Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-06-30
A PROVIDENCE.

the gray streaks in his long silky beard,
The crows'-fect about his kindly gray
eyes the wrinkles in her yet plump
cheeks, her features suffused by that soft
radiant haze which often mellows aging
faces 10 a grace of harmony surprising
the sliarp cut beauty Of youth, respective.
ly iustifiedtheir claim to be called father
and mother by the four children around
their table.
Next his mother, sat Bill-his mother
and sister calling him WELCOMING on
eighteen, promising hobbledehoy; awk-
ward, mostly legs. lint good -naturod, and
always the first to laugh at the unexpected
transitions of his voice from bass to treble.
Like other youths of his age, his conver.
sation was mostly concerning what he
called his muscle, and an inCipient
shadow on his upper lip, which his sister
Kate saw or was unable 10 see, merely ac-
cording to his behavior She now sat be-
side him, and next her father, whose fa-
vorite she was because she favored her
mother in face and figure. She had the
same brown eyes and auburn brown hair
which Will did not scruple to call red, on
the days when she could not see his mus
taches. She was bright, fun-loving
girl, and her father used often to say after
her sallies of wit, that she reminded him
of her Aunt Kate; so that finally, by one
of those odd processes by which sobriquets
are affixed, she came to be called by her
brothers "Aunt Kate"
On the other side, next his mother, sat
Reginald, the eldest, a young man of
twenty-five a student of law and of bill
iards, who was beginning to feel rather
too big for the family circle, with a good
many engagements" with "fellows" of
an evening. Little Tot, the flve.year old,
completed the circle.
The lively chatter and scattering fire of
jest and repartee going on around the tea
table is interrupted by the sound of the
door bell The one domestic of the
household is busy in the kitchen, and
Reginald, sitting nearest the hall.door,
rises to answer the bell AS he returns,
the eyes OF the group turn eXpectantly up.
on him.
"Little imps, I'd like to lay my hands
on one of them. I'd pull his ears till
he was sick Of pulling door-bells," he
said.
What was it, Reginald?" asked his
mother
"a little scamp who rang the bell for
fun and then ran. | saw him scudding as
tight as he could around the corner.
They've been bothering the neighbors
for several nights, and supposed it would
be our turn soon. But I'll catch the ext
boy who tries it," said Bill.
AT this juncture the attention of the
young people was attracted to the singu-
lar demeanor of their parents. They were
gazing at each other, and through each
other, into the vacancy of introspection,
with an expression of great amusement,
mingled with that tender, pensivc loul<
that fills the face when the laughter of lips
long silent is echoing in the ears.
Il haven't thought of it in twenty
years, Ada" exclaimed Mr. Phelps, "but
it is as fresh in my mind us if it were yes
terday,"
His wife laughed till the tears came,
and seemed fairly rejuvenated by the in.
tluence of "a train Of recollections. And
both then and afterward during the even
ing they stole frequent glances at each
other of a loving, but most keen curiosity,
animated by the impulse we always feel
when portrait of the memory comes out
brightly, to compare it with The original
us now preserved, and note the changes.
Often, indeed, does itprove severe test,
and one to be feared in its moral as we'll
as its physical bearing.
Mr.. and Mrs. Phelps were apparently as
oblivious of the children as If they had
been alone. But the latter, who had OBJ
served their behavior with the utmost
establishment, now broke in simultane-
ously.
"What is itY do tell us, quick!" cried
Kate.
"What on earth is the matter?" in
quired Reginald, with petulant curios-
ity.
''What hrksp' said the irreverent Bill.
1t was a singular expression with which
Mr.. and Mrs. Phelps, reused by these i'm
Fortunate inquiries, turned their eyes from
each other to meet the eager young faces
about them. 1t was as if they had Just
awakened to the fact of their children's s
existence.
Children regard it quite as a matter of
course that they should forget their par
ents, bat resent with surprise and quite
genuine sense OF grievance the least sign
OF even temporary obliviousness of them.
selves on their parents part. The theory
they go on is that what is theirs is their
own, and what is their parents is theirs
too. The feeling of these young people
was some astOnishment, and slight
shock to their sense of propriety, that
there should be any such things as secrets
from them in lives which they had sup.
posed TO be so completely sequestrated to
their use and held in common.
MIR. Phelps, looking suddenly at the
children, with eyes focused for half life
time before, actually failed for a moment
toreeognize them. They impressed him,
just alsinstant, az inlerl0pers.
FWon't you tell us?'' asked Kate of
heHfAtheB in a more subdued tone.
Some day, perhaps. 1t is rather too
long q story for the tea-table."
Bill" he continued, "do you think
you could catch me a boy tomorrow
night II they try that trick again? Don't
hurt him, but Just bring him in to me,
and lll leach.him lesson he will re.
lpemher r,Ps ~. G.. t.-l Lsa.
Why, George, you are not going TO
hurt the poor little fellow" said Mrs.
Phelps, quitefas much in surprise as in
protest., for her husband was not general
ly given % harsh methods of discipline.
Ihe folloNlng evening was mOonless
and rather cool There is something in
such evenings that rouses the imp of mis-
CHIEF In the juvenile -b0som. Boys, not
having any sentimental nature, feel the
ilirlll and stimulus OF spring exclusively
IN an accession OF activity, and zest for
Wv cA-hTNA tAtpa nhlSu DOllb ON6T III every
sort OF mischief against in door folks.
On such evenings rs this, bands of
urchins race about ih streets, PLAYING
g | spy and Bankallilla," while others
lie strings across the sidewalk In shady
spots, and from behind trees watch with
ecstasy and irIepressible laughter, which
tco often betrays them, the trips and falls
Of unwary pedestrians. Still others are
ringing door.bells and gloating, from
secure coyerts, over the exaspera.
tion Of the householder, whose company
sm ile can he seen by the light of his lamp
suddenly changing TO an expression of
disgust, US he finds himself the victim of
a familiar trick. Some more cautious
lads lie string to the knob and thus ring
the bell nom across the street. The
chances are that the One who answers the
be II will not detect tile ring, and the con
lrlyance can be worked iii the family is
half distracted This Is rare night for
mischief, and there will be bells pulled
before bedtime.