Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-10


1t was very amiable neighborhOod,
for the two families at once moved into
one house, so that Kitty's corner could
be given up for a BARRIERS shop. Then
they procured a chair, towel, some
brushes and a basin of soap-suds, and
business commenced briskly. The num-
Der of children the two ladies brought,
and the way in which their hair grew,
was remarkable. But after sopping and
scraping the china and rubber dolls few
times and applying restoratives to the
bald head OF the rag baby Tommy began
to want better subject for his skill
hair that would cut in real earnest.
"Let me do yours, Bert" he said.
"Well," answered Bert, innocently,
climbing into the chair.
"Will mamma like it?" questioned
Kitty, little hesitatingly.
"Why, she said the other day it was
getting too long and he must have it cut
off," answered Tommy, fastening the
towel around Bert's neck.
Kitty was satisfied and Tommy lath-
cred and rubbed and combed and clipped
to his hearts content. The two little
women became so interested in this per-
Torrance that they gave up housekeep-
ing entirely, deserted their children, and
went into the barbering business them
selves
at don't look as if he had much hair
left on his head" said Kitty, when Bert
was finished. 81 guess it's cause it's
wet and sticks down So"
She and Hetty wanted to do Toms
then, and Tommy was perfectly willing.
1t was great fun. They made him shut
his eyes, to keep out the soap-suds; and
Al LII al L.
on one side of his head and the other
cutting on the other side-and an odd
looking head it was when they were
done
at just feels jolly, tell you" said
Tommy. Now you girls must have
yours done, too"
Hetty was ready enough She always
did things first and thought about them
afterward. She "just liked short hair"
she said, and didn't care if they cut it
all off" And she sat and laughed, and
declared that it felt splendid" until
Kitty felt great desire to try the eX-
pertinent. She grew reluctant, though,
when it came her turn. She did not at
all fancy the appearance of Hetty's head,
and she did not want to part with her
own bright curls.
81 don't want mine cut off short; but
you can clip just a little bit off the ends"
she said.
"Let me do it," urged Bert "I'm a
barber-man, too and you didn't let me
do one bit yet"
"You're too little" began Hetty. But
Tommy interrupted her:
ooh! let him cut just little bit, If he
wants to, while we're making up some
more soap-suds, Hetty"
So Tom and Hetty busted themselves
in rubbing soap into a fresh basin of
water and stirring it into thick, white
foam; and Bert was left to himself for
few minutes, during which he shipped
away vigorously.
"Ohl Bert you've got this side shorter
than the other; you must make 'em
even" said Tommy, looking up.
Yes" answered Bert, contentedly.
"Now this is all stiff and frothy, and
Wen rub it all over her head" said Het-
ty, presently. "Oh Bert, you've cut of
ever so much of her hair!"
Kitty started in dismay and began to
feel of her locks.
"That's cause they wouldn't come
even" said Bert, soberly. "The more l
cut 'em off the more they wasn't even Il
bit"
Gwen have to cut II little shorter to
make it all alike, Kitty" said Hetty,
comfortingly. .a.....
But very little would not answer the
purpose, after ali; for Bert had tried
some experiments in shingling--" the way
Tom did and the last of Kitty's long
curls were gone before the evening proc.
ess was completed. Tommy looked
rather grave, though he repeated again
and again that it would grow long in
ust few days"
"And 'Riar can't pull so when she
combs it in the mornings" added Bert,
quite satisfied with his share in the
work.
But Kitty's face grew longer as her
hair grew shorter; and the moment
Hetty's scissors stopped she ran for the
small mirror they had brought up among
their playthings. One glance was enough,
and she burst into tears.
"Oh, deari Observation-Disclosures picked
--chickenl" she sobbed, and started
down stairs to find mamma. Nobody else
could comfort her then.
The other children filed into the parloi
after her-Tonmy looking somewhat
ashamed, Hetty frightened, and Bert sol
EMMY contented-as the sorrowful tale
was told How cousin Rebecca did scold!
Hard enough for three mothers and
grandfather Hetty said, afterward.
Children are always in mischief; and
these ought to be sent to bed at once,
and not allowed to stir out of the house
again until their hair grows to be re-
spectacle That would teach them not
to NEEDLE with it again." said Miss Re-
becca.
But mamma was pretty sure they had
learned that already, and she understood
how they had done ii without meaning
any harm; so she was very gentle, and,
though she laughed, she almost cried,
too, over the poor, cropped, little heads.
So odd ragged and uneven the cutting
was that there was no remedy but visit
to the barber shop in good earn est, and
four closely-shorn children came home
again.
Kitty seemed quite pensive all that
day; but brother George laughed every
time he saw her
Il can explain your copy TO you now,
Sis. You are good illustration Of it,"
he said teasingly.
mo, you needn't, cause I've found