Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
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SS, ldluSI, ais W6ltu boD, iiuotiiy
gathering up his books.
What about your sum?''
The boy flushed. ut will take only
a few minutes
'"Then you have not finished" said
Mr.. Barker, sharply when will you
learn to speak the truth, Bob? can
never rely on your word
He left the room and, after hesitat-
ing few minutes, Bob followed.
Downstairs he found Arthur waiting.
They have gone on. What's kept
your he asked.
Bob looked glum. Fathers been
rowing me because l hadn't finished
my lessons for tomorrow -"
He stopped, flushing as he realized
that again he was not speaking the
exact truth. "At least, | mean Oh,
bother! Never mind! Look here,
I've brought a ball. Let's play catches
as we go along"
Their fathers had business at farm
three miles away. At the gate Farmer
Brown was waiting. The boys were
told they might go where they liked.
lock at everything, and help them
selves to the gooseberries in the gar
den.
The farmer and his visitors went
away, and Bob and Arthur, looking
round for amusement, saw an empty
hay cart on it's way to the field
Lets go down in it, said Arthur,
land come back on the next"
They enjoyed themselves in this
way till something fresh caught their
fancy.
"The COWS are coming in," said Bob
Perhaps they will let us milk them
The man was quite agreeable, and
when the animals were in the shed,
gave the boys their first lesson
81 shall be farmer when l grow up,
said Bob. Its Jolly interesting"
"Will you?" replied his friend,
II should like it for time
but not for always. / say, let's go for
some gooseberries. Mr.. Brown said
we might. I'm thirsty"
They soon found the kitchen garden.
The gooseberry and currant bushes
were we'll covered with fruit. After
feasting for few minutes, Bob made
another discovery. ''Look at those
cherries! Let's get some.'
He was about to pluck some, when
there was crash of broken glass. A
cucumber frame which stood close
the wall of the house was broken into
At this moment the farmer came
round the corner with his visitors.
"Hullo, who's done this?" he demand
ed as the boys approached.
81 didn't" said Bob. Il was Tar
enough away
"And didn't" repeated Arthur.
Balls can travel a good distance"
said the farmer, grimly, as he stopped
down and took one out OF the frame.
I'm afraid one of the young gentle
men isn't telling the truth.
Hold hard, farmer" said Mr.. Bruce
sharply. That's no proof. There is
more than one ball In the world.
perhaps the young gentlemen can
show theirs" said Mr.. Brown, shortly.
II saw them playing with one as they
came up the road
Both boys felt in their pockets FOR
the ball they had been using, but, to
their establishment and uneasiness, no
ball was Forthcoming
where said Bob, nervously.
Mr.. Bruce spoke slowly. II don't
understand it, Mr.. Brown. see your
side of the question and quite admit
that most people would give the boys
credit for having done it; therefore
will give half toward the repairs. But
you understand it is gift - I'm snot
paying. When my boy says he hasn't
done thing, he hasn't done it. l can
trust his word"
Mr.. Barker looked at Bob, who wos
shifting from one foot to the other,
and said briefly, II will pay the other
half"
1t was not cheerful walk home, and
at the Bankers gate they parted. Bob
followed his father into the sitting
room.
Father he broke out, as soon as
the door was shut, 'it was too bad for
you! l said I hadn't done 1t. Why
did you pay Farmer Brown
Mr.. Barker looked sadly at his son.
Bob he said, 81 would willingly
have given three times the amount to
have been able to say as Mr.. Bruce
did, I can trust my boys word; but,
unfortunately. couldn't
Bob flushed scarlet. But at this
moment there was the sound OF wheels
and Farmer Brown was seen descend
ing from his trap.
Il have come to beg your pardon,
sir. The young gentlemen were tell
ing the truth, after all. My little
youngsters nursery is Just above the
cucumber frame, and my wife tells
me he had ball while the nurse
maids back was turned, and dropped
it out of the window I found your
boys ball in the stable soon after
ward. l saw you didn't believe his
word, so thought had better come at
once for fear he got into trouble
"Are you going to Mr.. Bruce's?' in
CURED Mr.. Barker.
well, no, sir. The fact Is, I'm very
busy, and he seemed so very cocksure
of mis- son that thought it wouldn't
matter. Perhaps you will explain
when you see him, and return his
share Of this
He placed the money on the table
as he spoke, and hastily retired.
l,oyyo ,ici,1 Won NV how -