News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-04-07


and the nature lover. like sam Powell
prizes II almost as much rs spring
Sam gave his comrades theii first les
son in woodcrnft how 10 see things
, He pointed ont 10 them the flashing
colors of red and brown and green and
gold For the first time they really
saw the Sumacs flaming on the hill or
the red birds and jay birds making
req and blue streakS as they flew
swiftly through the woods He show.
ed them how to sit very still and see
the wild things that would come out
and begin their work and play all
around
4 The hours passed swiftly. and before
the boys realized it noon was long
past. BEING hungry and tired. they
turned back toward the creek and the
POOL where the melons were floating in
the sparkling water. In short time
they were there. and, carrying melons
to a grassy place in the shade of some
trees, they cut them in halves and eX-
posed the juicy red hearts. In u jiffy
each boy had big dripping slice and
was eating it between grunts of salts
faction.
They lay in the shade and talked
long time after they had disposed of
the watermelons. One or two slept,
and Sam and the others amused them
selves by throwing rocks at the trunk
! of tree. Suddenly some one said:
Lets go swimming I'm going to be
| first in!' Then the race began. Every
boy was up in a second, peeling off his
clothes faster than he had ever done
before in his life.
Three We're so close together that it
was hard to tell which was first. They
gave whoop and. running to the
bank, sprang into the air. They came
down head first, for the water was
deep. and there was no danger of
striking anything, Chug. chug, chug.
they went, one after the other. The
water was as warm as on an August
day. and the boys had fine sport They
Owed after pebbles. had contests of
swimming under water. floating. tread
ing or swimming on their backs.
Somehow that afternoon seemed too
short to the boys. They had been
swimming long time when Joe Wat
son spoke up suddenly:
MY, but look how low the suns
getting! We've got to be hiking, boys!"
well" said Fred Martin as they
were dressing on the grassy bank.
''weve had our last melon for this
year."
And our last swim, too" added An
drew White
Eyes, that's So" said Bob Pagan.
but they were both daisies for last
ones"
mo need to grieve. boys" Sam ex-
planned. "You forget that Wen soon
have snow and Christmas"
That's the truth" they exclaimed |
in chorus. They'll be here before we
know it,
This new subject afforded converse
ton for the boys till they came to the
place Of parting.
Sam himself as he walked slowly
homeward kept thinking Of Christmas.
The Christmas feeling was getting in
his blood. and that's delightful feel
ing to have.
The young farmer on arriving home
Immediately set about doing the even
ing chores. He felt vigorous and fresh
and happy. Nothing seemed lacking
Nevertheless when he had finished the
chores and gone indoors he found
letter that added to his feelings of
pleasure. The letter was from Mr..
Burns. the agricultural agent, request
ing him to be present the following
at meeting of the Boys
Corn club. when the prizes for the
state and county would be awarded.
The following Saturday morning Sam
Powell was up early and away to town
to be present at the meeting of the
corn club. He didn't feel sure that he
would win prize. He thought that
he might win one of the smaller coun-
ty prizes. but. as Cor the first ones of
fered for the county and the state, of
course he didn't have any chance to
win.
If he could just win the gold watch
offered by the governor or the trip to
or the $25 in gold or the
Jersey COW he'd be satisfied. But, any
way, he said to himself. if be didn't ,
win single prize this year he would ]
next.