Headed for Home
Peleg and his sister were warmly invited to remain and take lunch
with his former employer, which they consented to do. They meant to
continue on afterwards to the Hawkins place, and start housekeeping
immediately. Mr. Green had supplied the boy with sufficient funds
for the time being, and promised to turn over the balance as soon as
the estate of Uncle Peleg had been fully settled up, which would be
in the course of a few weeks.
“What sort of a farm is this that Peleg has come into?” Rob asked
Ralph, and the other three fellows bent their heads to hear, being
deeply interested.
“It is one of the best around this whole section,” explained Ralph,
warmly. “Peleg shows great good sense in choosing to get hold of it
at a bargain, for the widow has been wanting to leave this country
since she lost her husband, going to relatives out in Cleveland,
Ohio. The house is roomy, and has some modern conveniences. The
ground produces fair crops; there is considerable fruit, and a fine
kitchen garden, always the pride of Mrs. Hawkins’ heart. Besides,
there are big barns, quite some stock, and poultry, as well as bees
and such things. Oh! Peleg is the happiest boy in the whole State of
New York just now, I can tell you.”
“The best of it is,” added Rob, soberly, “he deserves everything
that has come to him. You told me how his one longing was to be able
to earn a home, no matter how humble, where he could gather his
brothers and sisters together under one roof. I never was so glad of
anything in my whole life as to know that luck has at last smiled on
the Pinders.”
“Yes,” remarked Tubby, wisely, “it’s a long lane that has no turn.
All you’re got to do is to wait, and have patience, and dig away
with might and main, leaving the rest.”
“That’s a long head of yours, Tubby,” laughed Ralph. “It’s a pity
fellows don’t always practice what they preach. But I know how all
of you feel about Peleg, and I want to say right here that it does
you credit.”
Indeed, Peleg looked very proud and contented as he and his sister
sat there at the table with the rest, and answered the many
questions that were asked concerning their plans for the future.
Later on they drove away again, after the horse had been “baited” at
the barn; and all sorts of good wishes were wafted after them. Ralph
looked at Rob and nodded his head.
“It all came out splendidly, didn’t it?” he went on to say. “I’m
mighty glad now I didn’t give way to that feeling when I came near
accusing the poor boy. He would never have gotten over it. I’ve
always thought so much of Peleg, too. Now I can run over and see how
they’re getting along whenever I feel like it. From what I know of
his ways, I’m certain he’ll make that old Hawkins’ farm pay well.”
They were still sitting there on the porch about the middle of the
afternoon, feeling that they might as well finish that day by doing
next to nothing, when a cloud of dust down the road caught their
attention. Soon afterwards they made out several cars heading their
way. To the surprise of the boys these turned in at the lane leading
up to the Jeffords’ farmhouse.
“Why, it is the mayor of Wyoming, as sure as you live!” exclaimed
Tubby, beginning to look “flustered.”
“And those other people are some of the leading citizens of the
town,” added Ralph, with a chuckle, as though he half suspected what
it all meant. “Yes, I can see several gentlemen who are owners of
those mills and factories. I wouldn’t be much surprised now if they
thought they hadn’t thanked us enough for doing that little job, and
have come out to repeat.”
Rob jumped up, but Sim and Andy caught hold of him.
“No, you don’t skip out of here,” they told him in concert. “If
there’s going to be any sort of bouquet throwing, you’ve got to stay
around and take your share of it. A scout never runs away from the
firing line, you ought to know, Rob. So just grin and bear it.”
Accordingly, Rob had to remain, though he looked uncomfortable.
There were fully a dozen gentlemen in the party accompanying the fat
mayor of the town, and all of them seemed to be in a most agreeable
humor, judging from the smiles that wreathed their faces.
Mr. Jeffords greeted each one in turn, shaking hands. No doubt, he
was able to give a pretty good guess as to what had caused this
exodus from Wyoming on such a warm afternoon; and it could be put
down as certain that this was not intended to be merely a social
call. Those men meant business as well as sentiment.
When they lined up, and the mayor turned toward Rob and the rest of
the boys, it was plainly apparent that he had a little speech ready.
“I’ve got a few words to say to you, Ralph, Rob, and the rest,” he
commenced, “after which I have a very pleasant mission to carry out.
We have been holding a meeting since the great fire that threatened
to wipe out our town, and when all of Wyoming’s influential citizens
learned what a narrow escape our beloved homes and business blocks
had from destruction, they decided that they had not been able to
express the feelings they experienced toward you boys who so nobly
fought to hold the fire fiend in check. So we have come up here
today, sent by the women of Wyoming, to tell you again how much they
appreciate those efforts in our behalf.
“We know that it is against the rules of your organization, Mr.
Scout Master, to accept payment for services freely rendered to
others in times of trouble; but the grateful hearts of our women
hope that each of you will not disdain to wear these modest little
badges which they have had made by our town jeweler, and which are
emblematic of the feeling they entertain for you.
