THE BROCKWAY BOYS. 95 



the hay, old and young boys, sometimes a dozen or more. 

 Uncle Erastus did not object to their sleeping there, but 

 did forbid card playing; whether he objected to cards at all 

 times or only to the lights necessary to their use among 

 his hay we did not know. One day, after a little talk lead- 

 ing that way as we sat in the house, he said: "I suppose 

 the boys have a game of cards once in a while in the 

 barn?" this in an inquiring sort of way. 



"They couldn't play cards in the dark/' I answered; 

 "they'd have to have lights for that. There ! What was- 

 that big bird that passed the window?" and I ran out to 

 see. 



The next day mother said: "Fred, did you find out 

 what kind of a bird it was passed the window when your 

 uncle asked you about playing cards in the barn?" 



"No, ma'am; it was gone " 



"Yes, it was probably gone before you saw it; but I'm 

 glad that you did not tell on the boys nor lie to your 

 uncle. Do they play cards there nights?" 



"Yes'm, but William said not to tell uncle, and Jim 

 threatened to lick me if I did, and I hope he won't ask me 

 any more. I'll lie to him if he does." 



"No, you mustn't lie to any one, and I am glad you told 

 the truth to me. I knew they played cards and had can- 

 dles there, for I saw the light through a crack that their 

 blankets did not cover, as I walked out last evening." 



Oliver had heard this and said afterward: "Golly! but 

 you got out of that scrape nicely; if you had told your 

 mother the boys didn't play cards in the barn she'd 'a' had 

 you, sure." 



"Well, Oliver, I was in a corner, but I never tell 

 mother a thing that is not so, nor father either, and I try 

 to be truthful all the time, but it's hard work sometimes. 

 There was no other way to dodge your father than to see 



