The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-17
The Canvas Blew Away, and Away
They Went Whlrling Down Hill.

The Canvas Blew Away, and Away
They Went Whlrlins Down Hin.
Of provisions. the small brothers. Don,
Denny and Billy, felt very down
hearted indeed.
Never mind said mamma, try
ing to comfort them. You shall go
to the Sunday school picnic next
week"
But Don and Denny mournfully
shook their heads. What was a Sun.
day school picnic compared with
camping out in the woods? You
can't shoot bears at a Sunday school
picnic" replied Don.
Nor sleep outdoors at night, nor
cook your dinner over a camp fire"
said Denny.
Now, boys said papa, between
you and me, | don't believe Irving or
Ralph or Percy will really shoot any
bears. They just think they will.
But / don't see why you can't have
"A good time camping out, too.
You have the old tent up in the
attic, and Il can be pitched in the or
chard. | will set 1t up and lay a board
floor tomorrow. You can have Billy's
trundle-bed. and lie crosswise, so that
1t will be wide enough for three. You
may have the old wash-bench for n
table, and three camp-chairs. OF course
you cannot cook there, but now and
then We will have a fire and get a real
camp meal, just as the other boys
will. How will that do?"
Splendid" cried Dor and Denny.
Billy jumped up and down I'm delight.
Let them sleep out there!" ex-
claimed mamma.
What harm could come to them?'
said papa. "Towser will be with them;
they will be quite safe"
SO the tent was pitched, and the
happy little boys began their camp
life. The orchard was on a slope Of
land. facing the southeast, II vas
only a short distance from the house,
but the foliage was SO thick hat you
could not see the house from the or.
chard.
All day the boys played as usual,
but the things they did seemed differ.
cnt from usual. They did not have to
keep dressed up, but went barefoot all
the time, and wore old clothes and
hats: and mamma did not bother
when they got soiled and torn. Once
when they met her. and a lady caller
on the garden walk. she only said:
These boys are not at home now
tla.s 49,. ,Nun.r an "A nnVe,nfpn tVtn -
Their meals tasted different from
usual, also. although they had the
same fare that papa and mamma ate
at home. Once, however, papa came
out and built a fire in the orchard, and
they broiled steak. roasted eggs and
toasted crackers. Some way or other
their dishes got cleared away and
their beds made right along. although
they never troubled themselves about
II; and at bedtime mamma came I'm
10 hear their prayers and tuck them
in. Towscr slept in the tent door,
and every morning he woke them mp
by tapping their faces.
One night they were suddenly awak.
ened by a thunderclap, which seemed
to be right I'm the tent. They clung
10 one another, toe scared even to
cry The lightning flashed, the thun-
der pealed, the wind shrieked among
the trees, and the rain beat upon their
canvas The tent was trembling.
Towser was bowling with all his
might. And then, an at once. there
came a terrific rush OF wind and rain.
their tent-pole broke, they were torn
from bed. the canvas blew away, and
away they went whirling down hill.
What happened then the boys were
too bewildered TO know distinctly: but
Don remembered fetching up against
a tree, and sseing-by a lightning
fash-little Billy washed by, with
TCWssr In pursuit. Then he saw the
danciTy yellow CLEAN of a lantern.
and heard his fathers voice calling:
"BcyS where are you?"
Towser caught Billy and dragged
him uphill-yery frightened, wet and
muddy, although not seriously hurt.
Then papa carried him to the house,
while Don, Denny ana 1owser strug-
gled on behind. And then there was
a lively rubbing with towels, a put.
ting on Il dry clothes. and a slipping
OF hot chocolate a. they sat toastinE