The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-10-07

noises in the air like that of empty car:
riages, which died away like a peal OF
distant thunder" On the 10th of Septem
Der, 1949, there was an earthquake al
Burra- Burra, in South Australia, where
the noise is said to have resembled the
rolling of heavy carriages. The shock
was followed by flash Of lightning that
illuminated the whole atmosphere.
-"
Bob.
"BoB MOVES, do stop your racket. No.
body can have minutes peace if you are
within hearing"
Bob's face flushed scarlet, and he laid
down the hammer, leaving the nail half
driven. He turned the toy wagon he had
been working on over and over, with a
wistful look which told of a pitiful heart
ache. 1t was pretty toy wagon. in his
eyes, and he made every bit of it himself,
and if he could only drive six nails more
it would be finished. But there must be
no racket. SO he laid it away carefully,
and going into one corner of the yard
stretched himself under tree, and kick
ing the turf with his heel pondered over
his many troubles. His mother had said
there was no peace for anybody if he was
within hearing; but certainly there was
no peace for him anywhere about home.
He had slipped into the parlor after
dinner, and was having good chat with
Mrs. Somers, and she was telling him OF
three wonderful black and white spotted
puppies at her house, when Sister Jennie
came in and asked him what he was i'm
posing ON Mrs. Somers for. He wasn't
imposing. Mrs. Somers said so. Guess he
could talk as we'll as Jennie, if she was
eighteen two months ago. But Jennie
made him leave the room without learn.
ing how the lttlest and prettiest spotted
puppy got out of the cistern when he fell
in. Maybe he didn't get out. Bob kicked
harder and wished he knew. After his
election from the parlor Bob started to the
garnet to console himself by rock.
ing in the old-fashioned red cradle
Grandmother Noyes rocked papa and
Uncle John in, but Nell and the
boys would not let him in; they were
getting up surprise tableaux and "didn't
want any little pitchers around" He
sought his fathers study to look at an i'll
Illustrated edition of natural history. But
papa objected; che. couldn't have Bob in
there making a disturbance Almost
heart-broken he turned to his mothers
room. eco right away, you will wake
the baby met him at the threshold. He
looked into the kitchen and begged to
help make pies, but Bridget told him to
clear out. He next went to the wood.
house and sought to assuage his sorrows
by working on his wagon, and now he
was forbidden that.
He could not understand why he was
driven from everything; he had not been
a bad boy and lost his temper 1t was be.
You'd his sixyear-old philosophy. His
poor little brain puzzled over what older
children called certain inalienable
rights without find ing solution of his
troubles or coming III conclusion. Had
he been strong-m4hded he might have
called a convention and declared that in
the present order Of things little boys have
no rights which big folks are bound to
respect, and drafted petitions for change
but he was sensitive and submissive and
let people snub him and trample on his
toes without remonstrance
The tea-bell reused him from his cup
of bitter, puzzled thoughts.
"Bob, come to supper"
He wouldn't have to wait, that was
some consolation.
At the table Mrs. Noyes was telling
Mrs. Somers about troup of performing
monkeys. "One of the monkeys with a
striped tail, played on the violin, and--''
i" Mamma, it was ring tailed" inter-
rupted Bob, eager to have the account
exact.
Bob, how many times have I told you
not to interrupt?''
Bob subsidized, but he knew it was ring.
tailed, for he had counted the rings and
had watched it half an hour while his
mother gossiped with Mrs. Layton.
"All the monkeys turned somersaults
when the keeper played Captain Jinks,'
continued Mrs. Noyes.
Mamma, it wasn't Captain links, it
was oh, ware is myne little tog.'"
Bob, if you talk any more at the table
I'll send you to bed"
Bob was correct, and he knew it; he
could whistle like mocking bird, while
Mrs. Noyes did not know one tune from
another. The two reproofs in the pres
ence of Mrs. SOmers was too much for his
sensitive, bashful temperament, and NOR
titled him beyond self-control. His little
fingers trembled and dropped a, glass of
water, splitting its content upon the cloth.
"Bob, where's your manners? Leave
the table instantly!' commanded his
father
The children all laughed, and Jennie
called Bob an "ill-mannered little boor, f"
and the mortified little fellow crept sadly
into bed and sobbed until he fell asleep.
This boys experience was fair sam
pie of Bobs whole boyhood. He must
not sing, whistle, shout, ask questions or
pound, yet he must keep himself handy to
run on errands and pick up chips. He
must not talk to company, for little boys
are to be seen and not heard-hc must not
have any company of his own, because he
did not know how to behave properly.
The idea that Bob had any feelings or
rights was not tolerated. The family did
not intend to act unjustly; they loved
Bob, but they were selfish and did not
want to be disturbed, and Bob was noisy,
and such an inveterate talkers and ques-
toner il given liberty. He was clothed
and fed, and sent to school and to church
and Sunday school; surely thatwas all duty
required.
Bob made discovery after while. He
could pound and saw: and bang as much
as he pleased in Tom Smiths carpenter
shop. Smiths wild, halfdisslpated ap-
prentice made discovery, tgo.1that
bashful Bob Noyes had a wonderful facul-
81 for saying witty things, and for whist
ling and singing when he became &C
quainted and they coaxed him off more
than once to enliven the evenings at the
EXCELSIOR and Star" saloons.
They were blind as moles at home until
a reckless, almost criminal, deed, com.
mitted during the tumultuous. period be.
tween boyhood and manhood showed
them that Bob's young life was being
stepped in degradation, and sin. They
wept bitterly, but not in sackcloth and
ashes. Wrapt in selfrighteousness, they
shifted the responsibility from. their own
shoulders, and as he went from bad to
worse washed their hands of that unavoid-
able family Affections black sheep
Crusader, a.,s-.S.-... IL a
Small farms make near neighbers
they make good roads; they, make plenty
of good schools and churches; there is
more money made in proportion to the
labor; less labor is wanted; everything is