The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-07-11

". thinking it would be safe there.


1t was as I had expected. His
"drum" was my engraving, which,
stretched tightly on its wooden frame,
gave out a sound having some resem-
blance TO the sound Of a drum. John
Henry was lying fiat on the floor, with
bis feet flying back and forth for drum
sticks.
Don't you know better than to kick
apicture in that way?" 1 cried, snatch
ing it further out of danger.
On inspection it was found to be half
spoiled. The nails in his shoes had
scratched through the surface in seve-
raj places.
you'll make quite a drummer, won't
you, John Henry?" said his father, as
unconcerned as if my pet engraving
had had no more value than a newspa-
per.
81 don't think I shall pay a sovereign
for Cngravings for item to make drums
Of, said I, thoroughly provoked.
81 hope you amt going to get cross
with little boy like John Henry?" said
his father, resenting the remark. "Of
course he didn't know any better. He's
only child"
''He's eight years DID," retorted I.
"If boy at that age isn't old enough
70 know better, the chances are that
he'll never know a great deal"
'I think we'd better have some mu-
sic, " said Mary, who saw a storm brew
ing, and sought to avert it.
"I'n open the thing" yelled John
Henry, and made a rush for the organ.
"Iu open it myself if you please"
said I, firmly pushing him away from
the instrument.
But the little rascal scrambled upon
the stool and insisted on lifting the
cover, which he threw back with a.
great bang, jarring a bracket which
hung over the organ from a nail. My
Clytie stood on this bracket, and be-
fore I could catch it it was dashed
against the organ and broken.
I picked up the pieces with an as
sumed calmness and took them into an
room. was getting worked
up to the pitch Of desperation.
"Oh, mo0sic, moOsicI' Ibeard Georgy
and got back into the room
just in time to see John Henry working
the pedals as well as lie could, while
GeOrgy was Clawing the keys at a fear
ful rate.
Ii was with the utmost difficulty that
I succeeded in getting them away, so
that could play. 1 didn't feel in the
mood for Beethoven or Mendelssohn, I
assure you.
"WheTe does the mOOsiC come frOm?"
said GeOrgy, unable longer to restrain
himself; and before I could stop him
he made grab at the keyboard and
lifted two keys so high that it wrenched
them part way out of their places.
"GO right away this minuteI' I ex-
seizing him by the arm with
such a grip that it frightened him.
He skunk off to one side, and 1 thought !
1 had awed him into fear Of me at last.
Vain hopeI
Suddenly he made a dive for my
knee.
"What's this?" he cried, clutching
at the swell. 1 pushed him away, but |
be made another grab, and-crack,
crackI The swell was brOkenl
I sprang up, and, reckless of the |
presence of his parents, shook him vim
"What are you doing2" cried Lucy,
rushing to the child's side.
I'm teaching him to mind his busi-
ness, said I, reckless at last. Ever
since you have been here you have let
your children do whatever they pleased.
You haven't tried to keep them out of
mischief. Since you will not make
hem behave themselves Twill. Ihave
borne all I can.
Lucy began to cry, and John Henry
md Georgy Joined in the chorus. Mr,
Mason was horribly angry, but I didn't
,are.
I said a good deal after that, because
was provoked to it, for he declared 1
was cross and particular and childish.
told him that I liked visitors as well
Is anybody else, but I did not care to
nave people visit me with unruly child
,en. would prefer TO have such peO-
de stay athOme.
The upshot of the affair was that
lext morning John Henry's pa and
ma, and dear little Georgy and JOnn
Henry took their departure, and they
haven't been to see US since-and I
haven't cried about it.