Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-29


QAS my life in the fields to have right
good little laid away for the
children. The girls are both married. and have moved
another part of the county, but they enough
back when they want little things that nobody
but their mother knows how to make My wife Adellne
(Adde, l call herr and myself alone on the old
place most of the time. My boy-wel he's the one m
writing this story about and I'll have to go away back
to the time when he young shaver just putting
on his first linen collar and beginning to pay attention
to the girls His is Pat at least that will do well
enough for this story He is six feet two with his
shoes off, and often think it is pity that he didn't
turn out to be pillow hand. But he didn't.
| had hoped to make prosperous farmer out OF my
son. but he didn't seem to like it. Many times l had
gone out to the field where he supposed to be work
ing only catch him hiding behind big stump in the
new grounds reading in the newspapers about ball
throwers and fist fighters. often the point of
reprirnanding him severely; but my wife would inter-
fere and remind me that "he is just boy"
The first real trouble with my occurred one day
in the harvesting season-and don't mind telling you
that was nightly cut UP. My farm is divided by
big creek and there no bridge across it were
put lot of trouble in getting the to the barns
before the rain would damage it. We tried to build
bridge; but the current was so strong it wouldn't
stand. couldn't afford iron bridge and though
was big taxpayer and knew all the leading the
county, coudn get the Road Commission the Legs
lature to build the bridge out of the public funds My
neighbors and myself fought political campaign
on that issue; but lost. You how that bridge
question got to be regular thorn in my side. If it
hadn't been for that, this story might not have been
written.
On the day just referred to the all piled
up the other side of the creek and, the weather
prophet had predicted rain, very anxious to get
it into the barns Farm hands very scarce, and
depending my boy Pat to be big help to me.
l missed the boy in the morning. and he didn't come
back all day The more l waited, the madden I got,
and there couple of strong hickory switches wait
ing in the shed for future developments.
Just before the supper bell rang heard Pat wistlng
out in the road.
"Now don't lose your temper cautioned my wife
as l started for the door; but made no reply.
"PatrCk, | shouted angrlly as the boy came up the
steps, where have you been?"
"Down to town, Pa, he replied "And we licked EN-
good You ought to have seen the one hit in the last
inning And, Pa there we're
"Don't talk that fiddlesticks to mel" interrupted
sterny. 81 think III take you around to the shed.
What do you going off this way ball throwing
game when all that is lying in the fields the
river?"
But, Pa, l.
Don't talk back to me! Didn't you know we had
to get that over here before it raned? It's enough
to be worried about trying to get that bridge built"
shook my finger menacingy at him and started to step
to the ground. Right then had the shed in mind.
wait Pa said Addle as sheappeared in the doorway.
"Why, Son, what earth is the matter with your
carr? she exclaimed. "Look, Pa the boy is hurt Come
here and let see."
cut and bleeding. "How did that happen, SOM" de-
manded. "Have you been carousing?"
Don't talk that way, Pal" admonished my wife.
SThe poor boy is hurt. I'll have to fix him up Come
here to Mother
The minute the mother took charge knew there
would be visit to the shed. AS she put her
round the boy and led him into the house could see
tears of humiliation in his eyes, That wted
little for when there there is usually honesty