Read Ebook: The new buggy by Leslie Madeline

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Ebook has 392 lines and 14355 words, and 8 pages

"I'll tell your mother what a good boy you've been," said the girl running out for an armful. "Now I'll have supper ready in a jiffy."

When the bell rang, Dexter came in; and they all sat down together. Finding Jimmy in an obliging mood the man said:

"I wish you'd get up the cows from the pasture. I've got a job in the garden I want to finish before I milk."

"Well, I will," answered Jimmy; "and I'll get in the chickens too."

"He's awful good-natured," thought Ellen as she saw him trudge off whistling, with a stick in his hand. "I hope he isn't going to die, or any such thing; but it looks dangerous to have a boy so terribly good all at once."

Jimmy was usually what would be called a good boy; that is, he obeyed his father and mother, and was obliging, and good tempered; but when his parents were away, he generally claimed the right to employ himself as he chose, feeling rather "big" as Ellen laughingly expressed it.

If he had come home from school with nothing on his conscience he would probably have rushed into the kitchen, exclaiming:

"I want my supper right away. I'm going to fly my kite; and I can't wait."

If Ellen was busy or did not wish to attend to him at the minute, he would run to the pantry, get a handful of doughnuts, or a slice of gingerbread, and be off to his play.

Jimmy did not hurry in his walk. He had made up his mind not to play. He did not feel exactly like it. He had a question to settle in his own mind; and he was glad to be alone. As he walked slowly on toward the pasture, he asked himself:

"Did I tell Ellen a lie? I didn't say I was at school."

"She understood you to say so," answered conscience. "She did not remember the words; but she supposed Ralph's call was a foolish joke; and that the teacher knew nothing about it."

"If she is stupid I am not to blame," said Jimmy stopping short and gazing in the dirt. "I don't believe 'twas a lie 'cause I didn't say I'd been to school; but I wish Ralph had minded his own business and not come here."

He had to pass by Gip's house; and the dog hearing his step rushed out again. Jimmy usually welcomed him with a hearty, "Well, old fellow," patting his head as the affectionate creature jumped on him or licked his hand; but now he felt as though Gip knew he had done wrong. Gip had seen him steal like a thief over the wall, and had tried to make him go back, and enter the yard like an honest boy. He was glad Gip could not tell what he knew.

At first he thought he wouldn't notice the dog, at all; but the faithful creature seemed so delighted to see him again that he couldn't help it; and so he invited Gip to go with him for the cows.

DANIEL AND HIS FATHER--A TROUBLED CONSCIENCE.

IN the meantime what has become of Daniel?

When he reached home he found his father at work on a patch of ground behind the house and his older brother cleaning fish in the stoop.

"Where have you been, you young scamp?" inquired Mr. Crawson, sternly gazing at his son.

"To school, sir," was the prompt reply.

"Where were you at recess? I was going by, and stopped to speak to you; but you were not in the playground."

"Oh!" murmured Daniel in some confusion, "I didn't know my lesson, and I had to stay in. Teacher kept me an hour after school to get it and recite it."

"I should like to know what you go to school for; but to get your lessons? If I hear of such conduct again I'll take you away mighty quick. I'm not going to slave myself going of errands to have you lounging away your time over your books. Now go right into the house and change your clothes, and help Amos about those fish. Every one of 'em has got to be cleaned, and salted down in the tubs before supper. Don't be gone a minute if you know what is good for yourself," shouted his father, as he saw an ugly pout on the boy's face.

"I'll be just as long as I please," muttered Daniel between his teeth, "and I wont clean many fish you'd better believe."

But though. Daniel was angry that he had been questioned, and that he had been set to the business which he specially disliked, though he muttered over and over that he would not be ordered about by anybody; yet he knew too well what would happen if he did not obey. He therefore kicked off his shoes, threw his school pants across the room, and dressed himself for work without any unnecessary delay.

Amos Crawson was fifteen years old; and Daniel, eleven. They did not agree very well either at their work or play.

"There's your part," said Amos pointing to a large pile separate from the other.

"I wont do all those," growled Dan, casting a glance over the fence toward his father.

Amos only laughed.

"My knife is awful dull; I shall never get done with this old thing."

"Sharpen his knife, Amos," said Mr. Crawson sternly; "the steel is on the window sill."

The first, fish was only half cleaned when Daniel screamed and held up his finger where there was a slight cut.

"I can't do any more, it smarts so," he said in a sulky tone.

"Very well, mine will be done presently," said Amos beginning to whistle.

"Mother, I want a rag. I've cut my finger," shouted Dan at the foot of the stairs.

"Get one then. You know where they are," said his mother.

Tearing off a piece of cloth from a bundle in the drawer, the boy presently made his appearance on the stoop holding his cut finger with his well hand.

"You think you've got off finely; but I guess you're mistaken," said Amos, jerking his brother's elbow with a disagreeable laugh.

"I shan't touch one of them fish with my sore finger."

"What'll you bet?" queried Amos, glancing in his brother's face with a sneer.

"Boys you'd better be at work than to spend your time jabbering," said Mr. Crawson sternly.

"Where were you going with Jimmy Dodge?" whispered Amos with another laugh. "Down to the pond to get your lessons on the boat, hey?"

Daniel started to his feet, his face growing very red, and caught the knife in a hurry. Notwithstanding his cut, he threw one fish after another into the basket behind him, while Amos laughed, and shook his sides.

"That's something like," exclaimed his father, leaning his hoe against the fence and coming to the stoop. "Amos bring me the salt. Dan, you're a smart chap, if you only set about a thing in earnest. Now we'll have 'em out of the way in ten minutes."

"Hold on there, wife?" as he heard the supper bell. "I can't leave this 'ere job."

Mrs. Crawson had a good supper of fried fish and fried potatoes ready for them, of which the family partook with a relish, talking and laughing meanwhile. Daniel did not talk nor laugh. He was wondering why Amos had not told his father what he had seen, and what the old man, as he called his father, would do to him, if he knew that he had played truant again; been out in the boat and lied about it.

"What's the matter?" whispered Amos punching his brother under the table.

"Nothing," muttered Dan. "You just let me alone."

"You needn't be so cross. Water don't agree with you, does it?"

"Don't!" plead Daniel. "I'll give yer my jack knife if yer'll keep quiet."

Amos laughed and nodded as a token that he accepted the bargain, and presently they rose from the table.

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