The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-08-02
CHAPTER x.
A Party and--My Fourth Peril2

cody and mad set out In our spring
buggy with the family umbrella-a
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.
1T was still raining when we arrived
at the familiar door in Ashery lane.
Uncle Peabody wouldn't stop.
He hurried away. We pioneers rare
ly stopped or even turned out for the
weather.
"Come in," said the voice Of the
schoolmaster at the door. 'There's
good weather under this roof"
He saw my plight as entered.
TIN like shaggy dog that's been
In swimming" / said.
upon my word, boy, we're in luck"
remarked the schoolmaster.
. L looked up at him.
Michael Henry's clothes !-sure,
they're just the thing for you"
l followed him upstairs, wondering
how it had happened that Michael
Henry had clothes.
He took me into his room and
brought some handsome, soft clothes
aut of a press with shirt, socks and
boots to match.
There. my laddie buck" said he,
put them on" ,...
''These will soon dry on me-" said.
"Put them on-ye laggardl Michael
Henry told me to give them to you.
ITS the birthday night O. little Ruth,
any 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"
L put them on and with a 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 ]
saw that they went well with my
blond hair and light skin. was put
stng on my collar and necktie when
A1F. Racket returned. AZ
We went below and the tabH
very grand with its great frp' &c WIS mas
g 49,
and is CANDIES, III Silly -Drass SUCKS
and its iellies 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. ye, with
Michael Henry" said the schoolmas-
Ter. '"rhe little lady will be impatient.
III go and get her and God help US to
make her remember the day"
He was gone moment, only, when
ne 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 eheered and, in the excitement of
the moment, John tipped over his
drinking glass and shattered it on
JtIle 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
20 my room before / 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" ......
81 guess mine are dry now,s I an
Rwered.
They're vet end 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 cave o
bats If We care not for your OWL
comfort think o. the poor lad in the
green chair. He's that proud ant
pleased to sec them on ye it would be
q shame to reject his offer. Sure, Il
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 biz
stain, black as ink. on my coat and
trousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed the
opinion that 1t might have come from
the umbrella, but / am quite sure tina
he had spotted them to save me from
the hast homemade suit ever wore
save In rough work, and keep Michae
Henry's on my back. In any event
wore them no more save at chore time
Sally came and went, with the Will
boy, and gave no heed to me. In he
eyes / had no more substance thai
q ghost, 1t seemed to me, although
caught her. often, looking at me.
sudged that her father had given be
bad report of rs and had some re
.gTets, In spite of my knowledge tina
we were right, although they relates
mostly to Amos.
Next afternoon saw Mr.. Wrigh
and the president walking back an
forth on the bridge as they talke'
together. A number of men stood Il