Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-10-05
Youths Department.
THAT PHELAN BOY.

| Taddy was naughty boy that day.
| Not even grandma could make an excuse
| for him, though she dropped great many
stitches in the bright little stocking she
was knitting, and was seen to wipe her
| spectacles over and over again, and all be.
cause she felt so badly about her naughty
little grandson.
Well, perhaps l lad better tell you the
whole story.
Mrs. Ives, that was Taddy's mothers
name, sat sewing in the parlor, and it was
such fine day that the window was
thrown open to let in the sweet breath of
the apple blossoms in the orchard, and the
English violets that grew by the front
door. Grandma sat knitting in her easy
chair, and Rose was painting bunch of
trailing arbutus that looked so like the real
flowers it seemed "a though you could
pick them up from their bed of soft green
moss 1t was so quiet in the room that
they all heard what Taddy said, and saw
what he did, though he neither heard nor
saw them. He was sitting on the grass
plot just in front of the parlor window,
this little five-year old Taddy, eating buns,
and singing to himself song that he had
caught from his college brother Tom, and
HIS HotuSIs HstenAiS w tuC picnSane 'o.SOs
thought within her heart, MY Taddy Is a
darling! when the gate opened, and jim
my Phelan came whistling up the walk,
with his old straw hat perched ON the back
Of his head Jimmy was the fourth son
of Mike Phelan, who worked in gentle
mems gardens up and down street.
a. wish that boy wouldn't come here"
| said Rose, glancing up from her painting,
as she heard the click of the gate. II
shouldn't think you would allow it,
mother. Just hear Taddy call out,
'Hullor He is getting so rude that am
really ashamed of him, and that Phelan
boy Is horrid"
"HulloW said Jimmy, quite unconscious
Of the Young lsdy's criticism; and thrust
| ing his hands into his trousers pockets, he
stood facing Taddy and the open parlor
window. He was wretched looking
| little ragamuffln, there was no denying It,
but then you could not wonder If you
would only bear in mind that there were
| eleven more at home as like him as the
! peas in pod are like each other, to be
| fed and clothed; and the best that Mike
and his wife could do, the feeding and
clothing were of the poorest and scantiest
kind. Indeed suppose there was seldom
day that Jimmys stout little bread-hasket
was comfortably filed
"What is 1t ye're eatin', Tsddyy" asked
Jimmy, after the sautauons.
"Buns," said Ta1dy, with currants in
em"
"Gf me bites"
Taddy shook his curly head. 81 tan't.
| They'd make you awful sickl"
"Ill risk it," said Jimmy, holding out q
very dirty hand "Just one small little
bit, Taddyy"
"No, sSr!' answered Taddy, his mouth
crammed full. my mother puts pizon In
her buns, an ifyou eat just teenty tinty
bit it'll make you sick 30 you'se have to
have the doctor, and tske palegolic."
THAT'S liel' said Jimmy, stoutly.
"Why don't they make you sick If they're
pizony"
ooh, tause-tause I'm my moth.
| ers boy, and - Whist did you tome In
here for, Jimmy Phelan? Nobody told
you to, an don't want you, an l wish
you'd go off where you b'long"
want something To eat said Jimmy
"Then go'an ask your mother, way as
do"
"She's off washing, and there ain
nothing In the cupboard, cause looked,
and Jimmy sat down on the grass. jus
le'me have one bite, Taddy."
"No, shall notl My mother don't low
me 10 give buns 10 Paddles"
"Theodore Ives, you naughty boy, come
into the house this minutei" cried Rose
putting her head out of the window.
"No, sha'n't,' answered Taddy, com
posedly.
"Then will come and fetch you, )" said
Rose.
"You tant do it" rejoined Taddy, plant
! ing his heels In the grass, and throwing a
defiant look over his shoulder
"Just one mite Of piece" coaxed
Jimmy, in whisper; there's such
splendid currant"
81 won't do it," said Taddy, very rcd in
the face, "'nd If you don't go off PHIL
I'll double up my fist 10 you, will, just
| like that and am ashamed TO say that
he hit Jimmy blow on the side of his
head that knocked of his old straw hat.
"Taddy, want you"
1t WAS Mrs. Ives that spoke this time
sorrowfully enough you may be sure, and
the little boy, hastily swallowing the Las,
remaining bit Of his last bun, got up re-
luctantly
"What'll she do to yer" asked Jimmy
under his breath.
Taddy shook his head.
Is It because you boxed my ears dye
s'posef"
Eyes, and ! guees-I guess she hearc
me say ptzoa and PIddy"
That's nothing"
eyes, II IL; my mother don't Tow me
10 cay wrong s,ories and call names"
Taddy came into the parlor hanging his
head 50 low that the curls fell over his
face HE a yellow veil. Rose looked al
him and said severely:
"lf you were my boy, / would punish
you with stick, Taddy Iyesr
Mamma did not speak, but held out hel
hand TO her naughty boy. Grandma al
most always had an excuse ready for hi
little misdemeanors, but looking askanc'
through the veil Of curls. Taddy sew he
kind face quite turned away from him, ant
not single word did she speak Ia his de
| Tense.
"Rose, tell Jimmy Phelsn to go to thu
n a q a T.