The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-05
sBEN HolpeN pRI AND pAaRfL Or TIE BLESSED Ets4
EE1Plao W Win LIZZIE ETC ETC

'There. my laddie buck" said he
put them on"
'These viii soon dry on me-" said
Put them on--ye laggardi Michae
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
Les 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 Q great
sense OF relief and comfort. Thsy
were an admirable nt-to0 perfect fox
an accident. although ut the time
thought only Of their grandeur -
stood surveying myself In the looking
glass. They were of blue cloth ana
saw that they went well with my
blond hair and light skin. was put
ting on my collar and neckte wnen
Mr.. Racket returned.
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted cake
and its candles, In shiny brass sticks,
and its jeIlies and preserves with the
CLEAN 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. We, with
Michael Henry" said the schoolmas-
ter. 1.-The little lady will be impatient.
I'll go and get her and God help us TO
Y make her remember the day."
He was gone a 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 his
drinking glass and shattered 1t on
the floor.
"Never mind. my brave lad-no glass
ever persisted In better cause. God
bless your
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
been hung by the kitchen stove, were
damp and wrinkled. Mr.. Hacket came
to my room before l had risen.
Michael Henry would rather see
his clothes hanging on a good boy
than on a nail In the closet" said he.
"Sure they give no comfort to the
nail at ALL"
II guess mine are dry now" i an
swered.
They're wet and heavy, boy. No
son o. Baldur could keep light heart
In them. Sure ye'd be as much out
o. place as a sunbeam in a cave o.
bats. If We 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 We 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.
We in these toys, and then the presi-
dent is In town."
That evening he discovered a big
stain. black as ink, on my coat and
trousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed the
opinion that Ii might have come from
the umbrella, but / am quite sure that
be had spotted them to save me from
the last homemade suit 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 no more substance than
q ghost, II seemed to me, although
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.
Next afternoon I saw Mr.. Wright
and the president walking back and
forth on the bridge as they talked
together. A number of men stood In
front of the blacksmith shop. by the
river shore, watching them, as /
passed, on my way to the mill on an
errand. The two statesmen were In
broadcloth and white linen and beaver
hats. They stopped as approached
them.
''Well. partner, we shall be leaving
In an hour or So" said Mr.. Wright as
he gave me his hand. you may look
for me here soon after the close Of the
session. Take care of yourself and go
often to see Mrs. Wright and obey
your captain and remember me to your
aunt and uncle"
J "See that you keep coming, my good
boy" said the president as he gave me
his hand. with playful reference, no
doubt, to Mr.. wright's remark that ]
was coming man.
Bart, I've some wheat to be
fhrashed In the barn on the back lot
said the senator as was leaving
them. "You can do It Saturdays, II
you care to, Mt shilling an hour.
Stack fhe straw out OF doors until