Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-10
THE MITTENN.

Do you want to know why little chill.
drcn wear mittens, and not gloves like
grown persons? Listen, and I will tell
you.
Once upon time, mother went out
and said to the five little fingers: -"Chil.
drcn, when l am not at home, behave we'll,
and do what / tell you. II you are kind
and ohedient, will bring each Of you a
little house, where you can live when it is
cold weather.
20 mothcr!' exclaimed the five fingers,
tive will certainly mind; only tell US what
we must do"
Then the mother answered.:
e'The fore.hnger must point abroad,
The middle-fnger can only nod
The third 6nger strict guard must keep,
Lest the little one into mischiefcreep,
And the baby thumb must watch and see
That all the rest 0bedient be-"
snow 80. mother DEAR" said the fore.
finger, "l'll certainly be attentive, and
point prettily, ifyon will only bring me
Something
Then the middle.tinger cried out, II
will promise to be polite and bow nicely,
if you will bring me little house, too,
for I'm the biggest one!'' **
"l'll certainly keep watch, that my lit.
tie brothers do not get into mischief, -
cried the ring.finger: but my house must
be the prettiest!''
mo, mine!'' excl lined the littIe.inger;
mine must be prettier than all the rest
and then won't make q bit of noise.''
But tho baby thumb only said, ''Moth.
er, dear, will do just what you say!''
But their mother had only been conc
q few minutes, when the fore.fnger OK.
claimed:
ut is very stupid and tedious to be so
good, and to point all the time. want
to rest a minute So he lay down.
s'Ah, you lazy thing!" replied the mid
dle.fingcr: 1T is much more fatiguing to
be so industrious, and bow all the time, -
and he was going to lay down, too; but
the fore.fnger jumped up, and gave him a
blow. crying, ''How dare you find fault
with me! You are lazy yourself, you
wicked boy!'
Then the middle finger struck him
again. the fore.finger returned it; and
who knows how long they might have
fought, if the ri.-g.fngcr had not called
out:
y J. ''Arcn't you ashamed of yourselves!
One of you is rs bad as the othor. See
how torture myself, and stand here
keeping watch all the time. l mean t.
stop and rest, and let you great fellows
keep guard over our little Lrother!''
"Whatw exclaimed the fore.inger and
middle finger. You little rough, do you
pretend to dictate and find fallt with
your brothers! There, stop now!''
Then they both began to beat the ring
finger. He turned, with Ill his strength
and struck the little:6pger, which he had
the care Of. The little one gave dread
full scream, and began to scratch, as vel
as he could. But Just as they were i,
the hottest Of the fight. the door. opened
and the mother came in.
Oh how frightened the paughty finger.
we're! They hung their heads, and y er,
SO ashamed they did not dare to speak.
= Finally, the middle.finger said that tn.
fore-finger was lazy, and he would no,
allow it.. But the fore.finger laid tn.
blame on the middle.Rnger, and said h.
began the quarrel. The ring. Rnge,
blamed them both, and the little.finge1
complained Of all.
Then their mother spoke, and said:
s. You are four naughty, disobedient
children. and deserve to be punished
See here, what I have brought for you!'
And she drew beautiful glove out o.
! her pockets. On It was found I've houses
Just as large Is tho five fingers. One Va.
for the thumb; one for the fore.finger
ono Ens t1,n Ms 81 1lo {3rro.. oro r.. Az.