Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-15
NO. AL.
MRS. HEADACHE.


l was taking a walk lately in town
which l sometimes visit, when came sud-
denly upon a strange-looking little house,
with narrow windows, in front of which
were standing crowd of queer looking
creatures. with very small bodies, big
heads and mouths, and long, ugly arms.
"What can they be ?" wonder. "Per-
haps elves or fairies"
had read about elves and falies, and
knew that fairies are always very pretty.
and very nicely dressed in what we call
evening dresses, but that elves are
awkward and ugly, as well as poorly
| clothed. But those little fellows had
very nice clothes on, all made of scar
| let cloth. What and who could they
be? SO | stood looking at them until the
shoulders of another, rang the bell. Very
opened the door, and in they rushed. 1t
was evidently their home. Before the lit
tie porter could shut the door rushed in
after them. think now it was rather 8
rude thing to do under the circumstances
besides, if they had been elves they might
have changed me instantly into white
mouse, or rose bush, or a brass door
knocker, and might never have recovered
my own shape to this day. But without
stopping to think of this, went in. The
little porter ushered me into little par
lor, where everything was very small.
Here, at little table covered with books
and papers, sat little old woman, dressed
in bright green, and wearing spectacles.
She bowed her head. | bowed mine.
Then began to make an awkward sort
Of apology for the STANCE way in which /
was behaving; but the lady Of the house
stopped me, by saying:
make no apologies. | am Mrs. Head
ache"
"Mrs. Headache!" repeated
Eyes; Mrs. Headache.
"Poor creature! !" thought to myself.
81 wonder if she has the headache every
day
She really seemed to understand my
thoughts for she answered very quickly:
mo, Ihave no headache myself, in your
sense of the word but have the control
of all the headaches among children in
this part of the world. Those are my
sons. Look!' And looked and saw in
Vulnerable little fellows, all busy,-some
hurrying out, some hurrying home, some
waiting for orders. Mrs. Headache turned
to her pile of books
Here" said she, 81 have in writing all
that they are to do to day, Number 496 !"
Number 496 came in at once.
81 want you," said his active little moth
er. ''to take thirty-five of your brothers
and go to the party in Grand street this
evening There is to be n fine supper set
out, and great deal of heat. The chill
dren are to stay very late, and one of you
will be needed to go home with every
child, and remain with it all day to-mor-
row."
"Will they show themselves to the COM
panyP" asked
mo; my children will be invisible;
but they will use their fists well, to pound
and hammer the heads of those young
guests tomorrow"
"How dreadful"
"Not dreadful at all. Those children
are dsobeying the rules of Health, which
are very simple. send my little ones to
them. not as a punishment, but as warm
ing. heard of childrens party yester-
day in the open air. They all went home
and to bed early. sent no headaches
there"
More little fellows came in for orders.
She sent them away in crowds. Some
went to children who would play in the
hot sun; some, to some little BOYS who
made themselves very dizzy sliding down
the banisters; some, to children who spent
II great deal Of their pocket-money in
colored sweet things which looked like
pink and yellow eggs.
ado you think, then, that children
should never eat good things, Mrs. Head
ache, nor play much, nor run ?'
"By no means. | want them to play
and run. | want them to eat good things.
but not such good things, or rather bad
things. as pink and yellow and purple
sugar-plums. must send them my warn
ings if they will not obey the rules of
Health Some of them sit up great deal
too late; some walk great deal too much
others not half enough. Some study too
hard,-pore over their lessons when they
ought to be playing. Oh! have great
deal to do, | can tell you, but can always
wait upon you, maam, if you want me-
Just let me know
by mail ?" inquired.
NO; by my telegraph. Sit in very
hot room, or eat anything you know to be
bad for you, or sleep with your windows
shut down,-there are many ways to
summon me, and will attend to the call
at once, and let you have any number of
my most active children to try their fists
on the tenderest part of yoar head"
thanked Mrs. Headache and went
home Just as fast as | could.-St. Nicholas
for JHne.