The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-23
THE BROKEN WINDOWS.


pened now?" exclaimed Mrs. Layton,
vehemently, as she was startled from
her dose on the sofa by the shivering of
window and the scattering of the
broken pane. "rl warrant those lit
tie haram-scarums of mine are at the
bottom of this. They were born to
plague me, / really believe. There's
never a day passes but they are in some
kind of trouble - and rousing herself
she picked up the book whose pages
had mesmerized her thoughts and eye
lids, and with a step and air that told
plainly she was sadly out of humor,
fastened to the easement. On her way
she stumbled, and a ball bounded be-
fore her.
'Just as expected. They never
yet had plaything but they were sure
to do mischief with it the first thing.
But III punish them for this, the little
torments l can't see for the life of me
what comfort there is in having chill
dren. If they are in the room with me
they tease me with their noise, and if
they are out of my sight they are sure
to be head and heels in trouble. l shall
be glad when they are grown up and
out of the way and she closed her
amiable and affectionate soliloquy by
giving the bell hasty pull and throw
ing herself with an impatient gesture
into her rocking-chair.
"Where are the boys, and who broke
the Window? said she, in an angry
tone, to the domestic who appeared.
''In the kitchen ma'am, waping
hard for, indade, ma'am, they niver
named to break it / saw it meself,
ma'am, and | ashure We, it was all the
sheerest accident, and they be very
sorry, ma'am-"
"Send them here, instantly" was
the lady's interruption, in no mild tone
either, to the attempt of the warm
hearted Irish girl to "plade the cause
of the little innocents," and send for
glazier, too, and bring up brush and
dustpan and sweep up the bits of glass"
With a sad heart Mary obeyed the
commands of her irritated mistress.
"Is she cross, and will she whip us?"
exclaimed the two little boys-the one
five, the other seven years of age. Say
mo, that's good Mary! Didyou tell her
we didn't mean to, and was so sorryp
Yes, yes, my darlints: but you
must 90 to her and mind We, 90 quietly,
too, my masters, and be sure to kiss
her swately and promise niver 10 be so
careless agin," and wiping the sorrow
stains from their cheeks, brushing their
hair and smoothing their tumbled sacks
she sent them " abOve.n
Hand in hand, as though they fan
cied there was safety in each others
proximity. the little offenders assembled
the staircase and with slow and noise
less footsteps paced the hall, but halted
at the parlor door. Fear whitened each
little face and shook each little penitent
heart.
"You 90 first" whispered Henry, to
the Younger one. She'll forgive you
guess, cause you are SO small and
don't know any better and then you
coax her to forgive me-"
"No, no, darsn't, cause 1 can't
never speak right when / ought to-"
responded Frank, SILVER running up
his delicate limbs. Yougo first you're
the biggest, and you ought to-"
How long they would have tarried
there disputing in their childish way,
and striving to wear a brave heart, we
can hardly guess, had not their mother
hastily Enclosed the door.
Z" So you've come at last, have you,
naughty boys!' exclaimed she, with
anything but maternal sweetness hover
ing about her lips. g You've come to
get a good whipping, have you? l
guess you'll remember next time to
throw your ball somewhere else than
into the pallor window. Naughty
boysn' and she dragged the fearful,
speeches. creatures into the room.
"A whole dollar to pay out now for
your careless trick. What do you think
viii become of us all if you go on so,
breaking windows every day? Wen |
have to go to the poor house. and you'll |
be beggar children, with nobody to
love you. Naughty boysr' And she
went to a closet and took from thence
80 rod of correction"
40, don't, don't whip us, dear, dear |
mother" screamed both the children, !
as she drew near them. 1--WE didn't |
mean to, we'll never do so again we |
won't; we never broke one before oh, |
don't, don't - and they struggled vainly !
in her angry grasp. Heavily came
down the weapon upon the shrinking
shoulders stingingly it swept across
the quivering palms, while shrieks of
at hurts. oh, it does hurt so ~ were |
mingled with sobs so piteous that the
servants below pressed their ears to
keep out the echoes.
There, now, guess you'll behave
after this, you naughty boys" exclaimed
she, as, out of breath. and hot and
Hurried, she sank into her chair. "And
now take yourselves otto bed, and that
as quick as you can, too; and don't let
me hear any noise up there, either, or
I'll come up to you again. Hyou can't
mind without whipping it's high time
you were whipped till you do mind.
Come, why don't you start?"
I" Have we got to 60 to bed without
any supper?" moaned, rather than
asked, little Frank. I'm so hungry l
shall die before morning."
2" I'll risk your dying. Yes you've
got to go TO bed without supper. /
must take what the supper would have
cost and pay for new light. See what
comes of being naughty"
The children started, but Oh the
threshold they paused, turned round
and stood irresolute, as if longing, yet
fearing TO ask favor.
''What do you want nowP" said the
mother. in a tone that was still shrin
and diScordant. l.