Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
CHAPTER x.
A Party and--My Fourth PeriI7

body and had set out in our spring buggy with the family umbrellas faded but sacred implement, always carefully dried, after using, and hung In the clothes press. We were drenched to the skin in spite of the umbrella. It was still raining when we arrived at the familiar door in fishery lane. Uncle Peabody wouldn't stop. He hurried away. We pioneers rare ly stopped or even turned out for the weather. sr ... "Come in," said the voice of the schoolmaster at the door. There's good weather under this roof" He saw my plight as I entered.
 "Im like a shaggy dog that's been tn swimming" I said.
 "Upon my word, boy, we're in luck" remarked the schoolmaster.
 looked up at him @
 Michael Henry's clothes i-sure. they're just the thing for youp
 followed him upstairs. wondering how 1t had happened that Michael Henry had clothes.
 He took me into his room, and  out of a press with shirt, socks and boots to match.
 "There. my laddie buck" said he. "put them on."
 'Tbese will soon dry on me-" I said.
 "Put them on-ye laggardl Michael Henry told me to give them to you. It's the birthday night O little Ruth. my boy. There's big cake with can dies and chicken pie and jellied cook ies and all the like O that. Put them on. A wet boy at the feast would dampen the whole proceedings"
 I put them on and with great sense of relief and comfort. They were an admirable fit--too perfect for an accident, although at the time thought only of their grandeur as stood surveying myself in the looking glass. They were of blue cloth and l saw that they went we'll with my blond hair and light skin. l was put ting on my collar and necktie when MT. Racket returned. We went below and the table was very grand with Its great frosted cake and Its candles, in shiny brass sticks. and It's jellies and preserves with the gleam of polished pewter among them. Mrs. Racket and all the children, save Ruth, were waiting for us in the din- ing room.
 "Now sit down here, all O ye, with Michael Henry" said the schoolmas- ter. "The little lady will be impatient. I'll go and get her and God help us to make her remember the day"
 He was gone q moment, only, when he came back with Ruth in lovely white dress and slippers and gay with ribbons, and the silver beads of Mary on her neck. We clapped our hands and cheered and, in the excitement of the moment, John tipped over bis drinking glass and shattered 1t on the floor.
 "Never mind, my brave lad-no glass ever perished lip better cause. God bless youp -'
 We ate and tested and talked, and the sound of our laughter drowned the cry of the wind in the chimney and the drumming of the rain upon the windows.
 Next morning my clothes, which had damp and wrinkled. Mir. Racket came to my room before had risen.
 Michael Henry would rather see his clothes hanging on a good boy than on a nail In the closet" snid he. "sure they give no comfort to the nail at all"
 "I guess mine are dry now," an- swered.
 'sThey're wet and heavy, boy. No son O Baldur could keep a light heart In them. Sure ye'd be as much out O place as a sunbeam in a cave O bats. If ye care not for your own comfort think O the poor lad in the green chair. He's that proud and pleased to see them on ye 1t would be a shame to reject his offer. Sure, if they were dry yer own garments would be good enough, God knows, but Michael Henry loves the look O ye In these togs, and then the presi- dent is in town"
 That evening he discovered big stain, black as ink, on my coat and trousers. Mir. Racket expressed the opinion that 1t might have come from the umbrella, but I am quite sure thnt he had spotted them to save me from the last homemade suit I ever wore, save in rough work, and keep Michael Henry's on my back. In any event I wore them no more save at chore time.
 Sally came and went, with the Wills boy, and gave no heed to me. In her eyes l had DO more substance than ghost, 1t seemed to me, although I caught her, often, looking at me. judged that her father had given her bad report of us and had some re- grets, in spite of my knowledge that we were right, although they related mostly to Amos