Boys' Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2026, 4 February 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Boys' Column.

Sick o t It,

" Ralph,” said Mr. Clark, in a gentle rone <if voice, “ did I understand you to sny that you had brought that package from tile of Ken ? ”

“ Acs, sir,” said the boy, clinging with one hand to Hover’s collar, which ho was trying to fasten, while with the other he drew a package from his pocket. “ Ah I ” said Mr. Clark, “ what have wc here! ”

Ralph turned quickly and saw in his father’s hand a book ho had not intended to submit to his approval. “The Horse Thief of the Pines; or, Rod-Headed Jim,” read Mr. Clark. "Is this finely illustrated book yours, Ralph V “Yes, sir,” stammered the boy; “J bought it this afternoon.” “ I think I will road it,” said the father, examining critically a coarse wood-cut representing four masked men carrying the apparently lifeless body of another. “Mary,” said he, glancing significantly at his wife, “ suppose wc have this road aloud evenings.” “ Certainly,” was the reply. “I have heard of these books ; they are said to be intensely interesting.” “ Y ery well,” said Mr. Clark. “ Ralph shall read it to us. Y'ou shall chouse your own audience, my buy ; shall it include Bertie and Ethel ? ”

“Oh, no ! ’’replied Ralph ; “ they would not en joy it.” “Taste not cultivated, you think. Wc will listen to it in the evening then.” It was not unusual for Ralph to read to his parents ; so the situation was not in itself embarrassing. After the children retired the story was begun. .Both father and mother listened attentively without comment, but Ralph and his book wore treated with respect. The second evening passed like the first. Mrs. Clark, noticing weariness in the boy’s voice, ottered to relieve him. Talcing the book she gravely said : “ The girl's arrival was announced by a piercing shriek. She rushed at the man in the awfullest way, saying ‘ Btop, you beast 1 ’ In another instant she had seized the groat mallet and struck him a blow upon the head. Wo could hear his skull crack. It was awful.’ ’ ”

This language seemed so unsuited to liis mother's gentle voice that .Ralph was glad when his father, who evidently shared the boy’s feeling, oil'ered to continue the reading. “dim knew not which to admire most —the glorious eyes, coral lips, golden hair, and buxom form of this enchanting fairy, orthodark, apirituolle,statuesque, marblelike maiden by her side. He was, in fact, deeply in love with both.” read Mr. Clark, in an earnest, diguilied tone, which seemed to poor Ralph to make the story unnecessarily absurd. The third evening Ralph wished to join his school-mates in a skating-party, betas both parents seemed desirous to listen to the reading, the story was continued. Soon his father rose to greet some one, and looking up, Ralph saw Mr. Rice, his pastor, entering the room. To his surprise, for he knew nothing of the significant pressure of the hand which the minister received, his father said: “Mr. Rice, if you will excuse us just one moment, please. Ralph is reading, and you will find us in the must thrilling pari' of the story, .lust linish that,paragraph, will you, Ralph ;” And Ralph, colouring with embarrassment, read “ She heard another terrific crash, and six men wearing the blackest black masks, decorated with the well-known skull and cross-bones, entered the room silently, one by o.ie. She fell fainting to the lloor.”

“ Very vivid, I '' remarked the pastor “ W hat is that book ! ”

Audit dph repeated : “TheHorse-Thief of the Pines ; or 1 ted-Headed Jim.” The next evening, as Mrs. Clark was making arrangements fur the reading, Pal pi i suddenly laid down the book, and said ;

“ Father, I dout want to read any more of this. 1 know what you and mother moan.”