Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-09-28
NUMBER 46.
Youths Department.
THAT PHELAN BOY.

Taddy was naughty boy that day.
Not even grandma could make an excuse
for him, though she dropped g 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 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 wss
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 as 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 mother, listening to the pleasant voice,
thought within her heart, Ny Idddy 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.
al wish that boy wouldn't come here"
said Rose, glancing up from her painting,
as she heard the click of the gate. 81
mother. Just hear Taddy call out,
'HulEoP He is getting so rude that am
really ashamed of him, and that Phelan
boy is horridl"
"Hullo p said Jimmy, quite unconscious
of the Young lady s criticism; and thrust
ing his hands into his trousers pockets, he
stood facing Taddy and the open parlor
window. He was a wretched looking
little ragamuffin, 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 a 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 Jimmy's stout little bread-basket
was comfortably filled.
"Whst is it ye're eatin', Taddy?" asked
Jimmy, after the salutanons.
"Buns," said Taddy, with currants in
'em"
"Gi' me bitter"
Taddy shook his curly head. 81 tan't.
They'd make you awful sick"
"I1l risk it." said Jimmy, holding out
very dirty hand. "Just one small little
bit, Taddy?"
"No, sirr' answered Taddy, his mouth
crammed full. "M My mother puts pizOn in
her buns, an ifyou eat just a teenty tinty
bit it'll make you sick so you'se have to
have the doctor, and take palegolic."
"Why don't they make you sick if they're
pizon"
"Oh, tause-tause-tause I'm my moth
er's boy, and - what did you tome in
here for, Jimmy Phelan? Nobody told
you to, an don't want you, an wish
you'd go off where you b1ongT
al want something to eat,' said Jimmy.
"Then go'an ask your mother, way as 1
do"
"She's off a washing, and there amt
nothing in the cupboard, cause looked, !"
and Jimmy sat down on the grass. "Just
le'me have one bite, Taddy."
"No, 1 shall not! My mother don't low
| me to give buns TO Paddiesr'
"Theodore Ives, you naughty boy, come
| into the house this minuter cried Rose
putting her head out of the window.
"No, sha'n't," answered Ta6dy, COM
posedly.
"Then will come and fetch you," said
Rose.
"You tant do il, rejoined Taddy, plant
ing his heels in the grass, and throwing q
defiant look over his shoulder.
"Just one mite of o piece" coaxed
Jimmy, in whisper; "there's such a
splendid currant"
al won't do it," said Taddy, very rcd in
the face, end if you don't go off Pll-Tll
I'm double up my fist to 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'll"
1t was Mrs Ives that spoke this time
sorrowfully enough you may be sure, and
the little boy, hastily swallowing the last
remaining bit of his last bun, got up re-
luctantly.
"What'n she do to ye;" asked Jimmy
under his breath.
Taddy shook his head.
ais it because you boxed my ears dye
s'posef"
aYes, and 1 guess-I guess she heart
me say pizon aud PdddyF
"That's nothing"
ayes, it is; my mother don't low MI
to say wrong stories and call names"
Taddy came into the parlor hanging hi
head so low that the curls fell over hi
face like yellow veil. Rose looked a
him. and said, severely:
"If you were my boy, I would punisl
you with stick, Taddy Ivesf
Mamma did not speak, but held out he
, hand to her naughty boy. Grandma al
most always had an excuse ready for hi
little misdemeanors, but looking askanc
through the veil of cuTls, Taddy saw he
kind face quite turned away from him, ant
not a single word did she speak in his de
fense.
"Rose, tell Jimmy Phelsn to go to tn
| kitchen-door, and ask Jane for some din
ner." said Mrs. Ives.
Then she took white handkerchief on
of her pocket, and put it over Taddy'
mouth-that naughty mouth that had toll
/; lies and called names. Teddy stood quit
still while she tied the corners, but hi
heart beat very loud and fast, and tear
gathered in his blue eyes. He had neve
been punished like this before, and
D seemed the worst punishment in the world
After the knot was tied, Mrs. Ives pointe'
, to "Taddy's naughty corner" and thithe
I the little culprit went, and sat down on
: cricket with his face to the wall.
: "That Phelan boy won't go for his din
: ner, mother: he says he wants to come il
and speak to you"
. Before the words were out other mouth
! Jimmy Phelan had pushed past Rose, an
thrust his uncombed red head in at tn
parlor door.
1t was grand room compared with th
b old, smoky kitchen where the tribe
q Phelan cooked, ate and slept. Jimmy ha
= seldom seen grander, but that was notl
l. ing so long as poor Taddy sat sobbing i
8 q corner of it.
r "If you plaze, num-" he suffered, "!
It you plaze-'
# "What is it, my boyf"
IS "If you plaze, mum, I'd wish that
IS wouldn't tie up his mouth with han ke!
= chy; he didn't mean no harm, I4dd
n didn't, and Id justslieve he'd call me Fac
IS dy's notp
/, Now 1 call that nob,e and generous
e Jimmy Phelan. who had never been t9ugf