Year: 1875

The Aldine.



SPRING.


A CHICAGO sCHOOLBoY's COMPOSITION.
SPRING is here! No one will doubt this
| who has been on the street frequently
| during the last few weeks, and seen per-
sons of all ages and sizes come down on
the sidewalk as though they were forci-
bly, demonstrating the laws of gravita-
tion, but the next instant would come
up as though they were composed OF
some patent, complicated, duplex, double
elliptic spring.


have seen large boys show unusual
activity when some careless little urchin
threw a SNOWFALL at the sun (son) and it
accidentally (?) hit the aforementioned
boy. The way he would spring after the
offender would make one think that an
idea had struck him in the head


have heard of another boy who was
so sleepy that he couldn't hear his father
call him to get up in the morning, al
though he had called three different
times; but when he heard his ia her
coming up the front stairs he would
spring out of bed, spring into his pants
and 90 down the back stairs three steps
at spring, and would be at work black
ing his boots as fast as he could spring
when his father came down saying, 81
thought you were not up yet"
al nd Of
sen of the year. 1 well remember
knowing old sheep which my Uncle
John owned on his farm. If ever | ven
tured into the barnyard he would look
at me with due respect, then walk around
to convenient starting place, and with
an unlooked-for spring would help me
make the quickest motion / ever made
in my lie. Sometimes | found myself
fiat ON the ground, while at other times
it would seem as though the fence had
struck me in the face. After awhile his
proceedings became rather monOtonous,
and thought would have a change in
the performances. So one day, while
standing in the yard, l saw the sly old
CTGdluTe tdhe QtllDtidtc dliIi, anu WhCH
he came l lodged just enough to spring
upon his back; and | tell you the way
he carried me around that yard l think
he never forgot, for after that occurrence
he never offered to help me on in my
progress through the world. He evil
IDENTIFY had dislike for "dead- heads"
and would never run the risk of giving
me another free ride.


Well, isn't it strange how many
thoughts will spring into ones mind
when once they get started. never
think of that sheep without being re-
minded of another animal which was in
the same yard. After l had given up all
hopes OF improving my health by daily
ride on that cushion of wool | turned my
attention to Uncle Johns favorite colt. l
first introduced myself to him by holding
out an ear of corn for him to nibble;
then patting him on the head and back.
In a short time he learned to look for
me, and would often whinny when he
saw me coming.


Gradually the idea expressed by Mrs.
Partington" took possession of my mind,
that "to have friends and not use them
was waste capital" Daily became more
convinced that ought to have a ride on
that colt So, one morning, while at the
breakfast-table | asked uncle if l could
ride Just little way on Dick, for that
was the colts name.


He looked at me in surprise, then
smiled and said:


Johnny, there has never been man
on that colt yet. You see, want his
back to grow straight, not be saddle
backed, as some horses are which you
see, which are used too young"


Icould say nothing for moment, then,
for the first time, was glad that was
not as large as man.


"Uncle, do you think 1 am heavy
enough to hurt him." said l.


"No, but do not think it would be
very safe for you to get on his back, for l
tell you he has some No. l. springs in
those hind legs of his"


Springs in colts legs! This was a
new idea to me. had heard of spring
beds, spring chairs ana springs in various
places, but never in colts leg. I no.
ticed one of the hired men looking at me
with comical stare, as though he won
dered if l were green enough to believe
everything that was told me. l said
nothing more, but after breakfast went
out to the yard, and was looking at the
| colt when uncle came out.


"Well, Johnny, do you see the
springss"


think looked as though l had been
the object of a joke, but commenced
conversation at once by saying:
| What is the work for to-day?"


"Think we will finish binding those
oats. What shall l give you to carry
bundless"


Had he said this almost any other day
I should have gladly accepted the invi
tation, though think / should have pre-
ferred riding on the reaper rather thar
any other work, for, like most boys,
always did have dislike to walking
Somehow it seemed as though l did moi
feel quite as well as usual, hardly able tt
hire out for the day, but I only said;


"What time would you like to have
me begin to carry bundles9"


ooh! ten o'clock will do"
4 "All right. I'll be out by that time,
said I.


i In few moments the teams and mel
had gone to work in the field. But tina


colt. I could think of nothing else, ant


the more thought about it the easiel
it seemed just to 60 into the barn and &c
i halter. I knew could put the halte