Butler University - Carillon / Drift Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Ferry said, in the tone of one who had reached the extreme of endurance: Did you ever? ' ' hat can his mother be thinking of? And as for that Doctor, I beheve he ' s gone crazy ! What in the v(Drld ails that horse? said Mrs. Simpson, Dolly had grown old over night. Her head had drooped almost to her fetlocks, and she stumbled along awkwardly. George was gayer than ever ; for how did he know that, after the proud way of women, she had let him break her heart ? By an intricate arrangement of rope, a toy express cart, such as small boys drag about by the handle, was hitched on behind Dolly. It contained several rocks upon which sat the boldest of George ' s ragged followers. What a shame ! said Mrs. Simpson. Not far away they met the Doctor. As was visual he stopped to take a reassuring pinch of George ' s biceps, which by this time had grown to the size of a cherry, to look at his tongue, and to tickle him in the ribs. The Italian boy slid from the pile of rocks and faded into the color of the road- side. Are you sure Dolly likes that ? the Doctor asked. Whj ' , she understands we are just playing! George clambered down, nevertheless, and lifted up her head, looked searchingly in her clouded eyes. Then he went around and untied the ropes, leaving the load where it was. Dolly ' s head came up. She threw the fetlock out of her eyes. Joriander, as much pleased as she, thrust a congratu- latory kiss at her and described circles of joy about them. Down the road, with his straw hat just showing above a hummock of sand, the Italian boy was waiting. Mi(i is that little boy you play with so much, George? Vh ' , that ' s Napoleon Shampine. He knows everything. I ' m glad you told me to play with the Italian children, be- cause they ' re ever so much nicer than the other children. Why, you wouldn ' t believe the things that he has told me! Such as what, George? We-11, I-I ' d rather you wouldn ' t tell Mamma, but it is principally about — well — devils, you know. There are so many, } ' ou know, and the} ' do such strange things. All you ha ' e t( ) know is how to make the horns, and you are per- fectly safe, though. I see, commented the Doctor. And he has promised to teach me other things — Well, I don ' t know , said the Doctor anxiously. I — I ' ll tell you bimeby, said George. It is only what you told me to do, and I want to surprise you. George, as he had been taught at home, put up his dirty face for the Doctor to kiss him good-by before he hurried on down the road to join his playmate. The Doctiir as a rule was a sound sleeper, but in apple time he slept with his shot-gun loaded with pepper and the window toward the orchard up. As an added safeguard against apple thieves, he turned his ducks in there, and they were as good as the geese that saved Rome when it came to raising an alarm. One night he awoke suddenly at the confused hawnk and the tluimpings of the ducks. He hurriedly drew on his

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office and railroad station in tlie west, to some indefinite point in the east among the farms, calm and smooth nnder its old trees and lietween its suhstantial houses. The people sit about on ' erandas and lawns and em- broider and play croquet and. especially, watch all that passes on Elm street. What on earth ! said Airs. Simpson. She was in a red rocking-chair under an arbor, scalloping a bib for her first grandchild. Her daughter, Mrs. Ferry, who was swinging in a hammock, reading a magazine, looked up and said : That? Oh, George Bailey. Don ' t you know the Doctor said they ' d lose him if they didn ' t let him go barefoot, and all sorts of things. Still. I don ' t see why they need make a circus of him. ' ' George Bailey, riding! I thought it was as much as ever he could be taken around in a baby-wagon. He wore blue overalls and a straw hat that looked like a toad-stool. His delicate bare toes squirmed nervously against Dolly ' s warm ribs, letting the stirrup swing empty. Joriander shambled at one side with a countenance fierce and sullen — unless you were brave enough to draw near and read the gentle innocence in his eyes. Then you understood how his great jaws just grew that way. and had nothing to do with his soul. Still he could be stern on occasion, for when George ' s hat blew off he flung upon it with such ' iolent punishment that he brought back only a piece of the brim as a