The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-05


A MOTHERS TERROR AND A Boys TRI
UMPH.-IIe had been bad boy all week-one
day going to the country to revel in pastures
green when forbidden to leave the house an
other attaching sundry refuse cooking utensils
to the rear Of the honest watch dog +; at times
rushing across the track just in front OF trains
to friShten nervous relatives. and anon giving
rein to his dcviltry by rolling his little sister
down the terrace to the complete ruination of
immaculate percalc, and the certain violation
of the injunction contained in Mr.. Watts little
song about the dogs and lions, for no child with
new striped stockings can witness their defile-
ment and at the same time remember that she
wants to be an angel. Nor was this all. He
| had called convention of other bad boys and
in secret session they had determined to bap
tie the feline in the cistern, and this last
| plot was fast approaching maturity. its eNecu-
| ton having been deferred in consequence Of
the absence of the cat, when another con"en-
ton began its deliberations. the result of Which
it becomes our duty to chronicle
| Father and mother had determined that the
boys mad career must be stfled in lis infancy.
But how to accomplish the desired end was the
question. They didn't like to lay the hand Of
violence upon the cherub, for that would quite
crush his spirit and he might pine away and 60
into an early grave, and SO they decided to
confine him in the upstairs chamber, until he
should completely reform and promise never
again to distress the maternal heart by dropping
dead mouse into the cream pitcherj just be fore
tea-never again to disturb the fathers mental
equilibrium by surreptitiousy removing the
chair and permitting the unsnspecting guest to
recine with emphasis on the ingram carpet
Yes, that was the plan. They wondered that
they had never thought of it before, as the
picture doomed up before their minds eye of
their crring one, clothed in sack cloth and ash
es, with repentance written in every lneament
and humility depicted on every feature, STAN
ding before them and reciting his past err
rors, dwelling on his future perfec-
ton, thanking them for the chastisemcnt
and promising never to go to bed again without
saying his prayers. Oh how beautiful the
dear child would be. He would learn the
whole catechism; he would bring home red
ticket every Sunday morning and bye and bye
he would be great missionary AID guide the
beniglted heather into the straight and narrow
path
Hard as the task was, the boy was safely
conveyed to the prison, the key turned and he
left to be tortured by the stings Of conscience
The mother returned to the sitting room and
reveled in gorgeous glimpses of her darling's
future, when presently the most urearthIy
shrieks proceeded from the upstairs chamber.
For moment tie mothers heart stood still,
ard then with one wild cry she rushed to the
room, followed by the father, servant and
children. There crouched in q remote corner
sat the prisoner-his eyes dilatcd, terror ell
throned Oh his brow, land as the door opened he
screamed:
Sob, snake, a snake!''
| ssWhere, where ~ exclaimed the excited
ores.
s.Ihere in the bed, the bed. A great big
snake as long as the broom handle, ran at me
and then ran into the bed"
Quick as thought the father grasped the UNI
brella, the mother began to rummage her head
fer a hair pin, the little girl ran for croquet
mallet and the servant rushed to the Kitchen
for the potatoe masher. The bed was torn to
pieces the Stats taken out, the carpet jerlcd
up, every drawer i'll the bureau was examined,
the clock looked into and finally they concln-
Jed that the reptile must have made his exit
from the window. Faint and exhausted the
poor mother threw herself down on the bed
clothes, and clasping her dear boy to her bo-
som gave way to the luxury Of tears.
ooh how woald have condemned myself
had the great serpent swallowed my only boy,
and not to have known what had become of
him. would have killed me, 'sand she released the
boy. and burying her face in her hands, gave way
TO a second edition of tears and thanked kind
Providence for having SO guarded and protec-
led her cherished one. Softly the cherished
one stole from the room, and skipping out on
the sidewalk where his chums were collected,
exultantly exclaimed
'.She worked bully, fellows. Where's that
cat?''
1t was put up job, land had taken three boys
J two hours and AZ minutes to concoct it,