The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-12
MRS. TGOGOOD'S CHRISTIANITY.

: ~ OF eight; the TWO clueSC arc SiIlS, anu
, no longer need their mothers helping
hand in the way of "ixin'." They are
going to church, and have on their best
clothes, their "Sunday-g -go-to-meetin's."
Little Beulah Vashti has on the new
pink pcrcalc that she tried to wear on
I Friday to school, because the other chill
dren were to be dressed up at the "read-
ing MATCH" but was denied by her moth
er, who didn't believe in indulging chill
dren in any such foolishness and vanity.
Alabama Washington, the oldest daugh-
ter-named in honor of her mothers
birth place, and of the Father of our
Counlry-has her front-locks in curl
papers, which she has kept carefully
concealed from her mothers notice by Il
dust.cap, until the last moment for get
ting ready for church Mrs. Toogood spies
them.
"Do you think, Alabama Washington,
that intend to let you 60 with your hair
rugged out in that fashion? Do you sup
pose I'd let daughter of mine sit in
church under the eyes of the preacher,
showing such signs Of vanity Now,
miss you just brush 'em right out!" So
poor Alabama, who is nearly grown, and
naturally desires to look pretty, takes the
offending papers out, and slowly brushes
the otherwise straight locks, but few
little ringets are leit-Alabama didn't
brush very hard-which she slyly pushes
under the edges of her hair, and duly
pulls down, as she walks to church be-
| hind her mother.
Little Jim Tom, the youngest, wants to
know if he can't ride his stick-horse to
church. "To church! !' screamed Mrs.
Toogood. "No, indeed and if | catch
you on it, or you get speck of dirt on
your good clothes, I'll give you such a
warming when get home that you'll not
forget it soon !"
At last the eight are ready. The little
ones eyes are red-for the tears would
come despite their mothers "if you cry
I'll make you stay at home!" Il threat
she had no idea of carrying out-they
only hoped she would-with having
tangled hair combed and jerked, being
scolded for not holding the sleeve" and
other shortcomings; it's no wonder they
bore traces Of having gone through an
ordeal.
alabama Washington" (NIrs. Too
good calls all her children by their full
names, "hase you seen anything of my
hymn book? laid it right on this shelf
last Sunday evening. Saw Henry Clay
knt ,.MGo, 90 What will the world come to?
Pr" Ters in hymn book just
feel like shakin' the life out of her.
Come here to me, Henry Clay, what have
you been doing with my hymn book 2"
"Nothing," mcekly answers Henry
Clay, a girl of twelve years. 81 just took
it to sing out ot-just to learn Come
Thou Fount of Every Blessin'.' l haint
pressed no flowers in it."
"Well, I'll bless you if ever catch
you with it again"
Notwithstanding Henry Clay's denial,
the stain of green leaf and the purple
from morning glory were visible on a
page, but not on the one of Come Thou
Fount;' that didn't seem to have been
touched with either flowers or finger
prints.
alabama Washington, i want to tell
you now that don't want you to look at
them spriggs boys like you did last Sun
day, else ri call your pas attention to
it; the preachers the proper one to look
at" Mrs. Toogood was always going to
"tell your pa" but this was threat the
children didn't mind, as they stood in no
awe of that easy-going, patient man.
"What's that you've got, William Henry
| IJ,rr;son pndor vour vost 7n "Got MOTH
ingl" sullenly answers William Henry.
"Yes he has, motherw eagerly cries
Maria Ellen, his twin; hes got bean
shooter; saw him put it there" Mrs.
Toogood runs her hand up William Hen
rvs vest, and out comes the bean-shooter
"a strip of leather fastened to two
pronged stick. Poor William Henry is
raped over the head with his plaything,
while his aifectionate twin glggles and
cries, "Goody, goody!"
Mr.. Toogood, who has been patiently
standing on the front porch, calls to his
wife that "the last bell is ringing and she's
been a mighty time tixin'," while Mrs.
Toogood, with flushed face, answers if
she had no more to do than he she'd
have been ready long ago. 81 wish,
Jasper" she cries in exasperated tone,
"vou had the work | have to do with
these brats, you wouldn't then have time
to find so much fault; but the unreasOn-
ablest thing on the face Of the earth is a
man, and l don't want to hear another
word from you, for Pm just worried to
death anyhow. l wish you could see the
sacriment bread that Collie Ann has
baked (Celie Ann is the hired girl. All
the members know it's my week foc bak-
ing the bread, and I'll be mortified to
death when it's passed round. 1t will
do Mrs. Blowgo so much good to talk
about it in the next six months and old
Mrs. wilkins vii! be tickled to death. |
do wish l had baked it myself, but | was
so busy trimming my bonnet, that |
made up the dough and give it to Celic
Ann to bake, and pretty muss she's
made, with two blisters on it as big rs
my finger nail. l just wish she had ten
times as many on her tongue; perhaps
she couldn't have so much CAB, and it's
likely why the cake was blistered she
was lcanin' out the window Cabling to
Sister Potts girl, instead O. watching it.
/ give her head good cracking tho with
the soup dipper. 'Spect she'll leave. !
don't care if she does, the triiling thing"
In this cxasperated state of mind Mrs.
Toogood, with her husband and the eight
Toogoods, starts to church. They go
slowly down the aisle and take bench
near the pulpit. 1t is warm Sunday,
and Brother Doleman breaches Il long,
drv sermon. The four younger Toogoods
get so tired. "Will he never get
through" they think.
Little Jim yawns and mods, and un-
easily moves about, while his mother
gives his legs pinch under the fold OF
her dress, and whispers, "1f you don't
keep still I'll give you good one when
get you homc;" but poor jim is soon
past all threats; the tired eyes that he
has tried so bravely to keep open cluse AT
last, and his little curly head falls against
his sister Alabama's shoulder-he was
, afraid tn rest it against his mothers