The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-12-20
VII.
A Sunday Walk.


Really If Prince had been a vain
dog his ego would certainly have be-
come unduly developed because Of this
incident. The Corners, as a commu-
uity, voted him an acquisition, whereas
heretofore he had been looked upon as
q good deal Of q nuisance.
After she recovered from her fright
Miss Minnie walked home with Caro-
Ign May and allowed Princes delight
Cd little mistress to encourage the
~haro" to "shake hands with teacher"
Nov. you see, he's acquainted with
you, Miss Minnie" said Carolyn May.
Hes an awful nice dog. You didn't
know Just how nice he was before"
Almost everybody went to church
and all the children to Sunday school,
which was held first.
The Rev. Alton briggs, though seri-
ous-minded, was q loving man. He
was fond Of children and he and his
childless wife gave much of their at
tention to the Sunday school. Mrs.
briggs taught Carolyn Mays class Of
little girls. Mrs. briggs did her very
best. too, to get the children to stay
to the preaching service, but Carolyn
May had to confess that the pastors
discourses were usually hard to under
stand.
"And he is always reading about the
Begats.'" she complained gently to
Uncle Joe as they went home together
on this particular Sunday, "and l
can't keep interested when he does
that. ! s'pose the 'Begats' were very
nice people, but I'm sure they weren't
related to us-they've all got such
funny names"
"Hum!" calculated Uncle Joe,
s%mothering a desire to laugh. "Flow
gently, sweet Alton, does select his
passages Of Scripture mostly from the
valleys Of dry bones,' / allow. You've
got 1t about right there, Carolyn May"
"Uncle joe" said the little girl, TAX
Ing her courage in both hands, twill
you do something for me?" Then, as
he. stared down at her from under his
bushy brows, she added II don't mean
that you aren't always doing some
thing for me-letting me sleep here at
your house and eat with you and all
that. But something special"
"What is the something specialT"
asked Mr.. Stagg cautiously.
Something l want you to do to-
day. You always go Off to your store
after dinner and when you come home
It's too dark"
sT ~ dork for what20
"For us to take a walk" said the
little girl very earnestly. "Oh, Uncle
Joe, you don't know how dreadful I
miss taking Sunday walks with my
papai OF course we took 'em in the
morning, For he had to 60 to work
IN the paper In the afternoon, but we
lid inst about 60 everywhere. If you
would 60 with me-" the little girl
added wistfully, "just this afternoon,
seems to me I wouldn't feel $3.50
empty"
"Humphl" said Uncle Joe, clearing
his throat If it's going to do you
any particular good, Carlyn May, I
suppose I can take a walk with you"
1t was a crisp day-one Of those au-
tumn days when the tang Of frost re-
mains In the air, In spite Of all the
efforts Of the sun to warm 1t.
Hero and there they stopped to pick
mp the glossy brown chestnuts that
had burst from their burrs. That is,
Carolyn May and her uncle did. Prince.
after q single attempt to nose n Of
the prickly burrs, left them strictly
alone.
you might Just as well try to eat
Aunty Roses strawberry needle cush-
Ion. Princey." the little girl said
wisely. you'll have q sorer nose than
Amos Bartlett had when he tried to
Ole 1t down with q wood rasp."
"Humw calculated MI. Stagg,
whatever possessed that Bartlett
child to do such q fool trickT"
"Why, You know his nose is awfully
BIG" said Carolyn May. "And his
mother u always worried about II. She
must have worried Amos. too, for one
lay last week he went over to Mr..
Parlow's chop. borrowed a wood rasp
and tried 10 ale his 8 down to q
proper sise. And now he has to 60
with his % all creased and shiny
~ the y skin grows back ON It."