg was pretty badly prained, he made the trip all the way Ound the trail and woke us up to tell s how he'd gone through FergIs0n's OOf and the old man asked him to lake himself at home Next morning here was ScOtty out in front of his abin. his thumbs in his vest holes, D0Eing up
 What's the matter. ScottyT says L Well. I wisht you'd tell me what ! the name of God went through that l0fE says he
 T swalIered a laugh cTossways and Tt on a serious face. Must have been rock. says l.
 Rock nOthin'- says he. If it had een a rock 'twOuId have stayed in the lbfu, wouldn't itI Well. there ain't le first blasted thing of any shape nor in there but the hole. You m gO in and look for yourseIf.'