Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02

MOTHERS WAY.
BY ALICE ARNOLD CRAWFORD.


walk, slowly replacing his shoes and
stockings. The shoes were heavy with
red clay, and the stockings chung with
damp tenacity to pair Of blue feet; re-
fusing to be tugged beyond the wet little
heels of their owner.
Il say, Robr'
Well?" inquired Rob, meditatively,
tracing with one bare toe the hop-Scotch
pattern on the sidewalk "Well?"
IOu and the rest of the boys 90 long
and get your 'Scuses. Don't wait for
me-" Juggling at the refractory sock.
9 Teacher'u expect us back right away
tug tug, and a sound of parting stitches
in the stocking. Meet me at the corner
and we'll all go into school together.
Therem
Seeing that Fred's prospects were
Frightening, Rob and the others ran
down the street, intent on producing from
maternal pens the required excuses for
an unfortunate hardness in the school
room.
How they do sing!" soliloquized Fred
as the voices of his schOolmates fell upon
his ears through the open windows.
They amt late, nor going home for a
note, nor anything. Bother the raft and
the poles and the mudm and the little boy
ruefully wiped his cheek with his clean
jaCket-sleeve, and proceeded to tie knot
in the stiff, Clay-colOred shOestring.
i will be good, I will be good,
l will be good to-day"
shouted the chorus in the school-room as
Fred arose and started for his home
around the next corner.
q will be good! aUiU be good!'
proceeded the songsters, with the usual
vehemence of three-score mischievOus
and thoughtless urchins; but the words
struck the listener unpleasantly.
:" Just what [ said to mamma this
morning, when she pinned my collar"
said he, feeling involuntarily for the too
freQuently-lost article. meant it, too.
But Rob and the boys called me to the
water, and then Tom Gray said 1 didn't
dare. go on the raft; and, any way, /
won't be dared by Tom"
Fred sighed as he opened the little
gate and went through the grass to the
kitchen door. The hardest of his way
lay in meeting his mamma and conquer
ing her scruples-for mamma had her
scruples, and they interfered sadly some
times with Fred's plans. She was wash
ing, though, and perhaps would be in a
hurry. That was in his favor.
g say, mamma" winningly.
Why Freddie" came in sweet, sur
prised tones from the cloud of steam.
"Say, now-now, mamma" laying a
stick of wood with great precision on
the nearest pile.
"What is it, dear? Why aren't you at
school? 1t is late"
"Well, that's just it. You see Rob and
the boys and-well, yes-and, and me-"
Come here, Freddy. Let me wipe
your face and your collar. How came
you to take hold of it with muddy fingers?
Come into the house"
ooh never mind. I'm in hurry"
Fred thrust his feet behind the chips
for reasons known to himself. I'm
tardy, mamma, and teacher wants a mote
Please do it quick, cause I've got to be
back in time for 'rithmetic I'll be
bringing in wood while you write"
Now this unusual offer of Fred's
struck his mother suspiciously, and she
dried her hands slowly, with troubled
look on her face. 1t was a way his
mother had. She always looked serious
ly upon the misdemeanors of her chill
dren in their dealings with their teachers.
Fred never liked it. 1t made him so
much trouble to have her ask questions.
Why didn't she let things go, as Tom
Gray's mother did?
"FreddyT
"Yes'm," hesitatingly, from the dim
recesses of the woodshed, where the dry
sticks lay.
Come in for moment"
Fred obeyed. She was a little mother,
but he always obeyed when she spoke.
She led him into the COal-rOom beyond
the kitchen.
yes, sir" said Fred to himself.
q Yes sir, she's. going to ask questions.
The boys II be waiting Oh! dear. That
old raft and Tom Gray-and, any rag,
what did make mamma so inquisitive?"
Where have you been?" began his
mother, sitting down in the green arm
chair (she looked pale against the green,
Fred thought and removing the strip of
linen from the necko his " roundabout"
Just down to the ravine little while.
There were whole lots of boys nd raft.
They said daren't get aboard; nd so l
did. You wouldn't have me be coward,
of course" doubtfully but encourag-
ingly.
Mamma didn't seem very appreciative
just here, so Fred proceeded:
IND then we went to the bridge, and
the bell rang there before we could get
ashore. Rob and the others were late,
too"
As his mothers eyes were slightly
downcast, Fred stood little closer to
her skirts. His feet seemed IN the way.
What did your teacher say" asked
Mrs. White-so sadly, it seemed-taklng
from Fred's pocket roll OF soiled linen,
once a clean handkerchief.
oh! she said we must get our -scuses
the rule, YOU know. Oh. no. My feet
are warm enough Don't mind me!
You just be writin', cause I'm in such a
hurry"
Quietly surveying the clay-spread
shoes, Mrs. White began removing them.
Fred thought her hands looked very
white and delicate against his soiled
stockings, and wondered as she laid the
damp articles aside if washing was very
hard, any way. Mammals arms were
slender too. Twas too bad to make her
so much work. But the note!
Come, mamma, will you?"
Yes, Freddy, since your teacher re-
quires it. Put on these dry things" And
she turned away to bring her pen.
"Why! amt she jolly, thought" whis-