On Our Selection

olf was at

squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings-a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cu

rop to boil th' punkins," and renewed the fly-catching. Dad tried to spit, and was going to say something when Mother, half-way between the house and the

e the day before he had ridden fifteen miles on a poor horse, bare-back. When near the fire Dad stopped running to break a green bush. He hit upon a tough

It was hellish hot! Whenever there was a lull in the wind we worked. Like a wind-mill Dad's bough moved-and how he rushed for another when

then stood and watched the fence go. After supper we went out again and saw it still burning. Joe asked Dad i

o start when Mother asked them what was to be done about flour? She said she had shaken the bag to get enough t

Dan felt the edge on

Dwyer let you have a dis

can't ask her until we s

in. "The Anderson

there was it sending to them when they, on

nt," Dad answered, "and I'll go to the sto

, "all of a muck of sweat," dragged them into line. Dad worked like a horse himself, and expected us to do the same. "Never mind staring about you," h

dashed fence. Then he argued with Dad, and declared that it would be far better to put a wire-fence up at once, and be done with it, instead of wasting time over a thing tha

ot any sense, boy? What earthly use woul

ed off and we

ed out the tea while Dad, at the head, served the pumpkin and divided what cold meat there

d temper; anyway, he swore at Joe for coming to the table with dirty hands. Joe cried and said that he could n't wash them when Dav

if he was n't going to have some BREAD? Whereupon Dad jumped up in a tearing

Dan answered an

ointing to the door, "leave

nt tha

us have another bag of flour on credit. And what a change that bag of flour wrought! How cheerful the place

me and ten acres of wheat put in; but there had been n

leave me just when I wanted help-after all the years I've slaved to feed him and clothe him, see what thanks

he wheat did n't come up, an

. "I would give it you willingly," Dad would say, "if I had it, M

erson was very sorry he had n't got it just then, but promised to let him have it as soon as he could sell his chaff. When Mother heard Ander

roasted a slice of bread on the fire till it was like a black coal, then poured the boi

fell sick. Dad did all he could-waited on her, and talked hopefully of the fortune which would come to us some day; but once, when talking to Dave, he broke down, and

-Dan came home with a pocket full of money and swag full of greasy clothes. How Dad shook him by the hand and welcomed him back! And how Dan talked of "tallies",

rs ago, and Dad is