Year: 1877

Boys will be boys, yon know" is a
time-worn apology for all manner of


boyish rOguery. That the-same apology


was necessary as long ago as boys ex
isted at all we have no doubt.


Our story dates back more than fifty
years, and the boys We're Familiarity
known as Rune and Ras, short for Arun-
ah and Erastus


in upon their game of fox and geese.
with which they were Willing away one
long November evening, by the light of
the big fire place, came their father,
bearing three Pairs of new boots, one
. for each of them and one for himself


OF course the geese were suddenly
left to the tender mercies of the fox
while the boots we're tried on.


"Wal, now, boys said the father,
finally, when the boots had all been pro-
nounced good fits, Il guess we've got
some good boots. They cost the solid
silver, too, so want you to be careful
on EN-. Don't go to wear;n' on EN- all
out slidin' and tearin' round. There's
no sense in your wearin' out your boots
faster at play than 1 do at work, as you
always have. Tell you what, you can't
either of you have your boots tapped till
L do mine; now that's fair. for we all
start together"


Rune and Ras did't grumble, for
that was not allowed, but they probably
had their own thoughts about the mat
ter.


Winter came on, the district school
began, the boys of course attended it,
and, just as much, a matter of course,
INDUCED in unlimited sliding ON all
available snow and ice. Boy-like, they
we're never still when there was any fun
to be had by stirring, while their father
never stirred when he could as well
keep still, and so it came TO pass, before
winter was half out, that their boots were
worn very thin as to the sole, while his
we're almost as good as new.


One cold Sunday the rest of the FAM
lily all went to church, leaving the boys
ut home.


IL say, Rune" said Ras, taking up
one of his fathers boots from the corner
where he had left it, "this don't look
much like getting our boots tapped right
away, does it?''


That's what it don't" replied Rune,
taking the other boot and looking it over
thoughtfully.


Wish something would happen to
make dads boots wear out faster"


Something's going to happen" said
Rune briskly, as if new idea had stung
him. "You swing over the tea kettle,
Ras, and fill it up, and we'll fix the
boots"


The big iron tea kettle went on to the
trammel and was soon boiling merrily.
Then the boys took it along with the
boots out to the open she'd where the
grindstOne was kept, and for a while
business was brisk as Ras turned the
crank, and Rune held on the boots. Nor
did they cease operations till the soles
were ground down 10 dangerous thin
ness; then Rune slipped them on in
place Of his own, and clumped around
doing the barn chores in them, to cover
the marks of the grinding, while Ras
threw in some lose snow about the
grindstone, and drove the sheep over
the place to do away with all traces ofthe
water.


Two or three days after Mr. " sat
warming his feet by the fireplace.


Why, father" exclaimed Rune
how thin your boot soles are getting"


"Sho, now, they ant, are they?"
taking one up to inspect it. wal.
never, 50 they are"


Mine are worn down about as thin
as wafer" said Ras, coming forward at
this juncture.


And mine are getting thin, too" said
Rune, bending down to look at his with
all the interest of new discovery. Il
don't believe old Smith put very good
stock into en-"


Beats all how leather rots out these
days; no wear to it," said Mr. w wi h
sigh I'VE shall have 10 get 'em tapped
right away"


So the next day Smith had to tap three
pairs Of boots.


And now / suppose you are all wide
awake to know if these boys fulfilled the
promise Of their sharp youth and be
came great lawyers, perhaps Wall street
brokers or Congressmen. wish could
tell you that they lived to be ashamed of
heir boyish tricks, and perhaps they
lid, but who can tell2 For they grew
Up incurabiy rough and wild, ran away
rom home and to this day their fate i
unknown.


But notice one certain thing in this
Uncertain world of ours. If man turns
,ut really smart and all righLthe friends
# his early days are apt to know it,how-
.yer far away from them he may be.
md therefore conclude that If Rune
nd Ras had ever achieved honorable
distinction, or done anything so smart
D the line of goodness as grinding their
athers boots was in the Line ofmischief,
heir friends would have found II out
efore this.-Wide A,cdke for September.


= ~ ETR AUE