Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-24
CAPTAIN SNARLEY.
Tho Bad Old Fellow who Troubles
Little Folks.

Ills right name is w Hired Henry
Alton. But he does not get called
by it very often. When he is good
and pleasant, and sweet, his mamma
and grandma called him Birdie or
Sunbeam. But when he is naughty
he is called Captain Snarlcy. And
his name suits him very well at such
times.
One morning he came down stairs
looking like Captain Snarley. Just
as soon as his mamma looked at
him she knew it was Captain Snar-
ley. But she smiled and said, "Good
morning, dear: how do you do this
bright day p
Wilfred put his finger to his
mouth. 81 dcss I've dot head
ACHE" he said.
"Havc you? I'm very sorry"
said mamma, "where does it ache?"
Why round de back Of it,"
snarlcd the Captain.
81 guess you slept too long," said
his mother. "You will feel better
when you are washed and dressed
and have your hair combed."
So she brought his stripped stock
ings and the little slippers with
rosettse, and new plaid frock,
which she had finished only yester-
day. But, oh, how he snarled and
fused all the time she was dress
ing him.
And when she was curling his
hair he cried out loud enough to be
heard in the next house, and the
lady there said: 81 guess Mrs. AL
ton has got Captain Snarley over
to her house"
When his mother had made him
look nice and neat, she said:-
Snow come and have your break
fast"
But the naughty little boy growl-
ed: 81 don't fink l tan eat anything
'cept piece Of mince-pie."
81 have not any mince-pie in the
house," said his mother, "and you
know l never let you eat it for
breakfast. Here is some nice bread
and milk in your little China bowl,
and the cookies grandma sent to
YOU"
eff l tan't have some mince-pie l
tan't eat anything" said Captain
Snarlcy.
"Very WE'LL" said mamma. So
she put the things away and sat
down to her sewing.
Wilfred pulled his little rocking
chair near the fire, and sat long
while scowling at the stove. Pres
emily he began to kick with his
foot. He knew his mother disliked
the noise, but he did not care. She
did not ask him to stop, and, after
a while, he was tired Of it him
self.
He was very unhappy, and he be-
gan to be little ashamed Of him
self. Besides, he was getting
hungry. He wished his mother
would speak to him, but she didn't.
She was busily sewing on little
coat, and singing softly to her.
self.
Wilfred knew the little coat was
for him. Usually he liked to hear
his mother sing, but now he wished
she would not look so happy when
he was so miserable. The more he
thought about it the worse he felt.
lie began to cry softly, but his
mother took no notice.
Pretty soon he said: ooh, dear!
/ wish | tould have the nosc-bleed,
or somefin, SO somebody would
care"
'People don't care much for
Captain Snarley anyway" said his
mother. 81 should like to hurt him
myself, so he would stay away, and
let me keep my little boy all the
time"
"Should you prick his nose with
your needle?" asked Wilfred.
eyes, or l could whip him. l
think it would be better to whip
him."
Wilfred thought it over. He and
Captain Snarley had little fight
by themselves by the stove. In a
little while his mother felt two soft
arms around her neck, anu two
sweet kisses on her cheek.
"Why, here's my little rosebud
again., said she, looking down at
the bright little face close to her
own.
"Captain Snarley's gone," said
Wilfred, "and he isn't ever coming
back again."
Il hope he will not" said his
mother.
Then Wilfred had his breakfast,
and he was SO hungry he never once
thought of mince-pie.
Atterward he sat down at his
mothers feet, and she talked to him
a long time about his naughty tenn
per. Wilfred promised to try hard
to be good boy, and he is keep
ing his word.
The last time l saw his mother
she said she hadn't seen Captain