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"It ht same, with bis child: ey. 8 Ber oda for his w Bok Stub and his father had many 16 learn, and the lesson came uinoctial" storms were over "weather brought a he air. Mr. Lar: 'town "at ten s sister, coming. from the i with a golden pumpkin in her government weather report I8t in as I left town; and they ng frosts to-night and to-mor- n the ruination of my eén- ered Mr, Latwell, - # ind ight touch, b Li ther'd. be no up against the like gant firecrackers, "He ER ensil ich he. to gather 1 the sia were still green, and *insthe : milk," and pack se: air-tight silos. «eyes followed 'his father's, 'quick to grasp the | mean- even | ing of the situation, J : day at the | They're working tooth and nail "came | over to Simpson's, "observed his sis He never| ter: 'No use trying to get that get shredder." i (tian oo or-| "No, theyll not be through for three days yet, and évery man in the neighborhood is tied up there," Haw About tie Southey gang" "They're at Northport, ty. | covLp RE the machine and the men ed | that are working at Sinith's down the foratriver. They'll be. through to-night nie-and they'd come bright and -early in there's 'no! way to forward: eagerly. "Why father?" : ho ie ked at him 'much as a fly on the old "What could you ee reapers. from s could do it in fwenty:- +4 as 1 i . --- £0 mich ; more slowly, nor the horses would be as fresh as atf' first. But there was a full moon! He was thankful for that, wal, asked um banteringly, as he slid into his chair at the supper table. i "No.sir," answered 'Stub steadil "I expect to work all night." "That's likely," guffawed his father; "being a. sleepy-head as you are. We'll likely ou fast asleep in the migdle of a Tow Retore ten gelock. #Now Stephen, you quit plaguin the boy," briatled Aunt' Dorcas with unexpected ardor. . "Can't you see he's balf dead now? You lie : down here now on this old settee. An hour's sleep will bo you a world of good, and I'licall:you at seven sharp---honest 1 will." The boy sank gratefully on the cyuch after he-had eaten his supper. The hour's rest refreshed him won- derfully and to his surprise he found his father prepared to go with him'to the field to see him get a start. "Now Stub, you take this heavy coat and these mittens," cautioned Aunt Dorcas." "It'll be powerful sharp to-night; the stars are shining just like December. I'll send your lunch out when youn father brings the fresh horses at midnight." The hunter's moon sailed serenely RCXOSS acefdl rows with innumerable lights and shadows, ~The aroma of the growing corn intensified by approach- ing frost, urged the boy on like the whiff of some strong stimulant, and he started in again with renéwed: vigor. The horses were fresh and the bun- dies fell from the shelf of the binder Ed almost as fast as the nuts that were' dropping from the 'hickory-tree atthe edge of the field. Stub sang for awhile, and the whip-poor-will' down by the creek answeréd him. By ten o'clook the horses were be- ging to tire; and an unconquerable drowsiness was creeping over him, It looked 'as if his father's prediction might come true. Twice he dropped into a doze, and wakened with a start as he nearly, lost his. balance when the horses Stopped at the end of the row. Never. before had the boy known what it wis to be: deprived of sleep--to feel every fiber of his being cryitig 'out for rest, 'and yet not gratify the demand. In desperation he dis- mounted and walked 'beside his team. Then' he swung 'his "arms and beat upon. his. reaper with his clenched fists, ; + - At last he heard the welcome sound of the clanging harness, and the dull thud of the h¥vy-fobted horses as his father brought the fresh = team at midnight. . i "Here's a hot lunch for you; spread this blanket down to sit on. Aunt said his father with a solici- 'he never shown before. half-famished boy uncovered y lunch, and looked at it ". { ready to: quit?" his father. the: frosty. sks, touching.up the. made the coffee good and! IX green : to him like a challenge. . Frost, Ill race you," he called gail 'as he urged his horses forward: Attwo o'clock, however, the tem porary exhilaration had'passed' away. and the old ache was settling in every muscle of his thoroughly chilled body Another half-hour. and the = rows. seemed 'to zigzag before lim. ~ Oner or twice he reeled dinaily, barely sav ing-himself from falling on the sharp knives below. Then' he 'rode .inm sort of daze, turning the corners: me § chanically, and letting thie hoses inks... their own course. I After what seemed to him ages the: fisst streaks of red 'appeared .in. he: sky, and he knew that it was mear daybreak: - There was cnly a little: patch of the corn still uncut, but the: biting pain was in his arms and legs again, and it seemed to him that hes must cry out. Could he ever finish | the field? Oh, the pain--the terrible: pain. Just then a familiar "moo" floated! across the frosty air from the. distant "cow stable, It seemed to the boy" like a word-of encouragement from friend who loved him; and his' be-- numbed fingers grasped the reins with fresh determination. "I'll show. thems: I'm * Not" 'the "laziest son my father has," he whispered between his ébar-- tering teeth. | "I'm. Nor his: Jegiest son--I'm Nor his laziest son," he kept up in a sort of sing-song, as he braced his feet and held on to the reins hard to overcome the awful. swaying of the corn rows. Afier am eternity, as it seemed to him, the last. stalk was cut and the horses. stopped. He sat there gn the reaper too dazed to attempt to' dismount, He looked around dully at a sound behind him. It was Aunt Dorcas, her striped wool- len shawl pinned over her head, = anél a steaming pitcher in her hand. "Here Stubbie boy, drink tis hot soup, It'll put a bit of life in yom: again," She held the pitcher to "hts lips and steadied him with her free arm as he swayed in his seat. : The hot soup revived him. after' ma little, and with his aunt's help he un- hitched his team. "Why, Aunt Dorcas; how did yous get here?" he asked .as his' braim. cleared a little. "Why child, I couldn't' sleep; your father either--I've watched exit round you've made for the lash. #bx hours, It was just light pi 5-4 ¢ I could make out the horses. whem. | 'teey passed the corner." Ra 'The boy's heart was 'bursting with gratitude. but for the jife of Bim he couldn't speak. ! y His father met them ed the barn. ; Wd turn them in the stable bere™' directed. ; Let's this boy into the house." : ay they reach "LI tend to them later.