THE COUNTRY BOY 37 



the barn where the big Bahii of Gilead tree 

 stood, that had been my mother's riding whip 

 once when she rode on Old John, she broke off 

 a branch for me to smell of the sweet fragrant 

 leaves, on the way to Silverton. Grandfather 

 and I ate the pie, we were afraid it would get 

 shaken up and dusty. When we got to town 

 and saw all the folks we made them all sad by 

 telling them of Old John. 



We all went down to the store, and it seemed 

 fine to stand behind the counter and play clerk, 

 but as evening came on and Grandfather went 

 home, it didn't seem so good. I didn't see any 

 boys; everything was strange, but our own 

 folks ; but it was great to know we were there 

 and we hved there, and to see the farmers' boys 

 come in, and know you were one of the town 

 boys. It seemed like a year to the next week ; 

 when I saw Grandfather in town I ran to him 

 and he said, "Your grandma said I should 

 bring you home with me, she w^anted you to 

 hunt the eggs for her." I told him to ask 

 Father. So when he got ready to go in the 

 evening, he drove around in the buckboard 

 while I held the horse. I saw them talking 

 in the back part of the store, and heard them 



