Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-10-05

always ready With their mugs LOT
drink of the nice war Al liquid.
One morning grandpa told 'Lijah
to harness Tom, as he must go to
the village.
do yom spose he'll take u.s."
asked Earnest i'm a whisper as he
stood with Elsie watching grandpa
packing eggs in basket.
Maybe he won't think of 1T,
whispered back the little girl, "and
mama said we mustn't tease, but
l do hope The will"
''Ten Dozen" said grandpa, look
ing up. 81 shall have to take them
10 my customers, and III / only had
some one to hold the horse Tor
me it would save me a sight of
trouble
20 grandpa, let us go; please do.
l could hold Tom,'' cried Earnest.
"Why, SO you can" said grandpa.
"Get your hats and jump i'n."
1t was such fun to ride ON the
blackboard" behind such strong,
handsome horse. When they got
near the village grandpa let EARN
est drive, which delighted the little
! boy exceedingly.
Stop here" said grandpa, when
they came to a pretty cottage. Il
must leave some eggs here. l may
not be back for little while, for
the doctor usually talks quite a
spell, but Tom will staEd if you
leave the reifs loose
They waited little while but
grandpa did not come back.
81 don't believe glrandpa'll care if
just drive around the square, 6
said Earnest. Tom is so steady it
won't do amy harm for me to drive
him around a little
! He might run away" said Elsie,
land grandpa said to leave the rei'ns
loose. I'm sure mama wouldn't like
you to do it, But Earnest had al
ready flicked the lines and the
| horse walked slowly off.
'.How The pokes along, " said Earn
estsI believe IN touch him up 6
> little with the whip, so he viii
trot going past the hotel.''
. "Oh, DON'T" cried Elsie; grand
pa never strikes him.
!, BUT the warning came too late. A
the touch OF the whip the hors
made a spring and bounded away.
Past the hotel; past the church
then down the river road he ran
The children chung to the seat to,
terrified to scream.
Earnest was the first to speak
Hold tight, Elsie.'' he said May b
some one'll catch him..
Then they both gave a scream Q
tarror for as they came out of TN
> woods the mill pond and dam la
before them and they were heade
toward it. The children clnnag t
each other, too frightened to speak
But Tom did net run into TIL
millpond, but with a sweeping curry
:, he tur ed into another road witt
out Stacking his speed.
Suddenly the horse stopped an
the children We're surprised to fir
themselves at grandpa's door.
Grandma hurried out, with he
cap strings flying to see what We
the matter.
When grandma took them Into l..
motherly arms they sobbed out the
STORY to he
D :. TWAS all my fault, grandma
said Earnest. Il just wanted
~ show Elsie that l could drive
we'll as grandpa, but I thought v
: should both be killed and l couldn
ever tell him how sorry l was TIL
q | didn't milnd.
Grandma soothed them and kis
ed the little tear stained faces, al
told 1ijaih ito drive the horse bat
for grandpa.
I'm afraid grandpall think L
Earnest through his tears. "A1
maybe he'll send ME home"
Maybe he'll laugh and shake Il
same as 'Lijah did," said Elsie
e Il most know he WON'T" Earae
said sadly.
At that moment they drove u
Earenst hurried out to confess
soon as grandpa should get out
the wagon.
by q wish ia nil ded you, grandpa
he stammered. Il didn't know he
run I'm sonny and l won't ever
SO again.
!" Well, we'll, you ran away a.
left me to walk home, eh? I'm
No ieh Il