The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-09-04
TREASURE SEEKING.
IN MARY c. KENDERDINE

Philip Evans was boy who wasn't strong,
and although not really lazy, he didn't like TO
exert himself.
And his mother felt so sorry for him that she
petted him. and when he would say, 'Muzzy, 1
feel tired" she would tell him he needn't 90
any of the errands or help her with the work.
While Phillip was very pale and exceedingly
slender. he had a great appetite; in fact, ms
father often told him that he ate Just as much
food AS if he were stout, strappng boy.
One day in July Phillips great-uncle came to
nav them a short visit; the boy had been named
for this uncle, and 'twould be hard to imagine
how sorry the old gentleman felt when ne saw
his namesake for the first time
MY! but you're in delicate health, my boy
he cried you ought TO come home with me to
my small mountain farm and breathe the IN
vigorating air, and help me do some OF the work
in my fields and vegetable gardens!
Look at me, Phillip" he cried. See how
strong and well look, and ! am 20 years old!
There's hardly day from the LIST OF April untll
THANKSGIVING that I'm not working outdoors
most of the time If you will go with me, /
will give you a plot Of ground for your own
where YOU can dig, and hoe, and rake, ana see
If YOU can find treasure which is said to be
hidden there-that's what lot OF the country
folks tell me- They say many years ago pan
dit buried his treasure in certain held Whlch
belongs to me. ! have never found 1t yet
ooh. uncle I'd never be able to dig the heavy
earth; I'm so terribly weak" cried Philip.
"You could try to learn how TO dig, couldn't
YOU, nephew asked his uncle with cheefiui
smile IF | were you I'd really rather do
anything than to be feeling as miserable as you
tell me you are most of the time
What sort Of man will you make, thinking
constantly of your delicate health Phillip felt
ashamed of his frail body for the first time;
when he looked at his uncle's healthy, tanned
face and large, strong arms, which the Old gem
tleman showed him. proudly rolling up ms shlrt
sleeves. and he said 'Muzzie, what do you
thing of me spending year with Uncle Phlllip
He saws there good school a short walk from
his home I'd like TO get strong and well I'm
sure Unkie wouldn't allow me to work too hald.
His mother said she thought he might grow
as strong as his two older brothers If he lved
i'm the mountain air for year, and II he wanted
to go he might do so.
In few days Phillip and his uncle started Tor
The mountain farm. and after a five hours Jour
ney they arrived there safe and sound.
After good nights rest and a nourishing
breakfast cooked by his Uncle Phillips married
daughter uncle and nephew started working IN
one of the vegetable gardens. For the two ilrst
weeks Phillips duties were very light, Tor ne
was only able to work an hour at time. Then
he began to feel stronger and he found ne
could work most of the mornings, and he asked
his uncle if he might dig in his own plot OF
ground several hours every afternoon and see
if he could find the treasure.
yes, indeed said his uncle all smiles; IF
YOU think YOU are strong enough TO Dig see
what you can do; | don't care how deep you
DIG or how high bank you make of the piled
up earth / have given you the plot of ground
for your own.
So the next day Phillip started digging every
afternoon, and after he'd been digging for
about two weeks he dug up an Anticipated iron
box. fastened with an od-fashoned heavy pad
lock.
Ny. wasn't he an excited boy when he rushed
into the farmhouse kitchen, carrying the heavy
box with considerable ease.
See what found deep in the ground, Auntie.
Where is my Uncle Phillip he cried with
flushed cheeks.
Gracious boy, but you're growing strong to
carry that heavy box all the way from the field;
your uncle is away on an errand. but can help
YOU break the lock with the Ratchet, his aunt
said.
When the box was opened all Phillip could
see was a piece of parchment. "A paper tell
ing where the treasure is really buried. per-
haps, Auntie" he whispered.
Then he unfolded the parchment and saw IN
printed letters. Phillip, you have found the
greatest treasure In your plot of ground YOU
could possibly find. and that IA good health and
untiring energy see you keep your treasure
Phillip felt sure hls uncle had buried the noN
for him with the good advice Ia "a, and hl NE
end OF the year he had gained 10 much IN llesll
and nood sturdy locke, the neirhhofa dldnt
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