Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-12-19
NUMBER 13.


ones; but never bake them twice
Butler. They were first made to carry I
sea and they were then baked twice over, a
believe sea biscuit still are
!saac.-''Ma, what's breakfast rived from?'
Mother.-"Spell it, and you will see
Isaac -",B-r-e-a-k, break, f-u-s-t, fust
Molher;-"Well, Ike, you're another gram
speller. Break fast is the word, not break
fust.
Abraham.-I know what it comes from.
Mother.-What?
Abraham.-You know, when you call III
chllen to breakfast, we all break off, and run
as fast as we can split
Mother.-Well, that is brilliant derivation
truly. Do you suppose there wasn't breakias.
| before you children were born?
Abraham. Bat, Ma, everybody has chillen.
Mrs. Butler explained the term
lsaac.-Ma, l know what saSsidQe COMES
from.
Mother.-What?
Isaac Cause its got sass in il.
Mother.--Well, there there, there I've
got enough Of derivations, unless they are bet
ter You'll learn all these things as you grow
older. go"
just here, Miss Sarah, who had been break
tasting at slde-table, was seized with Curl
osity to see what was On the breakfast table,
Accordingly, she undertook to draw herself up
20 the convenient elevation, by the table-eloth.
Tier mother arrested her just in time to save q
cup, and pushed her aside with a gentle admo-
nltlon. This did not abate Miss Sarahs curl
oslty IN the least, and she recommended her
experiment. Her mother removed her little
more emphatlcally this time. These little in
terruptlons only fred Miss Sarah's zeal, and
she was returning to the charge with redoubled
energy, when she ran her cheek against the
palm OF her mothers hand, with q rnbificent
force. Away she went to her grandmother,
crying, Gran ma, Ma whipped your pTettous
darlln, angel baby.
Did she, my darling? Then Gganama's
precious, darling angel must be good child,
and mother will not whip it any more.
We'll, L will be dood child
WELL then, mother won whip it any more
And this conference was kept Up without the
variation OF letter on either side, Until the
grandmother deemed it expeGleu: 20 remove
Miss Sarah to au adjoining room, lest the
mother should Insist upon the Immediate full
hlment of her promises.
Ma. just look at Abe, cried out William.
: he saw NE going TO take biscuit, and he
snatched up the very one [ vas going TO take
'A6e,' said the mother, 1 do wish | could
make you quit nIcknaming each other aud I
wish more that | had never act you the exam4
ole, hut down that biscuit, sir, and take an
other.
Abraham returned the biscuit and William
took 1t up with sly but triumphant giggle ct
Abraham.
Ma said Abraham, Bill said God durn.'
Law what story iia, declare l never
said no such thing
Yes you did, and CLANCY heard you.
William countenauce Immediately showed
that his memory had been refreshed; aud he
drawied ont, never none now, with tone
and countenance that plainly impaired guilt to
some extent His mother suspected he was
hlnging upon tecnichs, and she put the probing
question, Well, what did you say?'
said be teeto' tly cd arm
And that S just as bad Mr. Butler, you
positively will have to take this boy in hand
tie evlnceS strong propensity to profane
swearing, which, if not corrected Immediately,
will become ungOVernabie
w henever you cant manage him, said But
Ter, as before, just turn him over to me, and
L reckon L can cure him.
1t Is due to Butler here to state shat il was
mutually understood between him and his wife
that her credit was not staked upon these gen.
eral drafts, and therefore he did not feel him
self bound TO honor them but when she ual-
ned on him las the merchants say) fer speoi-
nc amount TOR q special purpose, her bills were
never dishOnored
When did he say it?" inquired the mother.
returning to Abraham
. on know that time you sent all Us chilieu
to the new ground to pick peas?''
why, that been three months ago at least,
and you We just thought now of telling it. Oh
you malicious toad, you; where do you learn
TO bear malice so long? | ahhOr that trait Of
character 10 a child"
MA, said Bill, ABE haiI. said his pray
erS for three nights
A0e and Bill now exactly svapa places and
c0unenanccs
"Y,s," said the mother, and suppose |
should never have heard OF that ii Abraham
had noJ t0id oi your profanity.
L know better, G:agged 0ut Abraham III
reply to " iliafa.
Abraham" said the mother soemny did
you kneei down when you said your prayers last
night p
Yes, ma am, said Abraham, Frightening
little
Yes, Ma, continued Bill, the kueels
down, aud fore | say, New lag no down to
sleep, he Jumps up every night and hops IN
bed and says he ) done said his prayers, and he
hain't had time to say half a prayer
During this narrative NY namesake kept
cowericg under the steadiGst frown OF his
mother, until he transformed himself into the
p2TiecL p9TSOnlGcitlO1 0t 1diJcY.
'How many prayers did you say last night,
Abraham?' pursued the mother in an awfully
pOrtent0us tone.
Il said one, and - here Abraham paused. }
''One and What2'
Zone and piece of t'other one.
"Why, Ma, he couldn't ha' said it 10 save
his life, for be hadn't time
Hush, sir. don't ask for your assistance.
Il did, muttered Abraham, Il said totheI
piece after | got in bed"
Abraham" said his mother, Il declare |
do not know what to say to you. | am so NOR
titled, so shocked at this conduct, that [ am
completely at loss how TO express myself about
it. Suppose you had died last night after tri
fling with your prayers as you did, who can say
what would have be ONE OF you Is it possible
that you cannot spend few minutes in prayer
to your Heavenly Father who feeds you, who
clothes you, and who gives you everything you
have in the world You poor sinful child,
could weep over you.
Poor Abraham evinced such deep contrition
under this lecture (tor he so6bed as if his
heart would break that his mother deemed il
prudent TO conclude with suasves, which she
did IN the happIest manner.
Having thus restored Abraham equanlmlty
in measure, With gently encouraging smile
she continued:
Aud now, Abraham, tell your mother how
you came to say part of the second prayer.
Il couldn't go to sleep till [ said It, ma am. l"
"Weil, that is a good sign at least. And
what part was 1t ?
God bless my father and mother"
Mrs. Butler felt quickly fer her handker-
dad of it. She depressed her head below the
= roorob ot ~ bo ab ;lJro., L.