Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-23

unless he got along considerably faster
man he was then doing he would
| barely earn his board.
He kept steadily at his task for a
week and then cleaned up and meas
ured what he had thrashed-exactiy
forty bushels. of which his share, OF
course. was four bushels. Peas were
worth go cents a bushel; accordingly
he earned $40. After paying his
board he would have 30 cents left
an average of 10 cents day.
1t vas discouraging. Grandfather
Griggs said not a word. but the boy
knew wen that If he would only ac-
knowledge himself in the wrong and
promise to go back to school and obey
the master the old place in his grand
fathers heart and home was ready for
him.
But pride would not permit him TO
Weld, and all through the short De
cember days and the first month OF
the new year the regular clip-clap or
the fail was heard without intermis-
sion and the heap of peas in the gran
arv grew and grew till 1t amounted TO
$50 bushels.
Hezekiah had almost completed his
task and was rejoicing TO think that
he and the fail, which, in spite OF
their long standing fellowship, he cor
daily hated, were about TO part COM
pany.
boy is like a colt. Nothing is so
we'll calculated to drive the nonsense
out of his head and make him trust
worthy as a little regular work. Heze-
kiah did not know this, but he was
quite conscious that he did not feel as
he had felt six weeks before.
He had been doing some hard think |
ing while swinging the fail and had |
begun to see that he was not altogeth- |
er the fine fellow he had always imag- |
ined himself to be.
He had worked harder at this job of 4
thrashing peas than lie had ever done /
at anything before. and yet his earn
ings were barely sufficient to board .
and clothe him while thus engaged.
He thought the matter over and came
to the conclusion that he owed his
grandfather something for all those
years of helpless childhood, wherein
the old mans love and care had been
watchfuI and unremitting.
HeZekiah had a conscience. 1t was
very like other boys consciences, full
of contradictions and absurdities; but,
for all that, it pointed out that the
least he could render to his grandfa-
ther for all his kindness was a willing
obedience.
He made up his mind he would do It,
and as he welded the fail above the
last flooring" he was bravely resolv-
ing to tell his grandfather all that was
in his heart. So deeply engrossed
was he in bordering over this good
resolution that he did not observe n
dark shadow which fell between him
and the sunlight that streamed through
the open door till voice said:
"Well, Hezekiah, you're just about
done, see"
The boy looked up and saw the
benevolent face of his good grand
father smiling down upon him.
You've done very well-very WELL"
continued the old man approvingly.
I'D no idea that you would keep at
it till they were finished. / believe
there's the making of a man in you
after all, Hezekiah. What were you q.
of going at nextY"
The blood rushed to the boys fore
head, and his heart beat wildly. but he
to say, Pm a mean sneak,
grandfather. but if you'd just as soon
| believe I'll go back to school,"
'All right" returned the old man
calmly. I'D just as lief"
And so, after all, things turned out
very much as Grandfather Griggs had
Intended they should. Hezekiah went
back to school, took his whipping for
away, finished his course in
the history class and in due time went
to college.
He became a prosperous city physi-
,ian and still lives to tell his grand
children of the fun they used to have
n the little log schoolhouse years ago,
and they often laugh over the mis-
AXE he made the time he undertook
% thrash the master.
SPECIAL EXCURSION FARES