The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-20

"well, stop your clatter or I'll come
back there an make you."
Now, It had been Uncle Billy's fail
Ing when a boy not to be able TO ''taks
daDA* he always set the worst of
zAs hio tsA began 70 sAos0 stcns Of ssrsao.
physical encounters. but tho very next
time be was dared he would again
lead a forlorn hope. because be was q
coward, a moral coward.
90 little wonder Is It that under tho
old feeling Of moral cowardice. be re-
piled:
.oh. you viii. win your Mebby you'd
nike to try It right now.'
"Bill, II you don't shet your old fool
mouth I'll--I'll come up there an mako
you eat dlrt"
1You will, will youi" yelled the now
properly infuriated William. You
will. will your I'd like to zee you try
It on. Try It on right nowv'
Uncle Joe stuck his fish pole In the
sand. spat on his hands and walked up
to his bellicose 'pardner." He made q
grab for Uncle Bily's collar, but Upcle
Billy slid under his arm. caught him
side holts," and "under holtS' at that.
AS boy tussle 1t would hare been
commonplace. But when old men
wrestie--
Each mans face showed tenss, set
Jaws and watchful eyes.
At that instant Uncle Billy happened
to glance toward the river. He won
dered II any one was watching. Hls
glance caught the violent sway Of the
fishing pole. He broke ''holts. md ex-
claimed:
"Joe, you've got 'imr'
Uncle Joe made clumxy, rheumatic
old run and was just In time to grasp
the pole as 1t pulled out, Of the sand.
Dexterously be guided the fish. for his
muscular sense told him that the nne
was not strong enough to draw tho
game captive from the water. no play
ed It as well as he could. hoping to
tire 1t But his prey kept dashmg
wildly from side to side Of tho pool.
Uncle Joe's old arms grew tired.
'Bill, Bill! You'll have TO spell me
bit. I'm tnckered out. TIL 80 havers
with your
Uncle Billy had forgotten bis hts
inisgivlngs in the excitement Of ths
moment He relieved Uncle Joe, who
dropped down in the shade, painting.
The big 6sh began to show signs Of
firing. The struggles grew more FEE
BILE, the rushes less frequent. With a
wheezy shout Of triumph Uncle Billy
swung 1t to land, and
"Jumpin' Jehoshaphat! Billy! Billy!
Oh, myw
Uncle Joe was down on the grass
rolling over and over in an ecstasy Of
mirth.
'Wha-what's the matter, Joe? Air
you sickw anxiously queried Uncle
Billy.
"Oh, nuthin's the matter, Billy" an
swered Uncle Joe, when at last he rose
to sitting posture, "only your bass
amt bass. It's nothin' but q drafted
CARR
with a look of disgust Uncle Billy
disnatched the shark of inland waters,
and the "pardners" ate their dinner.
After dinner they sat in the shade
and graw reminiscent. Bygone sports,
sleighing. picnics, shows-the young
folks Of two generations ago were
brought to life again. Sometimes their
voices rang with almost boyish laugh
ter. Sometimes their eyes grew misty
with tears, and over all the glorious
sky Of the June Sabbath and through
all the voice Of the water falling over
the rifle up stream.
sBin, shores / live, there's q red
birds nest In that ellum. Shew! !
wish / was sixty years younger. How
I'd like to look in that nest and see II
redbirds' eggs look like they used to
when we was boys. You used to be O
mighty good climber, Billy. What say
you to climbin' up an gittin' me an
egg or twoT
me climb at my ageG
sWhy, yes. I'm only year older u
YOU. Billy, but You are q dozen times
more soopIe than / be. I've watched
your back as you 60 down the street,
| an you step as spry as boy OF
twenty"
Uncle Billy was not proof against
this fattery.
sff he'd rail an you'd boost me
little, might try"
Uncle Joe found a rail, put one emo
against the tree and gave Uncle Billy
the required boost
He reached the lower limbs In safety
and in short time had secured thu
eggs, which he dropped one by ont
into Uncle Joe's handkerchief" TheI
he started to get down. When h'
reached the lower limbs the rail wal
gone.
asay, Joe, put back that rail-"
| II guess you'd better stay up there
Billy, where you kin keep cool IT.
| awful hot down here"
sPlease, Joel Don't act fool. Pleas
| mt up the rail. Please dol"
ooh dunno Billy gueSa Isu be-