Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-12-07
WHAT CAME OF IT.

" will You give Frank and me the square
Of ground under the south windows for
u fowor-bod, next spring? The sun
always reaches it, and it will be so much
prctticr tLan it is now, without even q
tuft of grass growing there. We can
get pretty assortment of seed for a
dollar. Say, father, may I p
Mr.. Hathaway did not look from his
paper for minute; and, when he did,
there was evidence of displeasure on
his face.
"You may have the patch for pota-
toes, if you like; but tell you now,
boy, don't want any dilly-dallying
with flowers. What time you are not
in the school-room, You are needed in
the field. Last year, You bothered me
to death, teasing for II ilower-bed; and
| don't want you to begin again this
year. SO don't let me hear another
word about it.
The father looked at Lis watch. cit
il nine o'clock, boy, and your bedtime.
Now you and Your brother go to bed,
and remember you are to be up at six,
to drive the COWS to pasture, and don't
wait to be called, either"
Lee arose from the table, with dark,
sullen look i'll his eyes, took up his can
dle, and STOPPED over his mother for q
good-ni-h kiss. She pattod the boys
cheek tenderly; held the younger boy,
Frank, close to her for moment; then
followed them wistfully with her eyes,
rs they left the room. Mr. Hathaway
never cared for a goodnight kiss, and
his boys never offered it.
After the boys had gone to theirroom,
Mrs. Hathaway looked up from the
socks she was darning, and said, TIM
idly:
George, wish YOU would think
better of this hower-patch. It can do
them no harm: and, while they are cul-
tivatin& the flowers, they are not in
evil company. Besides, think the
love of them is Il refining power, and
should be encouraged. The little fel-
lows have set their hearts upon it, and
it seems a pity to d;sappoint them.
They are such good boys, too"
Mary" said her husband, sharply,
hitchiny his chair near the fire, " YOU
are bound to ruin those boys. II does
well enough for girls, perhaps, to dab
bic with flowers AMI other eifeminacy
but boys should he made of sterner
stuff. Yes, they are good boys, and l
want to keep them so, and not spoil
them By giving them II hower-bcd
apiece to daily with
"But," interpoSed Mrs. Hathaway,
gently, "thcy must have some amusc- =
ment; and, if we will not give it to
them at home, they will find it else
where. Are they not much better off
in our own yard, pulling the weeds
from among the fragrant and beautiful
pinks and daisies, than they would be
on the street, among the rough village
boys, sowing tares in their own lives,
that neither your influence or mine can
ever entirely uproot? Let us make
home the dearest spot Oh earth to them,
my husband, SO they will never have to
leave it to seek their comfort else
where!'
Mr.. Hathaways' face did not alto
gether soften out of it's hard expression !;
but, tossing the paper on the floor, "a
mans invariable custom) he said
"Well Mary, you can have your way
this time, and we'll see how long that
broom will sweep clean; but, mark {!
just as soon as they begin to neglect
their work, or are late to school, or
tease me for money to buy Aower-seeds,
I will pull every hollyhock and lady
slipper up by the root, and throw them
over the fence!"
And Mr.. Hathaway pulled off his
boots and and went into his bedroom,
shutting the door behind him deal
harder than was necessary.
When he had gone. Mrs. Hathaway
drew long, tired sigh, laid away her
patching, took up the lamp, and went
upstairs to her children's room.
In one bed, her little girl, the young
est of the flock, lay sleeping, with her
soft. pink-and-white check nestled in
her hand. She laid her lips lightly
upon the child's forehead, then crossed
the room and bent over her boys.
"What! not asleep yet, dear? Are
YOU H." and she laid her hand On