Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-16
UNDER A BUSHEL.
BY MISS NJ. F. BURLINGAME.


Bob Noyes, do stop your racket. No
body can have q minutes peace II you re
in hearing"
Bob's face flushed scarlet, and he laid
down his hammer, leaving the nail half
driven. He turned the toy wagon he had
been working upon over and over, with
a wistful look which told of pitiful
heartache. 1t was a pretty toy-wagon in
his eyes, and he made every bit of it him
self, and if he could only drive six more
nails it would be finished. But there
must be no more racket, so he laid it away
carefully, and going to one corner Of the
yard stretched himself under tree, and
kicking the turf with his heels, pondered
over his many troubles. His mother had
said that there was no peace for anybody
if he was in hearing; but certainly there
was no peace for him anywhere about
home. He had slipped into the parlor
after dinner, and was having good chat
with Miss Somers, and she was telling
him about three wonderful black and
white spotted puppies at her house, when
sister Jennie came in and asked him what
he was imposing on Miss Somers for.
He wasn't imposing, Miss Somers said so.
Guess he could talk as we'll as Jennie, if
she was eighteen two months ago. But
Jennie made him leave the room without
learning how the littlest and prettiest
spotted puppy got out Of the cistern when
he fell in. May be he didn't get out. Bob
kicked harder and wished he knew.
After his election from the par
lor, Bob started to the garnet
to console himself by rocking in the old
fashioned red cradle grandmother Moves
rocked papa and uncle John in, but Nell
and the boys would not let him in; they
were getting up surprise tableasx and
"didn't want any little pitchers around"
He next sought his fathers study to look
at an illustrated edition Of natural history.
But papa objected, che couldn't have
Bob in there making d Disturbance
mothers room. eco right away, Bob,
you'll wake the baby" met him at the
threshold. He looked into the kitchen
and begged to help make pies, but
Bridget told him to ''clare out" He
cleared out" to the wood-hOuse and sought
to assuage his sorrows by working on his
wagon, and now he was forbidden that
He could not understand why he was
driven from everything-he had not been
bad boy and lost his temper. 1t was
beyond his six year old philosophy. His
poor little brain puzzled over what older
children called certain inalienablc
rights" without finding solution of his
troubles, or coming to a conclusion. Had
he been strong minded, he might have
called convention and declared that in
the present order of things little boys
have no rights big folks are bound to re-
spect, and drafted petitions for q change;
but he was sensitive and submissive and
/ let people snub him and trample on his
toes without remonstrance.
The tea-bell reused him from his cud
of bitter, puzzled thoughts.
"Bob, come to supper"
He wouldn't have to wait, that was
some consolation.
At the table Mrs. Noyes was telling
Miss SOmers about a troupe of perform
inc monkeys. Gone smart monkey,
with a striped tail, played on violin,
and"
Mamma, it was ring-tailed," inter
rupted Bob, eager to have the account
exact.
Bob. how many times have told you
not to interrupt?'
Bob subsidized, but he knew it was ring
tailed, for he counted the rings and
watched it for half an hour, while man.
ma gossiped with Mrs. Layton.
"All the monkeys turned somersaults
when their keeper played Captain
Jinks,'" continued Mrs. Moves.
mamma, it wasn't Captain Jinks,' it
was % ware is mvne little tog.''
Bob, if you talk any more at the table
! I'll send you to bed"
Bob was correct, and he knew it; he
could whistle like a mocking- bird, while
Mrs. Noyes did not know one tune from
another. The two reproofs in the pres
ence of Miss Somers were too much for
his sensitive, bashful temperament, and
mortified him beyond self control. His
little fingers trembled and dropped a