Sharp County record., 1880-10-07
It'll show better

IN his voice, he spoke up:
"You needn't put up only the leaf,
mother, tonight, cause we don't want
any supper"
"What's the matter" asked she,
striving to be calm, " don't you feel
hungry?"
There was silence for moment. Then
running to her they bowed themselves
at her knee, while their little hearts
were turned inside out. They told her
how that at school that day all the boys
but them had balls to play with, and
how bad they felt because they hadn't
any, and how their playmates told them
to 90 home and ask their mother to buy
them some, and how they told each
other they wouldn't say a word about
it to her, for she had enough to buy
without getting balls; that as they were
coming home they found some smooth,
round stones, and they thought they'd
do frst-rate, and were so glad that they
got most crazy, and forgot how many
times she had told them never to throw
ANYTHING toward the house, and that
they were so scared when they heard the
window break that they ran off to tho
woods, wondering what they should do.
"We don't mean," said Frank, with
a beautiful earnestness, "we don t mean
what we should do so you needn't find
it out; but we didn't know what wa
should do to make it up to you"
"We knew you'd be so sorry" said
Henry, "and we knew you'd have to
work so hard TO pay for it, that we were
most grieved to death. But after a
while we thought that if we didn't eat
any supper, and didn't eat very hearty
tomorrow, 'twould make it up, and as
soon as we said that, we came right oil
here to tell you. But we did feel so
bad when we got to the door and thought
how sorry you'd be, But, mother, We'll
try and remember never to do so again" "
81 hope you will remember it my
children" said she, tenderly, but ear
nestly, for twenty-five cents isa great
deal for me to lose. It's all I've earned
to day. We must be very careful of our
money or we shall get behind hand, and
l can hardly tell what will become of
us then. But | don't want you to go to
bed without your supper tonight, for |
am going to have good one, and |
shouldn't enjoy it alone Old Uncle
John called here to-day and made me
present of slice of his nice ham and
dozen eggs. Won't that be nice?"
81 guess it will" rejoined the little
boys. Ham and eggs won't it be
good?" and merrily pattered their lit
tie bare feet out of doors and down cell
lar, and into the pantry, and wherever
mother sent them; and when supper
was ready two brighter-eyed, roster
checked, happier-faced children could
not be found in the whole township
Nor ever did a happier mother ask a
blessing on a meal than she who pre-
sided at the board, so humble that ham
and eggs were rare luxury.
When the happy meal was over, and
the tea things washed and replaced
again, as was her wont, she drew them
to her side and after telling them some
stories which they never tired of hear
ing, about their sainted father, she read
to them from her Sunday School book
pretty story, and then an appropriate
selection from the Scriptures, and went
with them to their little chamber and
assisted them to undress. Very care
full were the little ones that night to see
that their clothes were hung up in the
most precise order, and very quietly
came they and knelt beside her to re-
peat their evening prayer. Fervently
did she press them to her bosom when
it was over. and sweeter kisses never
passed between the lips of mother and
her darlings than were given to and fro
on that happy night.
"What a good mother she is" said
Henry. "She is the best mother [ ever
knew in all the world. She's always
sorry when we do anything naughty,
but she amt never cross nor ugly. |
don't believe she knows how to be cross"
"Well, l am glad" responded
the little brother, with emphasis.
"Wouldn't it be awful, though, to have
cross mother and a dead father T!
How l wish he d lived, then she wouldn't
have had TO work so."
"Mother says we mustn't say so, be-
cause God wouldn't have taken him if
it hadn't been right. But | shall be
glad when we're grown up big, so that
we can take care of her. She's got to
live with me in the summer, Frank,
because l m going to be farmer, and
the country will be the very best place
for her in warm weather"
"Well, she may she shall be with
me in the winter time, cause I'm going
to keep big store in the city and have
lots of money. o, won't she live nice
and easy How l wish | was big I'm
such little fellow, rm afraid it II take
so long before | get to be man that
she'll get sick and die"
80, l guess not" was the hopeful
answer. "At any rate, we'll be good
every day while we're little, and then if
she don't live, why she'll have a good
story to tell father about his little boys
that he used to love so dearly. And
we mustn't neUer NEVER throw any
thing toward the house again me?"
go, we mustn't, sure; but if we do
we'll tell her of it-won't we; cause
she'll never be cross, but only so sorry"
Many a beautiful air castle then did
the little ones build and in each there
was chamber for mother, with plenty
of gold and plenty of love. And when,
at last, slumber sealed their eyelids, it