Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-24
became extinct The dog days had

became extinct. The dog days had
set In.
One August afternoon was 80 hot
that even boys sought indoor shade. In
the dimness Of the vacant carriage
house of the stable lounged Masters
Penrod schoAeld, Samuel Williams,
Maurice Levy, George Bassett and
Herman. They sat still and talked.
It Is a hot day, In rare truth. when
boys devote themselves principally to
conversation. and this day was that
hot.
Their elders should beware such days.
Peril hOvers near when the ferceness
Of weather forces inaction and boys
In groups are quiet. The more closely
volcanoes, western rivers. nitroglycerin
and boys are pent, the deadlier Is their
action ut the point Of outbreak. Thus,
parents and guardians should look for
outrages Of the most singular violence
and Of the most peculiar nature during
the confining weather Of February and
August
The thing which befell upon this
broillng afternoon began to brew and
stew peacefully enough. All was In
nocence and languor; no one could have
foretold the eruption.
They were upon their great theme:
"When l get to be man!' Being hu-
man, though boys, they considered
their present estate too commonplace
to be dwelt upon. So, when the old
men gather, they say: "When I was
boy" 1t really Is the land of now
adays that We never discover.
when I'm a man." said Sam VIII
liams, "Im goln' to hire me a couple
of colored walters to swing me in a
hammock and keep pourin' ice water
on me all day out O. those waterin'
cans they sprinkle flowers from. I'll
hire you for one Of 'em, Herman"
"No; you ain goin' to-" said Herman
promptly. "You ain no fowuh. But
new min nat, anyway. Ain nobody
goin' hiah me whens I'm man. Coin
be my own boss. I'm 60 be railroad
man!'
"YOu mean like superintendent, or
sumpthing like that, and sell ticketsT'
asked Penrod.
"Sup'in-nv' min nat! Sell ticket?
No sub! Co be po'tuh! My uncle
a po'tuh right now. Solid gole buttons
oh, oh"
Generals get lot more buttons
than porters." said Penrod. Gen
erals
"Po'tuhs make the bes' livin'," Her
man interrupted. MY uncle spen' mo
money n any white man mis- town"
"Well, 1 rather be general" said
Penrod, "or a senator. or sumpthinl
like that"
Senators live in washington" Mau
rice Levy contributed the information
II been there. Washington amt sc
much. Niag'ra falls Is a hundred
times as good Us washington. Sos
'Tlantic City. I was there too. been
everywhere there Is. r.
"Well, anyway" said Sam Williams
raising his voice in order to obtain the
floor, anyway, I'm goin' to lay in q
hammock all day and have Ice watel
sprinkled on top O. me. and I'm goin
to lay there all night too, and the
next day. I'm goin' to lay there cou
! ~ - EyhoO
II bet you don'tw exclaimed Mau
rice. "What'd you do in winterT
"WhatY'
what you goin' to do when It's win
ter, out In q hammock with wate
sprinkled on top O you all day? be
YOU
"Td stay right there" Sam declared
with strong conviction, blinking as n
looked out through the open doors
the dazzling lawn and trees. TREMBLING
In the heat "They couldn't sprinkle
too much for mel"
"Itd make icicles all over you
and'-
II wish 1t would" said Sam. "I'd ca
'em up"
"And it'd snow on YOU
"Yay! I'd swaller 1t as fast as it't
come down. wish l had barrel @
snow right now. l wish this who'll
barn was full Of 1t. l wish the.
wasn't anything in the whole worl'
except just good ole snow"
Penrod and Herman rose and wen
out to the hydrant, where they dranl
long and ardently. Sam was still talk
ing about snow when they returned.
mo, wouldn't just roll in 1t. II
stick 1t all round inside my clo'es ant
fill my hat. No. Id freeze big pill
of 1t all hard. and I'd roll her out fla
and then I'd carry her down to som
ole tailor's and have him make me
suit out Of her. and
Cant you keep still about your oil
SNOWY demanded Penrod petulantly
makes me so thirsty can't keep still
and I've drunk so much now l bet
bust That ole hydrant waters might
near hot, anyway"
am goin' to have big store when
grow up." volunteered Maurice.
Candy store?" asked Penrod.
"No, sir. I'll have candy in it. bu
not to eat, 50 much. It's goin' to be
department store-ladies' clothes, gen
tlemens clothes, neckties, china goods
leather goods, nice lines In wooling
and lace goods
"Yay! l wouldn't give five for
cent marble for your whole store sal
Sam. "Would you, Penrod"
Not for ten Of 'em, not for millio
Of 'em. I'm goin' to have"-
"Waitw clamored Maurice. you
be foolish, because they'd be toy dc
pertinent In my store where they'd b
a hundred marbles. So how muc
would you think your five for q cen
marble counts for? And when II
keepin' my store I'm goin' to get mai
ried."
"Yayg shrieked Sam derisivelJ
Married! LstenW Penrod and Hel
man Joined in the howl Of contempt
"Certunly I'll get married." asserte
Maurice stoutly. "I'll get married t
Marjorie Jones. She likes me awfr
good, and I'm her beau"
"What makes you think sop inquil
ed Penrod in cryptic voice.
l. 40, ~,