The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-01-23
CAPTAIN SNARLEY.
The Bad Old Fellow who Troubles Lit
tie Folks.

| The bad Old Fellow who Troubles Lit
| tie Folks.
! His right name is Wilfred Henry
Alton. But he does not get called by
it very often. When he is good, and
pleasant, and sweet, his mamma and
grandma call him Birdie or Sunbeam.
But when he is naughty he is called
| Capt. Snar1ey. And his name suits
him very we'll at such times.
One morning he came down stairs
looking like Capt. Snarley. just as
soon as his mamma looked at him she
knew it was Capt. Snarley. But she
smiled and said, "Good morning, dear,
how do you do this bright day ?"
Wilfred put his finger in his mouth.
"I dess I've dot headache" he
said.
"Have you? I'm very sorry" said
mamma. "Where does it ache?"
Way round de back of it," snarled
the captain.
"I 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 striped stockings
and the little slippers with rosettes,
and new plaid frock, which she had
finished only yesterday. But, oh, how
he snarled and fused all the time she
was dressing him. Aud when she was
curling his hair he cried out loud
enough to be heard in the next house,
and the lady there said, "I guess Mrs.
Alton has got Capt. Snarley over to her
house."
When his mother had made him look
nice and neat, she said, snow come and
have YOUR breakfast"
But the naughty boy growled. 81
don't fink tan eat anything 'cept
piece of mince pie"
81 have not any mince pie in the
house." said his mother, "and you
know I never let you eat it for break
fast. Here is some nice bread and
milk in your little China bowl, and the
cookies grandma sent you."
eff tan't have some mince pie, 1
tan't eat anything" said Capt. Snarley.
every 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 time scowl-
ing at the stove. Presently he began
to kick with his foot. He knew that
his mother disliked the noise but he did
not care. She did not ask him to stop,
and after awhile he was tired of it him
self.
He was very unhappy, and he began
to be ashamed of himself. Besides he
was getting hungry. He wished his
mother would speak to him, bat she
didn't. She was sewing on little coat
and was singing softly to herself.
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. He began
to cry softly, but his mother took no
notice.
wish tould have the nosebleed or some
fin, SO somebody'd care"
"People don't care much for Capt.
Snarley anyway" said his mother. ct
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 could whip him. I think
it would he better to whip him."
Wilfred thought it over. He and
Capt. Snarley had little fight by them
selves by the stove. In a little while
mother felt two soft arms around her
neck, and two sweet kisses on her check.
"Why here's my little rosebud
again" said she, looking down at the
bright little face close to her own.
"Capt. Snarley's gone," said Wilfred,
land he isn't ever coming back again."
"I hope not" said his mother.
Then Wilfred had his broadcast, and
he was SO hungry he never once thought
Of the mince pie.
Afterward he sat down at his mothers
'eet, and she talked to him long time
lbout his naughty temper. Wilfred
to try hard to be good boy,
md he is keeping his word.
The last time / saw his mother she
aid she hadn't seen Capt. Snarley for
70 long time that she had almost for
,otten him.