Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-03
The Light IN
the Clearing
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Merrill Co.

| / lay planning my behavior I'm fhn
woods. 1t was to be helpful and me-
lite and generally designed to show
that | could be a man among mon
| lay \ long time whispering over
details. There was to be no CRYING
even II l did get hurt a little enca
in a while. Men never CRY. OnIv
babies cried. l could hear Mr.
Wright talk about Bucktags and
kunkers below stairs and I could
hear the peppers down in the
marsh.
Peppers and men who talked poll
tics were alike TO me those davs
They were beyond my understand
ing and generally put me to sleep
especially the peppers. In my child
hood the peppers were the bells ~
dreamland calling me TO rest The
sweet sound no sooner caught nv
ear than my thoughts began To
steal away on tiptOe and in a mo-
ment the house of my brain was ST.
lent and deserted, and thereafter
for a time, only fairy feet came into
it. So even those happy thoughts
of a joyous holiday soon left me and
| slept.
was awakened by a cool, gentle
hand on my brow. l opened nv
eyes and saw the homely and be-
loved face of Uncle Peabody smiI-
ing down at me. What q face Il
was! 1t welcomed me, always. al
the gates Of the morning and saw
It in the glow Of the candle at night
&C 7 ~ al
voyage into dream-land. Do you
wonder that I stop a moment and
wipe my glasses when I think OF It?
Hello, Bart!" said he. Its TO-
morrer."
sat up. The delicious odor Of
frying ham was in the air. The
glow of the morning sunlight was
on the meadows.
Come on, oil friend! By mighty!
We're goin' to" said Uncle Pea
body.
Happy thoughts same rushing in
to my brain again. What tumult!
| leaped out OF bed.
I'll be ready in a minute, IN
Gle Peabody" l said as. yaWning, I
drew on my trousers.
Don't tear yer socks" he eau
toned as I lost patience with their
unsympathetic behavior.
He helped me with my boots
which were rather tight, and I few
down stairs with my coat half on
and ran for the wash-basin just out
side the kitchen door.
Hello, Bart! If the fish don't
4l,a1v h.
O themselves, said Mr.. Wright,
who stood in the doorway in an old
suit of clothes which belonged TO
Uncle Peabody.
The sun had Just risen over the
distant tree-tops and the dew in
the meadow grass gl0wed like a
net of silver and the air was chilly,
The chores were done. Aunt Deel
appeared in the open door as was
wiping my face and hands and said
in her genial, company voice:
breakfast is ready"
Aunt Deel never shortened her
words when company was there.
Her respect was always properly
divided between her guests and tie
English language.
no" utl1ClOuS were the Uhus
smoked in our own barrels, and the
eggs, fried in it's fat and the baked
potatoes and milk gravy and the
buckwneat cakes and maple syrup,
and how we ate of them! Two big
pack baskets stood by the window
filled with provisions and blankets,
and the black bottom of Uncle Pea
bOdy's spider was on top of one Of
them, with its handle reaching
down into the depths of the basket.
The musket and the powder horn
had been taken down from the wall
and the former leaned on the win
dow-sill.
IF we see a deer we ain't goiH'
to let him bite US" said Uncle Pea
body.
Aunt Deel kept nudging me IN
der the table and giving me sharp
looks to remind me Of my manners,
for now 1t seemed as If a time hal
come when eating was a necessary
evil to be got through with as soon
as possible. Uncle Peabody tapped
his cup lightly with his teaspoon, a
familiar signal of his by which ne
indicated that l was to put on the
brakes.
Continued tomorrow