Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-03
OUR BOYS 5
and GIRLS :
ReASURE BOX

bHte lncie was an ola garden, away
down South, with i hedge - hoXW 90,
bushes all around 1t; Win a sundiai in
the center and with rows OF holly
hooks along The walk.
Down at the end Of the walk was al
old cedar tree. quite large around, bat
not so very high. Long ago it used ia
Ire Cul back every year TO make il
more pointed 1t the top aud broader
at the bottom. so that the branches
grew close to the ground. But an that
wa, safe before he hartlc Attcr tho
barrie soldiers came to The old house
in front OF the gard . and AFTER that
things changed more and more. The
roses sim came every year, honey
suckIe and ivy twisted around the
sundial and olambcrcd up the trees.
but the old cedar stood alone, grow.
ins broader and thicker ana turnn
golden green in the sprina. Only
one OF the lower branches has been
broken, no one knew how, and that
left little bare space on the ground.
Every summer an owl would sleep
In This tree by day and talk and
laugh to herself by night.
A low seat near was the lHorttc
resting plac" Of q mother nd hen h61
IL years old. His name vas LaneeIot.
hut he was called Lance, A. little
sisters name WAS Caroline. She h2d
been named after her great great
Il h,.~ tho a. a,t,s Il
mother after great state. IhcIf lit
tie brother had a nice name, 100. bat
he had not worn out the name OF Baby
Yet. For. altho he was learning 10
walk, he still Crowcd when he laughed.
one AFTERNOON Lance and his moth
or did not lay loag b., TIC cedar tree.
They left color d girl by tie nar e
of Hester INN 10 watch the younf +
children. and an old co,ocl wola n
called Nanny 70 watch llcstcr Ann.
Thea Lancclot went With his moth
or 10 The house 10 meet his father.
Who had just come home. They SAT
down in the old-Fashioned pa.lor, and
they were all three very sad.
Long ago, after the soldiers had icft
the house, Il strong box full OF money
had been missed, and they were now
in great need Of what was lost,
Thy we're talking about this in TIE
parlor, and out in tho garden Nanny
vas thinking about it. She sat looking
far away with now and then tear
rolling down her black cheek. Caro-
line had been dressing and tndrC ssing
her doll for some time; but now, see
ing Lancelots tool chest open and
alone, she sooE was pounding hard
on The ground with the hammer. No
one noticed her but the baby. He had
been trying TO walk alone. Now he
wanted the hammer and started to-
ward it. Teaching Caroline, he
screamed, "Aie. Me- But Caroline
would not stop pounding until Hester
Ann took the hammer away by force.
Now. Miss Car'line," said Nanny.
"yo' go back to 20 baby cor like a
lady"
Caroline thought she might as we'll
Hester Ann went back 10 the bench,
sat down and put the HAMMER behind
her. Caroline went back TO her doll,
but the baby still wanted the hammer.
He foand his way to Hester Ann, who
had by this time fOTgOttcn>all about it.
He drew himself up to the bench.
holding fast to her woody Lair by one
hand while he pulled out the hammer
with the other. She hardly moved
except to Hiss his pink PAIN al lie
passed it over her lips trying to KEEP
his balance.
When the hammer was well in his
hand he fell down with it ard crept
off to the cedar tree. Thru The or :
open space he crawled, lifted the
hammer and brought it down with all
nade. Cling, clans! The baby crow
ed. Up rose Nanny, Hcstec nm ana
Caroline. They ran to see what he
was hammering. 1t was part of the
cover OF a metal box mostly covered
by the earth. Hester Ann ran scream
ing TO tile house and came back with
I.ancelOt. his father and mother. They
found the box to be full of golden
coin. Lancelot saw that his mother
could not speak, sltho Nanny held |
both her hands, saying. Miss Helen,
honey, my chile"
Long after the box had been taken
to the house, Nanny, Hester Ann
and the baby We're still out by the |
cedar tree. In the thickest part of !
the tree an owl was smoothing her |
feathers and trying to get over the |
start they had given her as they all |
pressed under the tree. The baby |
was very busy. They had taken away
his discovery, but little cared the
king of the hammer, for no one stop |
ped him as be pounded away with it. !
Nanny was looking at the golden .
light of The sunset on the cedar and !
talking to Uegter Ann -------.-