Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-05
One of the Seven Ages.

rom the chronological journal.
"My gwacious!' listened a moment,
to hear if anything more would be said,
but the above expletiye was the beginning
and the end. My son, not quite six years
old, called by some the "buccaneer," and
by others, "boseen," but whose given
name was Joseph, had been sent to the
adjoining apartment to mediate on his
sins. In the act of putting patch ON a
pair of little breeches, which had been
rent from leg to waistband in climbing a
spiked, and on that account not forbidden,
fence, l was naturally too much occupied
to rise and discover the cause of the pris-
oner's excitement. There had been nc
noise, consequently there could be nc
mischief. Oh, fallacy of fallacies! What
could be more ridiculous than such con-
clusion from such premisel
The "buccaneer" had five pairs OF
trousers, all in the same or like condi.
ton, and these were his Sunday ones
They had been worn once to Sabbath
school, once to the park, and once On a
visit to spiked fence. They were Sun,
day pants no longer That morning
had bundled off all his ragged clothes tc
be mended, and nothing remained he.
tween the best ones and Joseph at home
in his night-gown all daT. The last was
contingency too dreadful for moments
consideration-hence the patching.
Remember, my son, that these are
your Sunday trousers" l had said, with
all the impressment I could command
'and don't climb anywhere, and don't sit
down in the dirt. Do you hear me?'
eyes ma'am.'
"You can play for an hour in the lot, il
you will promise to be good boy, anC
remember what have told YOU"
Eyes, ma'am.''
"And remember, if you get Into any
trouble or pick quarrel with any of the
children or strike one of them, shall
punish you severely
"Oh! the angel face that was lifted tc
mine as 1 finished the last sentence
Raphael never painted cherub that coulc
approach it in Innocence of expression.
"Josie never fight no more" said he
"Miss Price'-Miss Price was the Angels
Sabbath School teacher-"says that it,
orful wicket to fight, and great big bears
so high"-pointing to the ceiling will
his chubby forefnger-''come down from
the great big high mountains, and eat
boys what fight, all up"
The Bible stories were badly mixed
but there seemed a certain safety in the
mistake, and let it 60, for this time al
least.
ooh my gwacious!" came from the sit
| ting-room, this time little louder, and
with touch of sorrow in the tone.
"What are you doing, Joseph2" asked
with some severity.
"Paying horse, mamma"
"What are you playing horse with7"
"No reply. repeated the question.
"With tings, mamma; don't be faid =
came at last in wheedling manner had
grown accustomed to when there was
mischief on foot.
"Do you hear me7 What kind of things
are you playing horse with9"
"Only spenders. mamma"
A horrible thought flashed into my
mind, and at the same time strong odol
of kerosene invaded my nostrils. Patche:
and scissors, brooches and spools rolled
out of my lap as flew across the room
/
managed without the slightest noise il
only another connundrum which as 8
mother give up without the slightest at.
tempt at solution. Joseph had screwed
his fathers desk-chair to the top notch
and there he sat with piece of Irvine in
each hand. These strings were attached
to his fathers wedding suspenders, which
my own hands had embroidered. How
little dreamed, when setting these vari
gated stitches that such a fate would
overtake them. At that moment
twas wicked, I am sorry, butt couldnr
help wondering why girls ever get mar
RED.
But to resume. The suspenders were
skillfully and destructively fastened t.
the student-lamp, which the ssbuccaneer'
had set on the floor minus the shade
Why minus the shade is given up will
the rest of the juvenile conundrums. Al
extra pull had upset the lamp, flooded
the carpet, completely saturated one sus
pender and spotted and besmeared thu
other. Two minutes after, Joseph was
sobbing in his crib, and I had gone back
to my patch.
IVA HCdIt uulSSSdNC LuO WHICH, Hdu again
taken up my needle. Had / not been UNI
necessarily harsh with the dear little fell
lowe Strange how pathetic the little
breeches had all at once become!
thought of the half-worn shoes and stock
ings and tiny pants like these tucked
away in drawers where none but grievlns
mothers ever go, and-well, the patel
was finished, and would take look al
the darling whose sobbing had almost
ceased. Should / ever forgive myself il
l-if-if whatG Ohlthought too dreadful
to be endured moment, and yet children
die, yes children die, and mothers who
love, even as love, live on without
| them.
Joseph's hands were very grimy, and
his face was not much better. What with
the borrowed dirt on his hands, and the
tears that had diluted without purifying
it, the effect was somewhat ludicrous
There wasn't spot from chin to fore
head clean enough to kiss, so I pressed
my cheek to the darling's sunny curls,
and left him to have his nap out
aThere's one of them rowdy boys at the
door, who wants to see you a minnit,'
said the cook. few minutes af-