The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-03
HOW ibid NOT MIND MY MOTHER,

g" . mother! o Phil such a bnnder there's been
For Peggy's the rooster and Dick is the hen!"
HOW DID NOT MIND MY MOTHER.
The children had sailor-boy cousin
HIS father and mother died when he was
only little fellow, and as he grew tired
of living with uncles and aunts he made
up mis- mind that he would run away. He
had always thought that it would be a
splendid thing to live on a great ship
and to sail away off over the ocean and
see other countries and some other peo-
pie. am very sorry to tell you that he
was not always good boy. He was not
careful always to speak the truth, and
he learned to say bad words, and made
those who would have been glad to love
him and make him happy great deal of
trouble. One day, after he came home
from school, he told his auntie that he
was going out to play for while She
said, Every well, James. Be sure and
be at home before dark" But by and
by the lamps were lighted, and then the
tea was all ready, and so the hours
passed along; but James did not come
home any more. His aunt and uncle felt
very badly, and could not sleep that
night; for they wondered where James
was and if he could have met with any
accident. Very early the next morning
they inquired all about, and at last
learned that he had really gone off in a
big ship, away off to China. This is all
that L will tell you about the sailor boy,
James, just now. But don't forget about
him, as presently shall tell you how he
came back, years after; how he made me
disobey my mother; and all the trouble
that came of it.
suppose you have often heard of
i''te children whose grandpapas had
grandpa had a splendid great IMAftiR}, With
cows, and oxen, and horses, and pigs,
and sheep, and hens, and turkeys, and
ducks, and ever 50 many beehives.
There was such grand old barn, too,
and from some of the cross beams, high
up near the roof, there hung the dearest
old swing! | have never forgotten 1t.
1t hung low, so that we could push our
selves with our feet; and the air was 50
sweet from the fresh hay that was stacked
there during the summer time, so that it
could be all ready for the horses, COWS
and oxen to eat when the stormy, snowy
days came, ana they could not wander
about the fields and nibble the green
grass. On each side of the middle of
the barn where the swing hung were the
stalls, where the cattle were chained
during the winter. Sometimes they
would be fastened there during the sum
mer; but they always frightened me and
| would run away didn't then and /
don't now like to look at a cows eyes
They look at you so steadily and 90 on
chewing their Cud SO solemnly, Just as if
they were making up their minds wheth-
er or not they would give you toss up
in the air with their horns. High up
among the beams the swallows had built
their nests, and such busy little people
as they were, flying in and out through
the windows, talking and chattering to
each other in a fashion that | suppose
they could all understand. Perhaps they
were building some new nests, and one
Mrs. Swallow would say to the other:
just come and take peep at my new
house. See how firmly | have built it.
See how soft it is. viii it not be lovely
nursery for my little baby swallows by
and by?" Very busy little housekeepers;
and they made a great noise about it,
too. Well, this summer that l wish to
tell you about | had gone with my moth.
er and my brothers and sister for a long
visit at grandpa's farm, and who should
be there but the sailor-Loy cousin that
told you about. He had been on several
long voyages, but had written no letters
home, and when we supposed that per
haps he had died, far away, he as
tonished everybody by going to grand
pas farm, too. Just across the road
that ran in front of the house there
was large, lovely, green meadow; and
at the foot of it, there was bright, cleal
spring of water, and it overflowed, max
ing quite a good-sized pond. In this
pond there were the very prettiest little
trout-so shiny, with their spotted backs
glistening in the sunshine. Now, my
mother had often said to me: "Mollie
be sure that you never 90 down to tn,
spring unless am with you" And l al
ways minded her, till one unfortunat,
night. 1t was just about shutdown, wheI
Cousin James took his long fishing poll
and line, and Margaret, my grandma
hired woman, took pail; and just a
they were starting off | saw them ant
asked: Where are you going?"
Down to the spring, little Mollie, t,
try and catch some fish. Didn't yo,
want to go too"
Oh! how | did want to go. wante,
to go dreadtully; but what should | do
My mother had gone to ride, and coul
' not ask her leave; and she had often for
. hidden me and told me to keep ava
from the spring.