The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-01-07

"Very well. Then well call 1t a bar.
! gain. and when you're through with
| that maybe something else will turn
up. aud II YOU should be out of II job,
! why, your little room will be ready for
you. aud won't charge cent more
| than $l.:O Il week. seeing it's you,
| Hezekiah."
Hezekiah was disagreeably surprised
at the turn affairs had taken. Ii had
never occurred TO him that his grand
father. who had cared for him ever
phan ten years before. would east him
off simply because he had tried a.
thrash the master and wouldn't 80 Ia
school.
But he started for the barn. trying
very hard TO look as IL things were
turning ont exactly as he had expect
ed they would. He even managed Ia
whistle family as he passed the win
dow. through which he felt his grand
father waS regarding him. but the last
melancholy note died away long before
he reaShed the barn.
HeZekiah never knew before that his
grandfather had harvested so many
peas. There they were. brown aud
crisp and inviting. piled in rough. I'M
even MASSES TO the top of either NOW
and slowed away on the beams above
him.
The boy tossed down great heap
into the middle of the thrashing floor,
nj
tons. Butt it was of no use to try TO
make hiuself believe that he liked TO
THRASH peas.
He lrivd 10 buoy himself up with the
thOuGHl that ne was earning money.
but Ions before night even this thought
failed nW as he began to realize that
unless hp got along considerably faster
than he WAS then doing he would
barely earn his board.
He kept steadily at his task for n
week and then cleaned up and meas
ured what he had hrashed-eXactly
forty bushels. of which his share, of
course. WAS four bushels. Peas were
worth 60 cents bushel; accordingly
he earned $40. After paying his
board he would have 80 cents left
an average of Is cents day.
1t was discouraging. Grandfather
GriggS said not word. but the boy
knew well 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
yield, and I'LL through the short De-
cembcr days and the first month Of
the new year the regular clip-clap of
the fail was heard without interms-
sion and he heap of peas i'm the gran
airy grew ana grew till it amounted to
900 bushels
IIe2cIiah had almost completed his
task and was rejoicing to think that
he "9d the fail, which. in spite Of
thoir long standing fellowship, he corr
daily mated, were about to part com
paAy.
i boy is like a colt. Nothing is so
well calculated 10 drive the nonsense
out Of his head and make him trust
worthy rs Il 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 lie had always imag-
ined himself to be.
He had worked harder at this job of
thrashing peas than he had ever done
ut 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
something for all those
years of helpless childhood. wherein
the old mans love and care had been
watchful and unremitting.
HeZekiah had q conscience. 1t was
very like other boys consciences. full
Of contradictions and absurdlties; but.
for all that. it pointed out that the
least he could render to his GRANDPA
Their for all his kindness was willing
obedience
He made up his mind he would do it, |
and rs he welded the fail above the |
last flooring he was bravey 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 II
dark shadow which fell between him |
md the sunlight that streamed through |
he open door till voice said
well, HeZekiah. you're just about |
lone. | see"
The boy looked up and saw the
face of his good grand
father smiling down upon him.
You've done very well-very WELL"
the old man approvingly. |
I'D no idea that you would keep at
t ill they were finished believe
here's the making Of man in you
,fter all. HeZekiah. What were you
linking Of going at next!"
The blood rushed to the boys fore
read. and his heart beat wildly. but he
managed to say. I'm a mean sneak.
but IL you'd just as soon
believe I'll 90 buck IN school -