The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-12-23
WI ERE THE FAULT WAS.

Inc most dlSObetilent child l eve
knew
The words were uttered in langui
tone. and the speaker pressed her han
on her throbbing brow, as though sh
would still its beating.
A few minutes later Mrs. Elbert re
peated the same words to her husband
"He must be sent to school, Grant, sh
continued, "such racket would driv
me crazy"
j The subject Of these remarks was a
that moment engaged with compan.
of miniature soldiers, and small pop
gun, which he was using with consider
able deXterity, for several of the wood
en- warriors lay with their faces to the
floor, and every new downfall wa.
greeted with a burst ot poyIsn iaugnter
which fell discordantly on his mothers
ears.
Send him out doors for a romp
/ Mary" good-naturedIy suggested Mr..
Elbert, "boys will make great deal OF
noise"
And is this all the sympathy you
have for my nerves, Grant? Send him
out doors indeed! perhaps the next
moment to hear Of his having fallen in.
to the creek. No, Will net think OF
such thing! A. long - the children
are out of school, they must remain
with me. should not have moments
comfort otherwise.
"Yet I am sure, Mary, Mother you
nor they are quite comfortable US it is ;
cannot imagine how your sister Lucy
manages with small children"
"Lu.y again." returned Mrs. Elbert
sharply don't think, Grant, you
need to be constantly holding up Lucy
as pattern for me to copy"
Yet you allow, Mary, that Lucy is
all admirable manager said Mr.. FL
bert
"She has never had any i'll health to
contend with. There, 90 away, Min
ME, don't trouble me with your doll. DO
you hear me! Go and play in the cor
ner."
The little girl moved away slowly,
and her evident reluctance was, as usu-
al construed into that rebeliious spirit
which Mrs. Elbert had persuaded her.
self existed in her children, to large
degree.
Mrs. Cotton, marin, sent over to
know ifyou'd step over, you felt well
enough,' said An Irish girl, thrusting
her head into the drawing room.
The lady hesitated before Icp,y;"e.
and the s'.I continued, Its in trouble
The lady is, marm; the docther has
oeen thar twice this NORMA, on ov the
young uns il down with the Group"
Mrs. EIbert had not visited her sister
or several weeks. excusing herself with
he plea Of I'LL health, though 1t must be
that other causes had some.
hing to do with her absence. The
ruth was, these visits had only served !
20 make her more dissatisfied with her
'elf; TOR while she acknowledged her
sisters superiority, she did not care to
have second person remind he" OF it;
and the well-meant illusions of her hus.
band proved to be particularly annoy
ing.
hearted woman-and Lucy in trouble,
awakened feelings which Lucy in pros
perity had failed to do.
Hastily throwing on shawl, and
"a; lac. ..;, a,
she turned her steps towards her sisters
residence. With Il noiseess tread she
entered the dwelling, and repaired TO
the sick chamber, where she found her
sister seated nea. the couch Of her
youngest child, who was breathing
painfully.
For several days she remained an in
mate of the dwelling, sharing the mid
night vigil, and doing all in her power
to relieve the little sufferer, who rapid
ly continued to grow worse, and finally
breathed its last in her arms. Yet,
though this period was passed in bene
fitting others, it proved of rare value to
herself; she could not but ack uowledge
that in the activity which the ciIcum.
stances demanded, she had forgottea
many of her own nls-nor was this
all.
1t was the day bsfose the funeral-the
little waxen form, with Its violet eyes
calmly closed, lay like lily-bud on ito
pearly bed; aud ~ Mrs. Cotton gazed
With fearful eyes on the little figure,
the thought Of her other children crossed
her mind.
"Where can Willie and Emmie be ~
she said, turning to her sister, II have
not seen them since breakfast
Il will go and see," Mrs. Elbert re.
turned, and she left the room expecting
to find them engaged in some childish
mischief.
us that you, Auntis?' said childish
voice, As the lady passed through the
....-~.<
"Yes, Emmie. What are you doingo
Where is your brother?"