“With your consent I shall take great pleasure in pinning these upon
the lapels of your khaki coats where I see you already wear the
honored insignia of your order. And I am instructed to say to you,
one and all, that we citizens of Wyoming look upon each of these
little medals as a true badge of courage, for it symbolizes the
bravery and ready wit not only to conceive that grand scheme of
blowing up a building to stay the spread of the fire, but to
actually carry it into execution. Rob, will you oblige me by
stepping up, first of all, and letting me do you this honor.”
So Rob had to obey, though painfully embarrassed, if his flushed
face stood for anything. Ralph, too, was not forgotten, even though
as yet he did not wear the khaki of the scout service; but events
were moving rapidly now, and it would not be long before Wyoming
would take her place in the ranks of those towns able to boast of a
growing organization founded on the principle of “doing a good turn
every day.”
Afterwards, those boys had reason to feel very proud of the
beautiful little gold medals that had been presented to them; and
which they later on received permission to wear from Scout
Headquarters, after the story of their labors in fighting the flames
when Wyoming was threatened with destruction had been sent on by the
interested people of that grateful community.
The rest of their stay up in the mountainous country of the
Adirondacks was replete with lively happenings, but there is no time
to relate their further adventures just now. They enjoyed every
minute of the time, and more than one noble string of fish was
carried home from that teeming lake as a reward for merit and
perseverance. Tubby, too, took toll from the pond where those
monster “greenbacks” sang their nightly chorus. Before the boys
finally left for home it was noticable what a difference there was
in the volume of sound emanating from that pond on a still night.
At the time they said good-bye regretfully to Ralph, whom they had
come to care for immensely, as though he were a brother to them all,
the fur farm was progressing favorably. No more wildcats or other
“vermin” had put in an appearance; and the proud proprietor
announced on the last day of their stay that he had reason to
believe his minks now had a family of their own, which would be a
tremendous feather in his cap as a grower of fine furs.
They had had one opportunity to run over and visit Peleg in his new
home, and everybody seemed delighted with what he showed them. There
could not be any doubt about Peleg and his sister being as happy as
the day was long; and Rob felt sure they would make a fair success
of farming, and keeping house, judging from what he saw while there.
The other little Pinders had not arrived as yet, because it would be
a matter of some time before they could be formally released from
the public institution to which they had been committed at the death
of their father; but Peleg said he expected they would be home in
about another week or so. How proudly he showed them the rooms
fitted up for the youngsters, as well as the little chickens that
were to be their especial pets.
So, in due time, Rob, Sim, Tubby and Andy once more turned their
faces homeward. They felt that they had had a glorious vacation, as
they sat in the train headed south; and every time any of them
chanced to glance down at the “badge of courage” fastened to their
coat lapels, doubtless their thoughts again carried them back to
that fearful night when only for the inspiration that came to Rob
Blake the whole town of Wyoming would have gone up in smoke and
ashes.
THE END
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HURST & COMPANY’S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
A Volume of Cheerfulness in Rhyme and Picture
KINDERGARTEN LIMERICKS
By FLORENCE E. SCOTT
Pictures by Arthur O. Scott with a Foreword by Lucy Wheelock
The book contains a rhyme for every letter of the
alphabet, each illustrated by a full page picture in
colors. The verses appeal to the child’s sense of humor
without being foolish or sensational, and will be
welcomed by kindergartners for teaching rhythm in a most
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HURST & COMPANY, Publishers, New York
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FRANK ARMSTRONG SERIES
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Frank Armstrong’s Vacation
How Frank’s summer experiences with his boy friends make him into a
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Frank Armstrong at Queens
We find among the jolly boys at Queen’s School, Frank, the
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Frank Armstrong’s Second Term
The gymnasium, the track and the field make the background for the
stirring events of this volume, in which David, Jimmy, Lewis, the
“Wee One” and the “Codfish” figure, while Frank “saves the day.”
Frank Armstrong, Drop Kicker
With the same persistent determination that won him success in
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Frank Armstrong, Captain of the Nine
Exciting contests, unexpected emergencies, interesting incidents by
land and water make this story of Frank Armstrong a strong tale of
school-life, athletic success, and loyal friendships.
Frank Armstrong at College
With the development of this series, the boy characters have
developed until in this, the best story of all, they appear as
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Six of the best books of College Life Stories published. They
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LIVES OF CELEBRATED AMERICANS
Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 60c., per vol., postpaid
FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD
(The Life of Benjamin Franklin).
By Wm. M. Thayer.
Benjamin Franklin was known in the scientific world for his
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The story of the hatchet and other familiar incidents of the boyhood
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FROM LOG CABIN TO WHITE HOUSE
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It was a long step from pioneer home in Ohio where James A. Garfield
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To read of his mother, his early home, his efforts for an education,
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Every boy and girl is more or less familiar with the experiences of
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FROM TANNERY TO WHITE HOUSE
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Rex Kingdon in the North Woods
Rex and some of his Ridgewood friends establish a camp fire in the
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Lively boarding school experiences make this the “best yet” of the
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