Evening star., 1915-01-03

@Blue would be nice on it. said.
@Therell be blue, all right said Ben, get
ting down from the wagon with the big box
which seemed to be heavy. "Give me lift
with this layout, Kid" he said, and l,
flushed with the honor of assisting in this
glorious work, caught one handle and
helped him carry it to the barn, where we
laid it down.
He opened it, and such things as l saw
within! Cans of all colors of paint, with
long-handled brushes, all arranged in order.
"Now, Kid said Ben, "how'd you like to
help me with what I'm goin' to do?'
l shivered with the JOY of it. He took
can of black paint from the box, with
brush that had evidently been used for
that color, and started up the ladder.
"Now, he said, when | call for any color,
you grab the can of that, and the brush that's
been used with it, and bring it up to me"
"Oh, then there'I be other colors besides
black?' l said. l had been afraid, despite
his assurance that there would be some blue
on the roof, that he had changed his mind.
"You bet there will!' he said. He went
UP the ladder, and | waited
STANDING off from the barn little way,
~ | could see him clambering over the
shingles, making wide sweeps and curves with
there. Suddenly he called, "Pink!'
hurried to the box and selected the pink
can, with the brush corresponding, which 1
took up the ladder to him. He was waiting
at the caves, his rubber-soled shoes keeping
him from slipping, and as he took the pink
can he gave me the black, and went down
again. Now as he resumed his work could
see some results; but they were vague,-a
large, irregularly shaped spot of pink, with
black edges. The next time he called for
white, then red, and finally saw what ne
was doing. He was painting big face at
one side of the roof, the face of smiling,
noticed on the wagon. Why, this was more
than had expected Here was no common,
ordinary roof, all one, monotonous color
no, sir! Ours was going to have pictures on
it, l didn't know exactly who the old lady
was, but that made no difference.
"Golly!' l said to Charley once, when
had run away from the barn far enough to
see what Ben was painting, and climbed on
the wagon wheel. "Golly! but that's
scrumptious, amt it?'
"Ben amt finished yet said Charley.
@The best is yet to come
"What's he goin to paint on the other
side?' l asked.
Before Charley could reply there came
running from behind the barn one of the
three men who had been painting it.
"Say," he said excitedly to Charley,
there's feller back there asleep in the
cornfeld."
Charley looked at me- @Have you been
stringin' us about your father not bein at
home?' he asked.
NO. said L; @that's only old Josh, our
hired man.
4Wen," said Charley, 3leave him sleep.
A couple O. you guys keep an eye on him."
Just then Ben called loudly for a big pot
of blue with the two wide brushes. hast
ened to get them for him. When l returned
to the wagon Charley was eagerly engaged
in conversation with two of the painters.
There's plenty of time, Charley said
one. dts only five o'clock. We could easy
give it one coat anyhow, and Sam could
finish the barn roof and leave Ben tackle the
top O the house while we're doin' the SIDES"
@But he's decent little kid, said Char
ley, 4His folks mightn't like it, and take it
out of him.
ooh, don't you be afraid of that, Mister!7
l interrupted Father and Mother both
want the house painted like everything, and
know they'd like it. Oh, please!'
3Come on, said one painter to the other.