The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-01-22
CAPTAIN SNARLEY.
The Bad Old Fellow who Troubles Lit
de Folks.

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 ne is naughty he is called
Capt. Snarley. And his name suits
him very well 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.
81 dess I've dot a headache" he
said.
"Have you? I'm very sorry" said
mamma. "Where does it ache?'
Way round de back of it." snarled
the captain.
81 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 a new plaid frock, which she had
finished only yesterday. But, oh, how
he snarled and fused all the time she
was dressing him. And when she was
curling his hair he cried out loud
enough to be heard in the next house,
and the lady there said, 81 guess Mrs.
Alton has got Capt. Snarloy over to her
house"
When his mother had made him look
nice and neat, she said, "now come and
have YOUR breakfast"
But the naughty boy growled, 81
don't fink tan eat anything 'cept a
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,
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 ct 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, bot she
didn't. She was sewing on little coak
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 lock SO happy when he was
so miserable. The more ne thought |
about it the worse he felt. He began |
10 cry softly, but his mother took no
notice.
Pretty soon he said "Oh. dear [
wish tould have the nosebleed or some
iii, so somebody'd care
"People don't care much for Capt
5narley 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
four needIe?" asked Wllfred.
eyes, or I could whip him. I think
t would BE better to whip him"
Wilfred thought it over. He and
Japt. Snarley had little fight by them
selves by the stove. In little while
mother felt two soft arms around her
leck, and two sweet kisses on her check.
"Why here's my little rosebud
.gain," said she, looking down at the
bright little face close to her own.
"Capt. Snarley's gone, ," said Wilfred,
8 and he isn't ever coming back again"
81 hope not, said his mother.
Then Wilfred had his broadcast, and
le was so hungry he never once thought
+ the mince pie.
Afterwsrd be sat down at his mothers
eet, and she talked TO him long time
bout his naughty temper. Wilfred
romised to try hard to be good boy,
nd he is keeping his word.
The last time I saw his mother she
aid she hadn't seen Capt. Snarley for
D long q time that she had almost for