proof of justice done. Then George laughed until he fell into the soft way- side grass, and there Joriander danced upon him with solid affection until Mrs. Simpson came, saying: Get down, you nasty dog, and lifted George to the saddle again. On this trip it is said he had to be Hfted upon the pony six times; but when he returned to his anxious mother, who was awaiting him at the gate, his cheeks were flushed for the first time in months, his eyes gleamed, and his close clipped hair shone like gold in the sun. Each day reduced the number of tumbles and increased the gait of Dolly, until, about the first of July, she broke into a careful gallop. It was now no longer necessary for the people to leave their embroidery and croquet to pick George up and place him in the saddle. The flush did not leave his face now, and people ceased to be sympathetic for him. Jori- ander aroused the resentment of some of the good house- wives; they talked of muzzles, and would call their own dogs in when he went past. Near the end of July the flush on George ' s cheeks had given way to tan, but the tan was usually obscured by the dust of the roads. His feet were more like bronze than wax. His golden hair was bleached to silver, as were his eyebrows and eyelashes. Will you tell me what that is? gasped Mrs. Simpson from her place in the arbor. Well! They have made a circus of him? said Mrs. Ferry. The saddle was gone from Dolly ' s back. Instead, there was a blanket, held in place by a wide strap, and there was George, standing on the pony. He paused, emitting a Avild whoop, and after the dust from his gallop settled, Mrs.

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trousers and jumped out of the open window, intent upon capturing the thieves, which he was sure were the cause of the disturbance among the ducks. In his hurry the loaded shot-gun was forgotten. As he entered with clumsy stealth, the ducks hurried past, followed by a great shaggy animal which seized the Doctor before he was able to open the bulls-eye lantern that he had grabbed up in his rush. Joriander, said a familiar voice. The cover of the lan- tern flew back and shot its red rays up in the Doctor ' s favor- ite apple tree, where an astonished face seemed suspended. Lower down were the soft, troubled eyes of Dolly, who held her ground with unwilling heroism. George Bailey! said the Doctor. I ' m surprised. Yes, sir. I didn ' t intend you should know yet. Er — is it — that is — is it exactly safe for }-ou to stand on Dolly ' s back to get the apples ? It ' s veryr convenient, although she did jump a little just now. Shall I never, mused the Doctor inwardly. Who would have thought that the little imp would have taken me literally? I don ' t know whether this night air is just the t hing for you, George, he added aloud. We — that is — suppose we go into the house. I have some cakes left over from supper. By the way, did you get any of the Anson ' s Watercore? No, sir ; just the Maiden Blush. I didn ' t know that any of the others were ripe except the sweet apples, and we have those at home. Well, I will give you some of them, and you can take them home to your mother. Thank you, but I don ' t think she would care for any ; she don ' t care much for apples anyway, George quickly volunteered. Leaving Dolly at the door, the two, with Joriander, en- tered the kitchen. Once inside, the Doctor reassured him- self that George was still developing, by means of his usual examination of a pinch of the cheek. You ' re coming on, he said, and sliced off a liberal piece of cake, watching its disappearance with professional pride. Is that your first trip? he continued, eyeing the lad crit- ically. Yes, sir; vou know vou told — I know. I say — I wouldn ' t do it to any one else ' s or- chard, though. Of course, it ' s all right here. But — The blue eyes opened wide. Oh. dear no! The tanned cheeks reddened. You told me to — I know, and as long as there are any apples on my trees, you ' re perfectlv welcome. But — it ' s not absolutely necessary to do it at night. I think we had better get along now ; your mother might miss you. Lantern in hand, the Doctor saw George safely home and helped him stable Dolly. Then he watched the lad ascend to his room by way of a porch pillar and a grapevine. Joriander stretched himself beneath his master ' s window. The Doctor, gave him an absent-minded pat, and turned away, meditating on his amazing success in curing without medicine. Jesse Pavey.