The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-10-31

sldsrs boy, aeSly. "Manna NJ ~
means or God . - RooA . W'oSn0 4,
ere rod % tOlks WA0 AaVO - nannAkv
70 N We hAv0'1t aoa0 any0AiHR Z
u holm nsxt deoe, 'ean0 1S'vs il
coma"
1aybs AS's aisaia ~ VIM" ssp,isd
tAs att.: sizl A.svdly. "rl e
Rfed A,Aus.t liiGiag q IL -,
Aeard this conversAtioa, md ysPostod d
his unclo.
HunpAI" ejacalatsd list indiSoa'
ual, moodily. al hope - woman Vim
have sense 0aO0gh 10 tale Q hint"
A week elapSsd, and John AGAunl
vaa. to ne his own sxPess1ioa, "noss
out Of sorts than ever"
"OVos.er dantWo stichz," w. Dinahfs
version Of his nood, - - addsomDd
her pots and kettleA
i won't stand this any loneor," n
exclaimed, testify. "The baby cries eli
night aud the older once - 6sdlan IN
the day. When the Guinea sAopA Tie
peacock begina When . drum b ct
rsst . blast comes from . tin horn. Ia
ben. have scratched up ny sseds. the
dog hal might - ven tell ny grew.
ances 10 her,
Forthwith he sat DOVE sd wrote:
MADAM: Patisncs csases 10 b Q virtns
can nos think By day nor deep By night
Would 10 Be possible for yoa b change your
nursery 20 the other side Of your hoass !
Could your children exist with Q smaller
allowance Of drums. trunPses, jsWsharps
sna tin hornS! Your chickens have pulled
up my sssdI Yoar dog tore ny door msi
into bits yesterday. Yoar boys stone my
fruit trees, and your girl bothen my cook.
Noar Guinea peacock and parrot protest
sgAinst - nui.anceaL II you can eject an
sbstsment Of ell these n1isancss, you will
greatly obliss your nsishber,
He rang the bell: Erred, take tn
next door"
"Yes sir; but ] am late for the base.
ball match; I'll stop on my way home.
Guess 1t viii keep; gunpoWder IL apt to, I"
he said with q meaning smile.
~ don't want any delay" replied
John Ashurst, sternly. "This thing
must be stopped"
That afternoon John Ashurst sat In
his Office writing, when he heard .
stealthy step pass his window, followed
BY the rustliDg Of leavea ats that
plagued neighbor's children" he said,
excltedly. They're At my cherries
again"
A few strides brought him 10 the tree,
where . boy was scrambling down
" You young scoundrelw exclaimed
John Ashurst; "Pve caught you now,
and I'm going to take you straight In to
your mother. Don't belong there?
None Of your tricks Come, march
along, and We shall see where You BE-
long"
Dragging the culpEit along, John Ash
urst rang his neighbOr's doOT-bell.
"No trespAssing allowedp screamed
the parrot in its unearthly tOneS
John Asharst was very angry. To
have his warning cast into his teeth BY
this ugly green bird was not pleasant
al want 10 see the lady" he said,
CURLY, to the servant who opened the
door.
Yea sir. win you walk into the
pArlorr'
VIII ysa waIk into ny ParlOrf"
said the spider 20 the hy;
sit IL the prsttssst little parl0E
rhst ever pen ala sRy."
In spite Of his anger, John Asharst
aid this TO himself aS he glanced about
the dainty room, such Q room as he had
not seen for many yearA There was no
disorder, neither was there In his own
stiff parlor next door, but the air Of
comfort and simple elegance was some
thing unattainable by all the rules Of
he knew. John Ashurst
Wa Q critical man. When he was
younger he had been called artistic. In
sensibly his mood melted. On q little
table stood . vase of lilies Of the valley.
On the wall in water colors lilies of the
valley. On bracket In wax work were
lilies of the valley. They were flowers
he had avoided for years, for they
stirred . memory Of bis lost youth. Now
there flashed upon him q memory Of his
own room years ago, with lilies Of the
valley On table, bracket and wall, and
their subtle fragrance recalled the per.
fume Of flowers worn In . Woman's hair
above the sweetest face be ever knew.
The door opened and Q lady entered,
followed by two boys and little girl.
al am glad TO see thee" was the grA
cious reply given this ungracious man,
Thou art our neighboF, I am told.
Wilt thou Be seated?"
John Ashurst was almos. poWerless to
speak. Years ago this quaint Quaker
speech had thrilled him as no other
speech had done, and he had dreamed of
q lifetime with such music In his ears.
g. beg your pardon" he said, in q
confused, hesitating way; al have
brought your boy home"
"Not much2" exclaimed one of the
boys in the rear Of the beautiful woman,
for John Ashurst said TO himself that
abe was beautiful
The mother gave the boy q look Of
smiling reproof g she said: thou hast
made Q mistake. ] have only these
three children and their baby brother,
who l. asleep."
"Told him didn't belong here, but
he Wouldn't blieve me-" explained the
boy, SulIsnly.
al beg your pardon" said John
Ashurst, with deep humility; al am
afraid I have Wronged your boys-and
you" he added, still more humbly,
enAnA1A6 VI NC noeo Nc uau inolteu SnAt
morning.
"Doa't mention It." said the lady, Do
litsly. al Am fearful We have disturb
ed thee. Thou art aware We had q
great grief. have allowed my children
70 have Whatever pets they choose, and
amuse themselves In every innocent way,
that their minds may be diverted from
THAR Kreat losR"
John AshuFst's face was sympathetic.
and troubled, too; for he was thinking
Of his note. "A heartless thing, under
the circumstances" he said TO himself.
Had Fred forgotten 10 deliver III That
was q lucky alp of the memory, he
thought.
The sWeet-voiced, sweet-faced Quaker,
ess continued; "My baby has been
very sick. ] have been Obliged 10 keer
on this side of the house, as Il Il cooler,
When he h better I shall change my
nursery"
John AShurst's face fell. After all
she had read HE note. al beg your
pardon" he said, with real trouble Ii
his tone. al did not know your baby
was Ill. beg you win not change OF
my account was mistaken about IN,
boy"-turning to ZEE that the urchiT
had made his escape. al may have
made other mistakes. Perhaps they
were not your chickens. Il may hay,
been some other persons dog"
"Chickensf Dog2" - the lady, in 1
puzzled way. al do not understand. =
John Ashurt's face frightened. Sh,
had not received his note. cit does no
signify" he replied, he replied careless
ly. 90 thought you might have heaFt
complaints about your chickens or do,
I-trOm-my oook-Or nepbew-or ZONE