The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-03-25
CHAPTER v.

WOODS on the EdgewO0d sid
~ of the river just for q change
Patty suggested her sister
THE water Is 81 high this year tina
the river will he splendid We cal
gather our flowers In the hill pasture
and then you'll be quite near Mrs
BOynton's and can carry the nospgay
there while | come home ahead Of vol
and get supper III take today eggs
- fathers store un the way and ask
lin II he minds our having httls
walk. I've an errand at Aunt AbLys
that would take ME down to the bridge
anyway"
Every WE'LL" said Patty somewhat
alphabetically. Il always like walk
with you, but | don't care what be-
comes Of me this afternoon il can't
go to Ellen's party"
The excursion took place according
to Waitstlrs plan, and at 4 O'Clock
she sped back to her night work and
preparations for supper, leaving Patty
with a great bunch of early wild flow.
ers for Ivory's mother. Patty had left
them at the Boyntons' door with Rod
man, who was picking up chips and
volunteered to take the nosegay into
the house at once.
won't you step inside?" the boz
asked shyly, wishing to be polite. but
conscious that visitors from the village
very seldom crossed the threshold
I'D like TO, but | can't this after
noon, thank you. | must run all the
way down the hill now or shant be
In time to supper"
DO you eat meals together over to
your house," asked the boy.
"We're all three at the table. IL that
means together"
I'VE never are Ivory goes off early
and takes lunch in a pail. So do |
when / go to school. Aunt Boynton
never sits down to eat. She Just stands
at the window and takes a bite of
something now and then. You haven't
got any mother, have your
mo. Rodman"
Neither have I, nor any father. nor
any relations but Aunt Boynton and
Ivory. Ivory is very good to me, and
when he's at home I'm never lone
some"
Il wish you could come over and
eat with sister and me-" said Patty
gently. Perhaps sometime. when my
father is away buying goods and we
are left alone, you could join us in the
woods, and we would have a picnic?
We would bring enough for you-all
sorts of good things-hard boiled eggs.
doughnuts. apple turnovers and bread
spread with Jelly"
I'D like il finei" exclaimed Rodman.
his big dark eyes sparkling with an
ticipation. II don't have many boys
tn play with. and ] never went to
picnic. Aunt Boynton watches for
uncle most all the time. She doesn't
know he has been away for years and
years. When she doesn't watch she
prays. Sometimes she wants me to
pray with her, but praying don't come
easy to me-"
Neither does ii TO me-" said Patty.
I'm good at marbles and checkers
and backgammon and jack straws,
though"
$50 am l." said Patty. laughing; $50
We should be good friends. I'll try to
get chance to see you soon again, but
perhaps ! can't; I'm a good deal tied
1t home"
"Your father doesn't like you to 60
lnywheres, l guess" interposed Rod
nan. 'l've heard Ivory tell Aunt
Boynton things, but wouldn't repeat
hem. Ivory's trained me years and
Fears not TO tell anything, so don't"
''That's a good boy" approved Pat
". Then as she regarded him more
closely, she continued, 'l'm sorry
you're lonesome, Rodman, I'd like TO
see you look brighter"
"YOu think I've been crying" the boy
said shrewdly. $50 l have, but not
because I've been punished. The rea-
son my eyes are so swollen up is be-
cause killed our old toad by mistake
this morning. | was trying TO see IL ]