The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-07-12
CHAPTER x.
A Party and--My Fourth PerilY

CaTeIulty uTleu, dILer uSluS, anu uuIS
I'm 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.
I'm like shaggy dog that's been
In swimming" I said.
upon my word, boy, we're in luck"
remarked the schoolmaster.
looked up at him.
michael Henrys clothes l-sure,
they're just the thing for your
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
put of a press with shirt, socks and
boots to match.
There, my laddie buck" said he,
put them on"
'9These will soon dry on me-" l said.
s'Put them on-ye laggardi Michael
Henry told me to give them to you.
Its 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"
put them on and with great
sense of relief and comfort. They
were an admirable fit-too perfect for
an accidents although at the time
thought only of their grandeur as l
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
ting on my collar and necktie when
MIR. Racket returned.
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted cake
and it's candles, in shiny brass sticks
and It's jellies 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
mg room.
''Now sit down here, all O. We, 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 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 it on
the floor.
'Never mind, my brave lad--no glass
ever persisted In a better cause. God
bless you'll"
We ate ana 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 had risen.
Michael Henry would rather sec
his clothes hanging on 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,v an
awered.
They're vet end heavy, boy. NJ
son O. Baldur could keep a light hear
In them. Sure ye'd be as much Ou
O. place as a sunbeam in a cave o
bats. If We care not for your owl
comfort think o. the poor lad in thu
green chair. He's that proud ant
pleased to sec them on ye 1t would b.
q shame to reject his offer. Sure, 1
they were dry yer own garment
would be good enough, God knows
but Michael Henry loves the look @
We In these logs, and then the presi
dent Is in town.
That evening he discovered BIZ
stain, black rs Ink, on my coat am
trousers. Mr.. Racket expressed tn
spinion that 1t might have come iron
the umbrella, but am quite sure tina
he had spotted them to save me from
the last 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 VIII
boy, and gave no heed to me. In he
eyes I had no more substance thai
a ghost, it seemed to me, although
caught her. often, looking at me.
judged that her father had given be
bad report of us and had some re
grets, in SPITE of my knowledge tina
we were right, although they related
mostly to Amos
Next afternoon I saw Mr.. Wrigh
and the president walking back ant
forth on the bridge as they talked
together. a number of men stood Ii
front of the blacksmith shop, by the
river shore, watching them. as
ipassed. On my way to the mill on an