The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-06-24
THE CHILDREN'S QUARREL.

cloak "all covered thick with SpangleS'
so the little girl informed her friend
Bertha, as they were going to school one
morning.
my mothers having her old one made
over" replied Bertha; "but she isn't 60
ing to put any spangles on it, they're too
high"
My mothers cloak shines b-e-a-u-t-i-
fully" remarked Jeanette, proudly.
Bertha's mothers cloak didn't shine
at all Moreover it was not destined to
shine, and the little girl knew it too well.
She had heard them say at home on the
day before that the old galloon trimmings
must go on again. For Il moment she
was speeches., overwhelmed.
Only for moment, however. Her
spirits were something like india-rubber,
always ready for bound.
my mothers handsome enough with
out spangles,' said she in somewhat
satisfied tone.
$50 is mine, b" replied Jeanette, warmly.
mines prettler."
Oh, what a story!'
"She is. She's got the prettiest eyes"
"Why, Bertha Kent! my mothers eyes
are just as jet black as they can be-"
Bertha hadn't the least idea of the color
of her mothers eyes. She only knew
that they were good eyes and pleasant to
look upon.
II don't care" she said with spirit,
"my mothers eyes are the best, and she
never wears spectacles, either
"That's nothing Some kinds of spec
tacles are stylish-Aunt Hattie says So"
Bertha didn't know what "stylish"
meant, so she did not attempt to dispute
that point.
My mothers hair is the prettiest, any
way, and she doesn't have to tie it on
either"
Her tone seemed to admit of no contra.
diction; nevertheless, she had it.
Hair that ties on is very great deal
nicer
"O-h! don't believe it,"
"It is. Aunt Hattie says you can't make
your head look real stylish without some
thing tied on"
Again that wordl Berthas mother
never talked about what was stylish; she
sometimes spoke of what was pretty, but
more often of what was serviceable. So,
as l said before, the little girls mind had
been allowed to remain in lamentable
state of ignorance upon this very impor-
tant matter.
"Well,' said she, after a pause, "my
mothers got the handsomest face, at any
rate"
"O-h, she hasn't"
"She has"
"She hasn't, either"
She has, too.n
Both little girls were becoming angry.
do not know what might have been the
result of the discussion if Charlie Wins
low hadn t happened along just then. He
was whistling very loud, but that did not
prevent his hearing the excited voices OF
his little schoolmates. He stopped.
Whats the matter?"
"Isn't my mother prettier than hers?''
Hasn't mine got far the handsomest
eyes?"
Isn't my mothers face the prettiest?"
"Dont you think hair that grows on
your head is the best?"
Charlie laughed.
(Which mother do you think is pret
tiest?" inquired Jeanette, impatiently.
Nine" replied Charlie, puckering up
his lips for another whistle.
but we weren't talking about yours
said Bertha.
"No," explained Jeanette; we were
talking of our two mothers-hers and
mine. Which of them do you think is
the prettiest?"
mime" replied the young gentleman,
decisively; "she's twice as handsome as
either of 'em." Then, puckering up his
lips again, he walked off.
jeanette and Bertha looked at each other
81 don't see how he can think his moth,
er's pretty" said Jeanette.
"Nor l either" replied Bertha; some
of her teeth grow crossways.
"And her nose is kinder crooked"
$50 it is"
"She never does her hair up any sort Of
way"
"She's only got a little spec, too"
| "How funny of him to say she's hand
some"
Both the children laughed heartily, for
getting their own dispute in their amuse.
ment.
"She's good, though" said Bertha, a,
length. "Don't you remember, when
Robbie Lennox cut himself with a knife,
how she tied his finger up and gave him
an apple?"
eyes, know; and she plays all sorts
of nice games with Charlie after supper
He has good time
| "P-r-aps So"
There was thoughtful pause.
"P-r-aps all the boys and girls think
their mothers are pretty"
"P.r-aps they do.'
Another pause.
"P-r-aps that's the reason we think our
mothers are the prettiest.
| "P-r-aps It's"
"But my mother is very handsome
really"
$50 is mine"
"Come over this afternoon, and well
cut out some waterproofs for our dolls
Mothers got great piece left" said little
jeanette, abruptly changing the subject
Bertha promised. Peace was fully re-
stored. Both felt that the great question
l.. -. -, cott1od ;toalf and