The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

enough chores to keep you busy for the
 whole day." said Pat. No, siree, l say
 let's go while it's fine, and while we're
 free from chores at home"
 So Jack and Hank gave in to the per-
 suasion of their leader and the. three re-
 mained behind the schoohopsa till the
 bell rang, announcing 1 o'clock and time
 for study. While the other pupils were
 marching into the schoohouse Pat. Jack
 and Hank stole off over a hill, and once
 getting out of sight of the hated place.
 they took to their heels toward the big
 river.
 They reached there all out of breath
 and sat on the bank to rest. The river
 was swollen very high from the melting
 of the last heavy snows and recent pro-
 longed rain. Pat declared the river would
 be full of fish during the summer. for
 after heavy snows and rains there were
 always plenty of fish. Gee. but we'll
 come here fishing and swimming during July and August" he declared in T voice
 of happy anticipation.
 ''Yes, and l wish we'd waited till vaca-
 ton time had come." admitted Jack. not a very bad fellow at heart, but easily led
 into wrongdoing by his companions "I really don't like playing hockey, for you're sure to be found out, and then you'll get
 punished at school and at home. My
 mother will settle with me for doing this today"
 "Oh, the teacher may not say anything about our playing hockey" assured Pat Hes not so very bad, but I don't like him a little bit. He's so easy and good , natured."
 "Well I can't say that I positively hate l Teacher" laughed Jack. but I'm not
 afraid of him, and that's why I dare to l do so many things, for I know he'll let
 us off easy. He's got no backbone. If ,, he had more nerve-more real sand in bis craw-Id be afraid of him. But he's
 so goodnatured that don't care whether
 l mind him or not"
 | Say, there's q fine tree," exclaimed Pat, pointing to a tall tree that grew at the rivers edge and bent far out over the l water. Gee, it's a dandy to climb! I'm i going up 1t and see if can get glimpse | of the old schoolhouse."
 "Yes, maybe you'll see old Giddy look ing out of the window for us," laughed l Jack. ."Old Giddy" was their teacher, l the name having been given to him by | Pat. His real name was Giddings. and | Pat thought 1t clever to play upon the | good -natured and kindly teachers name. | Pat threw off his coat and shoes and was soon going up the tree like squir- rel, for he was an expert at climbing. l And Jack, also being good at the sport, 1 divested himself of shoes and coat and
 followed Pat. They were soon in the very l top of the tall tree, perched together on
 a slender, swinging limb.
 | "Say, you'd better get off that limbF' cried out Hank, for from where he sat on the ground he could see that the limb | was not sufficiently strong to hold the weight of the two boys, and was threat l ening to break from the body of the tree | at any moment.
 "Oh, fellow has got to take chances" l called back Pat. Its no fun always be- l ing in a safe corner where no danger | turks. I like danger. It's almost as much fun to risk your neck as it Is to tease
 old Giddy."
 Then Pat and Jack began laughing and
 swinging the tree limb, and Hank, fear
 ing that an accident might happen to l them. again warned them to get off the