The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-17
JESSIE'S COURAGE.

JESSIE lived in a pretty suburb of
Boston. Her family were very ordina-
ry people, in one sense of the word.
They lived in a pleasant house on
pretty street, and had things neither
better nor worse than their neighbors.
But there was one object in the house
that Jessie declared was the sweetest
and prettiest and brightest in an the
world. She loved it dearly and spent a
great part of her time playing with it.
1t was an active, wide-awake brown
eyed, mischievous little fellop; perhaps
ought not to say "it" about him, for
although he was still called "The Ba-
by" Jessie's little brother Ben was
now about three years old.
He was as full of fun as can egg is
of meat" as the up-country folks say,
and his yellow head bobbed Ill and out
Of every room in the house from early
morning until bedtime, when his voice
| filled the whole house at once with pro-
longed and indignant cries. For Benny
hated to 60 to bed as badly as you do,
and you know how bad that is, don't
you, dear? Especially when there is
company, ard you know that Bridget
has baked beautiful tarts and cakes all
day on purpose for the evening treat
Why don't grown folks have treats be-
fore they shy the youngsters off to bed,
wonder
But was telling about Benny. He
had great many nice ways. and ever
so many naughty ones, too, but Jessie
didn't mind that! She loved him so
much that she only thought he was cum
ming! and | have seen the time when l
thought he was only cunning, too, al
though l ought to have known better, 1
suppose, for | am grown-up old per-
son. He came down into the parlor one
evening, after he had been put in bed
and we all supposed he was asleep. He
was dressed in his little yellow flannel
all together, and crawling out from
under the piano when his mother had
done singing, said in very grave tone
of voice, Il want to mate speech!"
We were all hushed in surprise, and he,
coming out in front of reverend gen
tleman for whom we felt a great deal
of awe, said, "Boys want to be unused
tool" and planked himself fatty in a
chair.
Of course the little rogue was naughty
to do it-but his speech was a success.
He was amused" to his hearts con-
tent for that one evening at least.
But there were some things he did
which were not so pleasant for others.
He would run away from home every
chance he could get. The house was
only three minutes walk from the rail-
road depot, and on that great through
line trains were constantly passing.
Many time have his dear mamma and
Jessie and all the servants been seen to
rush from the house, some in one direc-
ton and some in another, trying to hunt
up that mischievous and trying little
boy!
At last one of the bright ones in the
family struck an idea She was quite
an artist, and she devised a sign, with
the help of which she hoped to prevent
Benny from getting out of the yard.
The neighbors had shaken their sides
with laughter over and over again,
watching the wild performances of the
family when the gate had been acct
dentally left open! She concluded to
have the gate kept closed. For Benny
could not open the gate. He was not
tall enough, and his little fingers were
not strong enough, although he often
tried to do it, by tipping his cart up
against it, and then getting up on the
end, when the wheels would roll out
and he would go down, and the pole
would give him severe knock ON the
head for his pains! When all this hap
pened he was always as silent as a
mouse, and not whimper left his lips,
no matter how badly he was hurt
Boys always keep still when they are
planning something naughty. When
you are very still indeed, | advise your
mamma to hunt you up! So Benny's
aunt-now don't suspect it is I-took a
tine, smooth board, and painted in large
handsome letters this motto:
PLEASE SHUT THE GATE,
FOR THE BABY RUNS AWAY.
Thomas then nailed the board onto
the gate, and all the family felt very
much more secure and comfortable.
They had not thought of what other
thing might happen, but they soon
found out. The house was situated on
a street where great many people
passed. The gate soon became the
center of attraction. People driving
would stop their horses, look, read,
laugh, and go along chuckling to them
selves as if they had heard a new Joke
Ladies on the opposite side of the
street, walking perhaps for the purpose
of hiring house, and seeing this sign
a little indistinctly, would come across,
and getting nearer and nearer would
begin to smile, then grin and finally
laugh, either in a finifed ladylike way,
or loud and hearty, as if they fully ap-
preciated it.
One old farmer and his wife drew ND
tneir fat gray mare, and he, handing
the reins to his wife, said, II du de-
clare fort, if this ere house amt fur
sale! Du let me read the sign"
Whereupon putting on a pair of BIG
round glasses, he began to haw-haW
until old Bess prickedup her ears. and
his good wife was just as mad!-because
she couldn't see herself. and he couldn't
get breath to tell her. But as it hap
pened, half of the gate was open that
day, and he laboriously got down from