The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-24
4 MILK SHOWER.
Why don't you send John?"


wide awake now; there was the light
streaming through the half-open door
OF his mothers room. Il am almost
sure it was mothers voice which
said Why don't you send John?'
Now. father is saying something
which | cannot understand, he speaks
so low; but mother will make A reply
pretty soon, and there Is no danger
OF my not catching her words. 1
wouldn't listen, but / know they must
be planning something about me. It
may be that they intend to send me
away to school with Cousin Tom. and
| am very sure | don't want to go"
Again came his mothers voice. this
time with an unwonted tone OF asper-
ity: 81 know know he doesn't
like the milk business. He likes it.
though, just as well as you liked
leaving college in your Sophomore
year and taking up farm work be
John can take hold of your work a
few weeks for the very same reason.
He is now sixteen years old, and | am
afraid that he has never in his whole
life done one single thing just be-
cause it was his duty to do it. Be
careful, dear, that you don't spoil
him with kindness. You say that
this route is the easiest one of all.
and the idea that you must hire an
extra man this year. when crops are
so poor, while you have son who
is perfectly able to do the work. is to
me not only absurd, but wicked"
As his mothers voice ceased. John
threw himself down On the bed
again. He did not try to hear his
fathers reply. He knew that it did
not matter, for he detected in his
mothers tones her determination to
have him do that, to him, destestable
work, and she was sure to carry the
day. She always did when she really
set out for it. Over and over her
earnest words rang In his ears: Il
am afraid that he has never in his
whole life done one single thing just
because it was his duty to do it," He.
and he only, knew how true they
were. Then he viewed his fathers
life. He knew the story in every de-
tail; his leaving college to lift mort
gage from the farm at his fathers
death. That one circumstance had
made Of the delicate, book-loving boy
farmer. Then came the fall which
had famed him for life. So he took
Up dairy farming and owned the larg-
est milk route in the city. Now here
was this accident which had left him
with a broken right arm and the nee
essity of giving to some one else, for
while at least, the driving Of one of
the wagons to the city. Then John
thought of his own sixteen years of
easy, sheltered life. He had never
fed horse, or used a hoe, an axe,
or a spade; and while other farmer
boys in the neighborhood had trudg-
ed to the village school, he had been
use, knowing that when he returned
home with it at night there was a
man ready to unharness, feed, and
water the animal, and clean up the
buggy, if need be, for the next days
trip. But now, to go around town
driving the milk wagon, doubtless
meeting many of his high school
mates! He sat up in bed with a
fierce determination. He would run
away firstt When the vacation was
over, how dreadful 1t would be to
fi1eet his mates with the stigma
milk peddler" written all over
him. Was it for this that he had
studied so faithfully? For he
had studied we'll. Every one said so.
Then came another thought. He de-
served no credit for studying; that
was joy to him. Then his fathers
inaudible words ceased, and his
mother exclaimed bitterly: cts no
worse for him than for you. Your
nature is quite as refined and sensi-
tive as his. Indeed, I am sure that
you are much more of a poet. Let
him try it while; it will do him
good to learn exactly how the income
is obtained which brings him his life
of ease"
The father made an indistinct re-
ply. But the boy said to himself
fiercely: eyes, mother is right, and
I'll show her in the morning that I'm
not quite the molly-coddle she takes
me for" Then, knowing that the
milk wagons left the barn at an early
hour, he turned over resolutely and
went to sleep.
''WelI this isn't SO bad" said John
to himself On the following morning
as he drove leisurely through the
cool and stately city streets.
His father had told him to take
his time, as the route was among peo-
pie who did not breakfast early. Be-
tween the stops he studied intently,
now and then consulting his route
book In order to know just where to
go next.
Suddenly, amid his concentration
on his book, he heard frantic screams
He caught UP the slack reins and
-sAE-