He closed the book, seeing at length that it was impossible for him to read it, and, as the men began to bring the cushions from the buggies and place them around the cloth, he arose and went to bring his own to add to the supply.

As he reached the fence, a barefoot boy, mounted on a horse with no other saddle than a blanket, came galloping down the road, and stopped before him.
"Say," said the boy, wide-eyed with importance, "is Sally Briggs in there ?" Eliph' said she was.
"Well, say," said the boy, "she's got to go home to Kilo, right away.
Her dad telephoned up, and he don't know whether he's dying or not, and she's got to go right home." Eliph' turned and hurried to where Miss Sally was standing.
"I hope it ain't nothing serious, Miss Briggs," he said, "but that boy has come to give you a message that come by telephone.

I think your father ain't well." Miss Sally dropped the cake she was holding, and ran to the fence.
"What is it ?" she gasped.
"Well," said the boy, "my dad was in the post office just now, and the telephone bell rang, and he looked around to see where Julius was, and Julius he had gone outside to see what Mr.Fogarty, from up to the Corners, wanted.

I don't know what he wanted.

Pa didn't tell me.