Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-26

and kissed his chubby cheeks; but hi
opened his eyes quickly, exclaiming
/ IRE thinking, mammal"
! Before Hatty could ask the subject o.
his meditations, he asked.
docs 90 Ike papa? / don't; | fnks
he amt nice, ike Johnny Burton's papa.
Ne pays horse wis i'm, and ets i'm pull
is whiskers eoer 50 h0rd, and diets i'm
tandy, 'ets i'm Diet is clothes des az dirty,
and don't aeefr sag noSsain he added, with
convincing air.
| Mrs. Burke smiled Involuntary at
| Bennie'a definition of mice but even
while she smiled, the thought oppressed
her that her husband did not evince the
love for his children that other fathers
did To DO sure, he was good husband
and father according to the letter of the
law.
He was no scold, and was good pro.
wider, but there was lacking that loving
sympathy which she and her children so
much needed, and, even when she re-
proved Bonnie for so speaking concern.
ing his father, she felt how futile were
her efforts to convince him that papa
loved him "des as much as mamma,
while that child like face looked up into
hers, and the wondering little voice
asked why papa didn't hug and kiss me
ike 90 does, mamma ?"
Ben. Burke co I'D stand do more, but,
rushing into the room, he caught the as
tonished Bonnie in his arms, and giving
HIN one terrible hug, exclaimed 81
guess I'll be a nice papa now" and put
ting the little fat hands into his whlsEers,
as il in amends for past misdemeanors,
added g." Pull away, Zen, and I'LL never
say nosin any more"
Then turning to Hatty, who stood in
amaZement with the awakened Minnie
ciutching frantically at her sleeve, said :;
Bring her along, mamma; were 60
ing to have jubilee down stairs r. and
away he rushed, with the excited Ben.
riding astride the majestic shoulders of
which he had always stood in such awe
Arrived down stairs, they beheld the
table adorned with camelias innumerable,
while piled by mammals plate were books
enough to stock q small paper warehouse
Ben, never did anything by halves, and he
stuffed the delighted children with bon
bons, until Hatty interposed wih
BENJAMIN, you'll surely have doc,
tors bill to pay for this jubilee"
Minnie, you must not eat another one.
1C'fiiItlC -I'ttb at SEEul VI I)EuillC, sHtll
father and mother burst into unControlla,
bic laughter; for he, hearing lis mothers
words to Minnie, and aDprehendtnE a
similar command, had stuffed bon bon
after bon bon into his mouth, until it ut
terly refused to hold any more. and he
was seeking for hiding places in his cars
and up his sleeves.
Seeing their laughter, he, with the
quick sirhtedness of Child, knew that
he was free from punishment, and made q
last grab for more.
Hatty, however, was too quick for
him, and the remaining bon-b0ns were
csrried away for the morrow's deleCta-
ton, provided pills and jalap did not sup
ply their place.
What an evening was that for all con
cerned. The happiness they had craved
SO long was theirs at last. Beunie's papa
was now even ''nicerer" than Johnny
Burton's. This was no spasmodic effort
Of Ben's. He had learpea his lesson and
meant to profit by it. There were no
more longings for marble fronts" etc.
but Ae worked with an earnest purpose,
content, The meanwhile, to- live and be
happy in the "shab6y little hut" with
love and frugality at his freside,
So, in after years, when bis own door
opened from marble front, he felt that
he had earned 1t by finding out ''whut
allied him. loledo B5adg.