CAMP HAMPERFORD.

try store has its pet loafer, the inactive being who
can tell the best story, and is always ready with his
little joke, and that Parrisville was no exception.
Go when you might, there in a chair by the door in
summer, or by the stove in winter, lounged Sam
Crofts, an oracle to the small boys who never tired
of his high-flown stories or time-worn jokes. This
Crofts had always evinced a fondness for the delicate
little Davy Hamlin, partly perhaps on account of his
lameness, and partly because of the chlid’s satisfac-
tion in listening to his stories.

On this occasion as the boys went jubilantly to
and from the store, making small, but to them im-
mensely important purchases, Sam had all sorts of
jovial advice to give, together with sundry warnings,
all of which went into one ear and straightway out
of the other with the older lads. But the afternoon
before they were to start, as Davy was about finish-
ing an errand, Sam spoke to him with great apparent
solemnity, while he slyly winked at some of the by-
standers :

“ Have the boys bought their ginger yet? Never
oughter go inter the woods without plenty 0’ ginger,
Bad sign to go inter the woods without ginger; very
bad sign!”

“Don’t believe they have,” said Davy thoughtfully.

“Then you better remind ’em,” said Sam ear-
nestly, adding with a knowing twist of his empty
head, “‘ wouldn’t let a boy o’ mine go inter a forest
without his ginger, any more’n I’d let him go without
his gun ; unluckiest thing that could be done. And
they better fix it all ready to take too,” added the
mischievous fellow.

Now the dearest object on earth next his mother,
to Davy Hamlin, was his brother Phil. The two
boys were the only children of the family, and their
attachment to each other was something beauti-
ful, Davy looking up to fifteen-year-old Phil as the
very embodiment of everything grand and noble in
boyhood, while Phil looked upon delicate little Davy
as something to be most tenderly cared for and con-
sidered on all occasions. “The precious little mor-
sel!” he once called him.

So it followed that what the crafty Sam Crofts had
said made a deep impression on Davy’s mind, and
he resolved that his dear brother should not go to the
woods lacking anything it would be unlucky to be
without. Such a superstitious idea would have been
foolish in a stronger or older boy, but eight-year-old
Davy was frail and nervous, and took alarm easily,

147

That night at supper Davy announced his anxiety.
“Say, Phil! Sam Crofts says you musn’t go out

camping without your ginger! He says it is unlucky.”
For reply, Phil threw back his head and laughed

knowingly, while his father remarked gravely :

*T think Sam would be luckier if he was less partic-
ular about taking his ginger.”

But Davy didn’t understand at all what Sam Crofts
had meant by ‘‘ ginger,” and his father did not care to
enlighten him, when he saw his innocent ignorance.
Meantime Davy resolved firmly that his careless
brother should not depart without a bottle of the lucky
tonic, and moreover that he would follow out Sam’s
advice carefully, and prepare it ready for use. Ac-
cordingly after supper he quietly searched about for
a large bottle with a firm, strong cork; then going as
quietly to his mother’s medicine closet, he looked
for the bottle marked “Jamaica Ginger,” which to
his delight he found nearly full. Pouring most of
its contents into the empty bottle, he proceeded to
fill it with water; then he managed to obtain a good
quantity of sugar from the bowl. He shook the mix-
ture long and vigorously, then tasted, and found it
didn’t quite flay his tongue; in fact he thought it
really quite palatable after it ceased to burn. His next
visit was to his mother’s room for three pins; then
creeping down to the front hall, he placed the bottle
in the large deep breast pocket of Phil’s ulster —of
course he would take his ulster— securely pinning
it across. He argued that Phil wouldn’t notice
any extra weight about his coat, as all its pockets
were well stuffed, in the excitement of getting off, yet
would probably detect it later.

The next day was all that could be desired of fine
weather, but Davy’s soft, large blue eyes, as usual, were
full of tears as he watched the trio start off, though
he managed to conceal them until they had gone.
And he was greatly relieved when Phil, sure enough,
slung his ulster over his arm, only remarking:

“This always was the heaviest old coat!”

They took with them two well-trained dogs; Phil’s
own, a splendid retriever named “Sampson” in consid-
eration of his unusual strength, and for short, called
Samp. The other belonged to Mr. Ford, and was
loaned Harry for the occasion. He was a powerful
bull-mastiff, ‘“‘ Watch,” by name. These dogs were
the best of friends; so it was eminently proper they
should go in company as guards and fellow sportsmen
of the three fine boys setting out for a midsummer’s
frolic.