The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-05-05
A WILL AND A WAY .
I BY MRS. ETHEL THOMAS.
The Story of a Girls Courage =
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''"oN 'lAii Will IcaI, uS uo Spleu boy
on the back Of wild unbroken colt,
her eyes sparkling with excitement
cheeks glowing and curls flying, dash
ing wildly over the fields and mead
ows, safely leaping fences, hedges
and ditches, fearing nothing, but dar-
ing everything!
She would climb to the top Of the
tallcst cherry or mulberry trees, or
on the slippery hay now in quest of
newly laid eggs "to make dearest
papa an omlet.' In vain did Aunt
Deb. prophcsy:
"MiSS Boy shore "winc ter cit kilt,
bawd knows!' IN vain did her Faith
ar beg and rcmonstratc, coax and per-
Suadc:
"My darlin' Boy, do be careful.
Oh, if YOU should catch your death
cause | didn't make you behave it
would jest kill mel"
At such times Boy would wind ner
arms around his neck, kiss the anxious
look from the care worn face and in
her matchless, inimitablo and irresis-
tably winning way, would begin her
defense, punctuating every sentence
with loving caresscs:
"My dearest papa, haven't T al
ways been careful to hit the ground
in a soft place when a tumble was alb
solutely unavoidablc7 1t must be
that L am watched over and protected
by special Providence, for YOU
know, dear, that ! have never been
seriously hurt. And, oh, do have
such fun. | really can't see to save
my life how sister can be SO uuict
and digniticd. 1t would simply make
nc 90 luny to even try it, Then
laughing: "And then. papa, here's
another thing YOU must consider
You call me 'Boy' and | feel compell-
ed on principle, to do honor to the
name. wouldn't disobey You for
anything, but whatever else you do,
don forbid my riding Fly. He and
understand each other perfectly and
[ am positively sure that nothing
could induce him to misbehavc in nv
presence. Hc loves me and would
not hurt me for the world.n
''l}ut, darlin' you are most sixteen
now, an you ought to try and tone
down little and not be sich a TOM
boy and romp."
'Oh, papa, I can't! Besides there
will be plenty OF time for that, I
hope, when | get to be real grown
up young lady--a time l positively
shrink from seeing arrive. When I
think about it I get all chokcd ND
and-oh, papa, don't ever want to
grow up or be anything but just your
lfoy,' and she would cuddlc up to
aim as if for protection from the
dreaded state. And what could the
fond father say as he looked into the
face Of his innocent and idolized
ehild2 Only:
"God grant You may never get
hurt. my Boy. am may no sorrow
ever dim the lustrc Of your laughiE'
brown 2ycs!'
Minnic, though also fair, was very
unlike her sister. She had deep blue
eyes and golden hair. and was as quiet
and di"nifcd rs Boy the reverse. At
the age of fourteen. she was as far
advanced in her studies and two
pounds heavier. though not so tall as
her sister. Boy was tall for her ao1
and very slender, while Minnie was
)" drcldedly "squatty,' she was
nlrknamcd "Ducky'' She could
never be persuaded to join in any Of
Boys wild romps, but greatly enjoyed
hearing Of her many adventures.
When Boy was twenty years of age
she suddenly became aware that life
was something more serious than she |
mad always imagined. She and Min
ME were just home from college
where they had been for four years.
noted with anxiety that her fathers
health had failed. and by careful,
tactful and judicious questioning,
had found that he was what ne called
"pnrty tight rum"
In fact it had taken no small
amount to defray their school axpcn-
s's. and he was only poor farmer |
But at last they were home, and oh
how proud he was Of his lovely and |
accomplished daughters.
"Oh, If Annie could see 'em now!
and maybe she does,' he would mur-
mnr, forgetting in the JOY of the
nrnSnnI tho lonn onl lonal.. .>>a.>I1