The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-12-31
snow-and took them in with The wood.
Ho E<a,nd AChanlso aiftsxace thu had in

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a blanket completely enveloping him.
''Say, pard," he said as Jack entered,
dad never told me that this place was
some temperature we get, my man.
Then Charlie drew his nose inside the
blanket and spoke not again till called to
supper.
Jack threw the wood on the floor and
set about fixing fire. Harry was set
ting the little pine table near to the win
dow, preparatory to getting the evening
meal. His hands were stiff from cold.
and he let the tin plates and cups drop
about in a rafting way.
''How's wood-cutting this kind of
weather." he asked of Jack. Jack put
on happy face and replied: Fine.
It'll be your turn tomorrow"
ooh, I'm not laundering after il" said
Harry. ''Look at that host in the blan-
ket-isn't he kill-joy?"
But Jack had no time for joking. He
was cold to the marrow, and devoted his
attention to getting a fire in the fire.
place, which was half-full of last sum-
mer's ashes. Even after the fire decid-
ed to burn, the cabin would not get
warm. The door was ill-fitting and the
window let in more wind than light. The
place was, as Jack said to himself, as
cold as tombstone.
But some of the chill of the air was
taken off, and together Harry and Jack
put meal upon the table. 1t had been
agreed that Charlie, the most delicate of
the three huskies, should remain wrapped
up against the cold till the place be-
came comfortable. So he did not come
out of his wrappings till Harry an
nounced:
Come to grub. pals"
And such grub" The bread had
frozen on the way up from Mountville-
The canned pork and beans had not got
ten hot through, and the eggs had also
frozen and were scrambled in hard Jumps.
Jack and Harry tried to persuade them
selves that everything was O. K. But
Charlie made wry face and said he'd
have to take charge of the culinary de-
partment on the following day.
And on the following day Charlie was
left to his joy, for Harry and Jack went
rabbit hunting. They tdrned in at the
camp about three in the afternoon,
hands, nose and feet all but frozen. But
not one lonely rabbit had they managed
to capture. "It's bacon and beans again
tonight is it," asked Charlie, showing
his disappointment.
"Sure, and you'd. ought to be glad to
see US two rabbits back again in life, for
for the chances were hard against us.
Thought I'd freeze solid long before we
turned the last quartermile for home.
As the three campers-(b boys living
close to nature)-sat about the cold and
unappelizing supper, Charlie spoke first
of what lay nearest the trio's hearts,
Say, pards," he began, Il was just
thinking of the poor Indians. How they
must have suffered during the winters,
for their wigwams and tepees were not
half so comfortable and spacious as our
cabin. And window they knew moth
ing Of"
"Nor floor" put in Harry. Jack said
nothing, but tried to swallow mouthful
of cold beans.
"Say, kids, I'm tired of this harden
ing business" said Harry, Drawing his
comrades disapproval. But neither of
his listeners had word to say. Charlie
smiled, and Jack thought of the fine hot
supper at home. He knew his mothers
habit of making hot biscuits for supper
during cold weather. All, for the sight
the smell-the taste of one!
Then Harry began sneezing. Tax
ing cold, eh?' asked Charlie. But before
the meal was over, all three boys sneezed
repeatedly. Jack felt chilly sensation
up his back, and had no appetite; I'm
going to turn in, pards," he said, rising
from the table. ii feel squeamish-w
| smell those beans!" Then he got be-
tween the blankets, removing only his
shoes.
The following morning was the coolest
the boys had ever felt, and with one ac-
cord they agreed to leave camping
equipments and walk to the village.
They would not wait for their wagner
to come at the end of the week. And
when they hove in sight Of the railroad
station, more dead than alive, Jack
threw up his numb hand and cried out,
"Hurrah! Well be inside civilized
house within an hour, And his friends
echoed in happy voice, eve will"
"Ah, mother, savagery may be all
right for savages," said Jack, sitting
beside his mother at the supper table,
"but guess you and dad have the right
idea of living in this century. Gee! No
more hardening for me. Another day OF
it would finish me for certain. 10 be
hardy and strong, one must live up-to-
date
And Mrs. Graham smiled and asked,
what would have happened had you
slept in the tent-clOse to natures!
'I'd never have come back in an1mat-
ed form, mother mine, cried Jack, hor..
ror on his face at tbs mere mention OF
the tent. ''Land O. love, stood all the
hardening process of the cabin could.
The tent would have sounded my death
knell."
(Which all goes to show that boys
don't always know just what is good for
them," said Mr.. Graham. And then ne
helped Jack to another hot tea biscuit
and honey.
Dyspepsia is Americas curse. To restore
digestion, normal weight, good health and