Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-02-22

bank, they looked kind OF blue, and
Dimp Perkins said it was skin game
and l was bunco steerer."
"What did you say to that" Donald
inquired.
"Oh, / just said 1t was all for re-
Lgion, it was church money, and II
was all right. was just gleann'
what few cents they had, to pay the
church debt to the missionary; and
they ought to be ashamed to have a
church debt hangin' over 'em, and
they'd oughter be more cheerful bout
givin' a little somethin' toward raisin'
of it."
When Mickey had finished there
was an ominous silence for moment
or two, and then. his mother said
sternly:
"What do you suppose Mrs. Perkins
will say when she finds that you've
tricked her son into regular gamb-
ling scheme, to get his money away
from him?"
Mrs. Perkins," retorted Mickey,
thoroughly aroused by the soft i'm.
preachment. Il should worry! At the
church fair, before Mr., Maxwell came
she ran a fancy table, and tried to
sell a baby blanket to an old bachelor;
but he wouldn't take it. Then when
he wasn't lookin', blessed If she didn't
turn around and tie the four corners
| together with bit of ribbon, and sell
1t to him for handkerchief case. She
got two dollars for it, and 1t wasn't
worth seventy five cents. She was az
proud as dog with two tails, and
went around tellin' everybody
Silence reigned, ominous and gen.
eral, and Mickey braced himself for
the storm. Even Mrs. Maxwell didn't
look at him, and that was pretty bad.
He began to get hot all over, and the
matter was fast assuming new as
pect in his own mind which made him
ashamed of himself. His spirits sank
lower and lower. Finally his mother
remarked quietly:
mickey, thought you were going
to be a gentleman"
"Thats straight, all right, what I've
told you," he murniured abashed.
There was another silent pause
pleStutl. Dy 4NlShCS.
81 guess l hadn't thought about 1t,
just that way. l guess I'll give the
kids their money back,' he volunteer
ed spondently-"only I'll have to
make it up, some way in the treas
ury." He felt in his pockets, and jim
gled the coins.
Another pause-with only the tick.
;,,u Of bic Uniting noodles
to relieve the oppressive silence. Sud
denly the worried pucker disappeared
| from his brow, and his face frightened
| like a sun burst.
'1ve got it, Mrs. Maxwell" he cried.
1--WE got seventy five cents comm to
me down at the Variety Store, for
birch bark frames, and I'll give that
for the blamed old missionaries.
| That's square, amt it now?"
Mrs. Betty's commendation and her
smile were salve to the wounds Of her
| young guest, and Donald's hearty
laughter soon dispelled the sense of
social failure which was beginning to
cloud Nickey's happy spirit.
Say Mickey" said Maxwell, throw
ing down his paper, Mrs. Betty and
want to start Boy Scout Corps In
the parish, and with your resourcefu.
genius you could get the boys togeth-
er, and explain it to them, and soon
we should have the whole thing In
ship-shape order. Will you do it?"
| "Will II" exclaimed the delighted
recruit. II guess so-but some Of em
aint 'Piscopals, Mr.. Maxwell; there's
Sam Cooley, he's a Methodist, and"
"That doesn't cut any ice, Mickey.
excuse my slang ladies'" he apollo.
gized to his wife and Hepsey, at which
.he boy grinned with delight We're
out to welcome all comers. I've got
| the books that we shall need upstairs.
| Let's go up to my den and talk it all
! over. We shall have to spend eve.
nings getting thoroughly up in it our
selves,-rules and knots and first aid
and the rest. Mrs. Burke will allow
parental anxiety as to the bodily vel.
fare Of the recruits and the pacific
object of the organization, and Mrs.
Maxwell will make the colors. Come
on!'
With sparkling eyes, Mickey follow.
ed Donald out of the room; as they
disappeared Hepsey slowly shook her
head in grateful depreciation at Betty.
"Bless him." calculated Hepsey.
"MiXin' up religion with little whole.
some fun, is the only way you can
serve it to boys like Mickey, and get
results. Boys that are ever gon' to
amount to anything are too full of life