Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-09-20
The Canvas Blew Away, and Away
They Went Whirling Down Hill.

ne OdNVdS 6tGW AWAY anu away
They Went WhirIne Down Hill.
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 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 l don't see why you can't have
good time camping out, too.
You have the old tent up in the
attic, and It can be pitched in the or
chard. l will set 1t up and lay 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
table, and three camp.chairs. or course
you cannot cook there, but now and
then we will have fire and get real
camp meal just as the other boys
will. How will that do?"
Splendid" cried Don and Denny.
Billy jumped up and down in 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 slope of
land, facing the southeast. It was
only a short distance from the house.
but the foliage was so thick that you
could not see the house from the Or
chard
All day the boys played as usual,
but the things they did seemed differ
ent 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 lady caller
on the garden walk. she only said
These boys are not at home now
they are away on camping trip"
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 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
it; and at bedtime mamma came In
to hear their prayers and tuck them
!, in. Towser slept in the tent door
! and every morning he woke them uT
by tapping their faces.
One night they were suddenly awak
ened by thunderclap, which seemed
to be right in the tent. They cluns
D to one another, too scared even tc
, cry. The lightning flashed, the thun
der pealed, the wind shrieked among
the trees, and the rain beat upon theil
l canvas. The tent was trembling
Towser was bowling with all his
might And then, all at once. there
7 came terrific rush of wind and rain
3 their tent-pole broke. they were tori
from bed, the canvas blew away. anf
away they went whirling down hin.
= What happened then the boys wers
too bewildered to know distinctly; but
Don remembered fetching up agains
a tree, and seeing-by a lightnina
e fiash-little Billy washed by wifi
a Towser in pursuit Then he saw IN.
, dancing yellow CLEAN of a lantern
and heard his fathers voice calling
Boys, where are your"
. Towser caught Billy and dragged
him uphiil-very frightened, wet ana
muddy, although not seriously hurt
l Then papa carried him to the house
y while Don. Denny and Towser string
gled on behind. And then there wa,
lively rubbing with towels. nut
s ting on = dry clothes. and a, sippin,
of hq' e as they saYsoastinl