Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-02-02
I YOUTHS DEPARTMENT
SCRATCH.ITCH.
A STORY FOX SCHOOL CHILDREN.

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THE little animal am going to tell you
about did not live in a hole dug in the
ground, nor in a house built on the
ground She did not live up in, a tree
nor in any old hollow log. am almost
afraid TO tell you where she did live, fol
fear you will not believe me.
It was in the head of one Of the pretti
est little girls you ever saw.
Yes, little Scratch Itch had found a nice
soft, warm home in the curly head of Meg
gle More; safe home, too; for when
Meggie got up in the morning, she only
slicked down the outside Of the rough
head; she never combed deep enough to
disturb little Scratch Itch's morning nap,
and hen Scratchie awoke and began to
eat her breakfast she had no fear Of Meg
gie's disturbing her; for Meggie's head
was always such a dirty. untidy one, so
used to little Scratch -Itches, that she
never noticed them, no matter how hun.
CRY they were. #
So, Scratch Itch fastened her little white
eggs on Meggie's hair, and when she had
quite family around her taught them how
to jump, hide and skip; but warned them
never to 60 into the head of a clean little
boy or girl. For, my children" said
she, "such a little boy or girl is always
using terrible machine they call fine
comb. 1t has sharp teeth, and you will
be sure to be caught and killed."
Now, Meggie went to school, and old
Mother Scratch Itch, as her children be-
came so many, was always on the lookout
for dirty head, in which to send some OF
her children, so that her home would not
be SO crowded .F-.
There was one little Scratch Itch that
did not mind its mother, for one day, when
Meggie was leaning over one of her little
schoolmates, it hoped over on her clean
smooth head 1t was so frightened at leav.
ing home that it hid. at first; but it was
hard work even to find place to hide in
in such clean head 1t was so different
from Meggies that il made 1tchie feel sick.
Then the little girl, Lucy, was not used to
such company; so little Scratch Itch had
to turn fast for fear she would be found.
When Lucy went home, she said, 80
mother, please comb my hair, my head
hurts So"
Not now, Lucy, the baby is SO cross. "
Lucy was lazy little girl, and never
combed her own hair If she could help it..
But little Scratch Itch was as uncomfort-
able as Lucy so she took the first chance
she had, and, when Lucy leaned her tired
head ON the table, hoped away.
Susie May came running in. 90 Lucy,
come let us cut out our new paper dolls !"
she said, as she tossed her hat on the table.
Then the little girls hunted scissors and
began to cut.
Little Scratch-Itch was wide awake, and
hid herself in Susie's hat When Susie
M IN no hnrna hn hnr
way into Susie's hair
II was clean head too, but Scratch
Itch, who was older now, and knew more
dirty" And SO she could and would,
only the moment she began to move about,
Susie, who was not at all lazy girl, went
and got the fine comb, and began to comb
very hard.
How Scratch Itch ran, and jumped, and
hid But the sharp teeth came after her
so fast, she was soon so tired she had to
stop to get her breath; then down came
the wicked machine and scratched her ter
ribly. She ran again, hat had to stop
again for breath. Still down came the
comb Some of the teeth caught her up,
and out went the comb.
Susie did not stop to look, so Scratch
Itch found herself back again, but 50 lame
she could hardly crawl.
why, my little girl, what are you
doing?" said Susie's mother; "you have
combed so hard you have brought the
blood" 80 ma, 1t itches So" Let me
see," said her mother. So she took the
comb and soon brought out Scratch Itch,
who cried, as they cut off her head, "Why
didn't mind my mother?"