The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-19
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
Robie,s Mistake,


smoothly over the tops of her ears and
tied in tight coil behind; so many
years ago that grandmother did not
wear glasses, and did wear, instead of
the pretty white caps she puts on now,
great shell comb IN her hair; so many
years ago that the broad grain fields and
grass lots, which lie around the old
house now, were all overgrown with
great oak and pine and maple trees.
Betsy Gt seems so queer to think that
mother was that funny little girD was
the only daughter in that great family.
SO it happened that the boys, although
they petted and leased her by turns
when not in want of help, came to her
meekly enough when in Troublesome
that her quick little brain and warm
heart would get them out of that
awful scrape" some way. l think that
Robbie, the mischief-maker in the family,
was Betsy's favorite. But sometimes he
tried even her long-suffeling patience
beyond endurance.
One day grandmother came up out of
the cellar with the great cream jar in
her arms.
Betsy" said she, "did you take the
cream for the coffee off that basin of
milk that'I saved out ?"
Z" Yes, mother why?"
I" / don't see what breaks up the milk
80 This is the fifth pan / have found
disturbed this churning."
Just here the cat did something that
made Robbie laugh. Betsy looked at
him severely. Grandmothers eyes fol-
lowed Betsy's. She began to mistrust.
80 Did ,JO,l do it. Robie Q"
Robe turned to his sister.
"Now, Bette, say that was mean of
you to tell on me.
i didn't tell, though / told you L
would if you did it again !" and Betsy
pretended to scowl, though that dimple
WOuld come in her cheek when Robe
This was O good omen for Robbie he
suddenly remembered that he must hunt
for the eggs.
"Robie, come back. Betsy, what
does he do?" and grandmother looked
80 stern that Betsy began to wish she
had not exposed the rogue but she had
warned him. SO she said
why, mother, he just puts his lips
down to the top of the milk and sucks
the cream right into his mouth"
Robbie (being "A generous boy had al
ways considered it a great trial to keep
his brilliant discovery to himself, SO
now that he was exposed he plunged
into the discussion with enthusiasm
"Why, mother, l tell you, it is just
the best way in the world 1t just
SWOops that yellow stuff on top right
into your mouth" (and ROBBIE illustrat-
ed, "and leaves the milk all undis-
turbed. Great improvement on spoons"
coming up coaxingly. Say, now, man.
my, don't you think it is ?"
''No, sir, do not, and 1 never want
to hear of your doing such thing again.
You may go into the porch and do that
churning."
1t was Robes especial aversion to
churn. He concluded that he would
let his discovery rest for while. But
it happened that about a week after that
churning he went into the pantry of an
errand. It was warm day. The pan
try was darkened How cool and tempt
ing the cream looked One taste was
not much He heard grandfather and
the boys come in to dinner He must
hurry up with the butter. He would
take good strong taste. He leaned
down. "iSWoops "-spit-sputter-
Bett Oh the lard y He rushed out
blindly to meet the assembled family
coming to the scene of action. Bette
gave little excited cry and laugh:
ooh mother, he has mistaken the
lard you set away for cream! See his
nose Oh oh -
1t was too much for parental dignity.
The boys shouts only echoed grand
In tl ar 81,
her shell comb fell out, and Robbie, who
wouldn't spoil joke for relation
sake" laughed until, what with throat
full of laughter and lard, he was in i'm
minent danger of choking.
But the joke was not 80 good that he
cared to repeat it, and he left his dis
covery and grandmothers cream to I'M
disturbed repose after that experience.
The Evils of Profanity-An Open Letter
TO the Boys OF America.
DEAR RURAL: II you are willing, /
will say few words through your col
umns to the boys. While / am willing
the men should listen.
DEAR BoYs: Did you ever see q
lovely plant overshadowed and choked
by great, ungainly weeds till it had no
strength 10 qua or doom just SO
would the coarse and noxious weeds of
profanity shadow your character and
choke from your heart every sweet bios
som of purity and refinement.
I hope there are many among you who
never use bad language of any kind, but
1 want TO warn you all against profani-
ty. First, it is exceedingly sinful to
take the name of God in vain, and how
often do we hear the name of our
blessed Jesus Christ, who died for us,
profaned. Any boy has some influence,
be it more or less and if he INDUCES
himself in the use of profane language,
he places a very bad example before his
acquaintance. Besides, this ensnaring
practice would surely bring you into
bad company, and evil companions
would lead you to many other vices.
Vicious boys would soon trace you and
flock around you, while the good could
find no pleasure in Your society. If you
have true friend on earth-one who
seeks your best interests-you may rest
assured that that friend would suffer
deep sorrow and humiliation il you were