12
THE COURIER.
IN THE SPRING.
The morning Bun Bilvered the long
grass in broad meadows and glimmered
on the large fields of dark earth and of
fr eh young grain.
Tommy Williams rolled his hare toes
in thodust of the path which ran along
the hedge, and Hung his books from ono
shoulder to the other. ITe gazed across
tho meadows at the left to the lino of
hanging woods in tho valley beyond and
the long row of bushy willows which
marks tho course or the creek. Across
tho valley, high against the horizon,
the huge masses of tho hills rose blue
and hazv in the morning air. In front,
tho big woods wee, dark green, cool and
thick. Tommy whistled loud as ho hur
ried along, stopping now and then to
pick a grass flower; to pull up somo
sheep sorrel which he chewed with
greatdelight;ortowatch tho building
of a new ant hill. He was suddenly
aroused by the clang of the school bell
and started on a run for the little
building set on tho edge of the woods.
As he entered the low door ho gave a
wistful look toward tho fro3h, moss
carpeted wood, and down at the shim
mer of water tbrcugh tho willows on tho
creek's bank.
"Thomas Williams, late," tho teacher
said in a loud voice, and added, frown
ing, "This makes live late marks,
Thomas. I shall be compelled to give
you some severe punishment if you are
not on time after this." And he set tho
long whip a little straighter in its cor
ner. Tommy glanced fearfully at him and
pulled at a loose button on his brown
coat nervously. Then, he slipped into
his seat.
Tho lessons began and the monoto
nous hum of the children's voices with
the everlasting buzz of a blue-bottle fly
near the raised window, made every
thing dulL and sleepy. Tommy leaned
both elbows on his geography and began
with a long list oi questions. "What is
the capital of Vermont?" he read slowly
to himself. "What is the Capital of
Vermont? What is capital of Ver
mont? Vermont." Tommy's head ted
ded low over the open book and the
letters jumbled themselves together in
a black blurr. Ned Jones, across the
aisle, watched the sleepy head fall lower
and lower, and, leaning over, quietly
pricked Tommj's bare leg with a bent
pin. Tommy sat up very straight and
looked quickly and round-eyed at Ned
who was intently bent jn his own geog
raphy. Tommy gazed at him a moment and
then bent over and administered a vic
ious punch in Ned's side with his smail
fist recovering himself just in time tj es
cape the teacher's vigilant glance which
swept over his row at that moment.
Tommy leaned back an.d setting his
geography up in front of him, gaxed
thoughtfully out of the window. On
the little slope which led down to the
spring, a wild rose-bush was in full
bloom and near to it, under the shade of
a crooked tree, a wild morning-glory
climbed and spread itself above, covering
the green grass with its white bell
flowers. Down tho valley Tommy
could hear faintly the mellow sound of
two or three cow bells, and he knew that
the cows were going to the creek for
water. He sighed deeply and then be
gan to watch an oriole which had perched
itself on a limb of a tree outside and had
begun to sing. He thought eagerly
that he knew where the nest was and
that he had not seen it for a day. fie
cast a longing glance at the woods and
then at the nearness of the low window
sill beside him. Up ic the corner, by
the teacher's desk, the long whip leaned
Btraight against the wall. Tommy
looked hastily away. His geography
slipped from his desk and fell on his
bare feet. He bent over for it and
cast a quick look at the teacher's broad
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There was a soft footfall and a
little scratch of finger nails and Tommy
had left school for that day He ran
softly down to tho spring and throwing
himself upon his stomach, drank somo
of tho clear, cold water. Then ho
pushed his torn, straw hat down on his
head and walked away into the shady
trees.
Well into tho woods, by the busy,
rustling little brook, was a tall pmc tree.
A wild grape vine had twined and twist
ed itself arounc tho trunk and entang
led every bough. Then, in its further
growth, it had caught tho branches of
neighboring trees and fastened it6elf
firmly there. Into this seemingly imperi
ous mass of foliage Tommy clambered
and was soon in his nest. Some of tho
pine branches had decayed and the
vine had lined tho little chamber left
by their death, with its own Eoft green
leaves. Tommy leaned back comforta
bly and half closed his eyes. A squirrel
chattered busily in the branches of a
neighboring tree and spying the intrud
er, paused silent for a moment, and
scurried noisily away. The two orioles
his next neighbors, eyed him askance at
first and then settled down busily to
their nest building, stopping now and
then to break the stillness with a song.
Down below tho brook splashed cheer
ily along. A very light little brejze
moved the leaves above and occasionally
a little sunbeam found its way into the
nook. Tommy took out his penknife
and began lazily to make a whistle. Far
away a single cow-bell rang and now
and then the distint sound of the "Gee!
Haw!" of some plowman could be faintly
heard.
n.nniET Cookk
BY THE WAY, HOW ABOUT THAT
SUMMER TRIP?
Which way are you going this year?
Wo want a word with jou on the sub
ject. You know its our business to help
you out in plans for a railroad or steam
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Remember that this year we are more
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finely appointed and designed for the
convenience and- comfort of Elkhrrn
Northwestern lino passengers, and then
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City Ticket Agent, 117 So. Tenth St.
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