The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-14

Of holding the post steady rs the earth
was packed round H. There was not
the shadow OF trouble on his little
freckled face. Slnton threw in stones
and pounded the earth solid around
the post. The sound OF gulping sob
attracted him TO Billy. The tears were
rolling down his cheeks. III I'D
knowed you'd have TO get down In
hole and work so hard I wouldn't a
hit the horses" he said.
"Never you mind. Billy" said Slnton.
"You will know next time, so you
can think over II and make up your
mind whether you really want TO DO
fore you strike"
Slnton went TO the barn 10 put away
the tools lie thought Billy at his
heels, but the boy Jagged on the way.
A big snowy turkey gobbler resented
the small Intruder in his especial pre-
serves. and with spread tail and drag
cling wings came Mt him thrcateningly.
II that turkey gobbler had known the
sort OF things with which Billy was
accustomed to holding his own he
never would have issued that chal-
lenge BILLY accepted Instantly lie
danced around with stin arms Mt his
sides and inflated the gobbler. Then
came his opportunity and he jumped
on the big turkeys back Wesley
heard Margarct's scream In time to
see the flying leap and admire It's dex-
terity. The turkey tucked its tai, and
scampercd. Billy slid from It's back
and az he fell he clutched wildly,
caught che folded tail and instlnctlNely
hung on for life. The turkey gave e
scream and relaxed Its muscles. 7 zen
II fed In dls6gurcd defeat TO the hay
stack. Billy scrambled TO his feet
holding the tail. and his eyes were
bullying.
"why. the blasted old thing came
or he said to sinton. holding out
the tail in amazed wonder.
sinton, caught suddenly. forgot
everything and roared. Seeing which,
Billy thought n turkey tail of no ac-
count and flung that one high above
him. shouting with childish laughter
as the feathers scattered and fell.
Margaret. watching. burst into tears
Wesley had gone mad. For the first
time In her married life she wanted
to tell her mother. when Wesley had
waited until he was so hungry he
could wait no longer he invaded the
kitchen TO ind cooked supper baking
on the back OF the stove. while Mar
garet with red eyes nursed n pair OF
demorallzcd white kittens.
ais supper rcadyI' he asked.
at has been for an hour" answered
Margaret
"Why didn't you call usT'
That ''us" had too much comrade-
ship in Il. IL irritated Margaret.
81 supposed II would take you even
longer than that 10 fix things decent
again. As for my turkey and my poor
little kittens they don't matter"
81 am mighty sorry about them. Mar.
garet, you know that Billy IL very
bright. and he will soon learn
"Soon learn cried Margaret. Yves
ley sinton, you don't mean TO say that
you think OF keeping that creature
here for some timer
"No: I think Of keeping a decent.
well behaved little boy"
Margaret set the supper on the table
Seeing the old red cloth. Wesley stared
In amazement Then he understood
Billy capered around In delight
"Ain't that prettyf" he exulted. II
wish Jimmy and Belle could see. We.
why. we list eat out of our hands or or
a old drygoods box. and when we FIX
up lot we have newspaper. We amt
ever had a nice red cloth like this" Z,
Wesley looked straight at Margaret.
so intently that she turned away. her
face flushing. lie stacked the diction-
airy and the geography OF the world
on chair and lifted Billy beside him.
He heaped n plate generously. cut the
food. put fork into Blllys little fist
and made him eat slowly and properly.
Billy did his best. Occasionally greed
overcame him. and he used his left
hand to pop bite into his mouth with
his fingers. These lapses Wesley pa
tiently overlooked and went on with
his general instructions. Luckily Billy
did not spill anything on his clothing
or the cloth. After supper Wesley took
him TO the barn until he finished tho
night work. Then he went and sat by
Margaret on the front porch. Billy ap-
propriated the hammock and swung by
pulling a rope tied around tree. The
very energy with which he went at
the work of swinging himself appealed
to Wesley.
"Mercy. but he's an active little
bodyw he said. There isn't a lazy
bone in him. See how he works TO pay
for his fun"
There goes his foot through itl'
cried Margaret Wesley. he shall not
ruin my hammock"
"of course he shan'tp said Wesley.
"Wait, Billy; let me show you"
Thereupon he explained 10 Billy that
ladies wearing beautiful white dresses
sat In hammocks. so little boys must
not put their dusty feet In them They
must just sit I'm them and let their feet
hang down. Billy Immediately sat aud
allowed his feet TO swing.
Margaret" said Sinton after long
silence on the porch. isn't II true that
. n Billy had been "A half afarvod aora