Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-15
From the Golden Rule.
MOTHER TINES FAMILY.
By KATHERINE 4. BATES.


the little black cave that served her for
house, and waited for her absent son t
come home between the forest trees
There never was woman of my ag'
who had such hard work bringing NJ
her family, | do believe, Here SummeI
is late again, and l told him over ant
over to be sure and not keep Autumn
waiting. Autumn. you bad boy, if yor
don't stop chasing that woodchuck. you l
fall down and spoil your nice new clothes
that | worked so hard to make.
"Wh hat can | do then, MAJ" whim-
pered Autumn. rosy little fellow dressed
in pretty red and yellow suit, with
blue ss,er in his n-hole, and sprie
of goldenrod in his cap. :" want tc
play with somebody. and Spring has
cold in his head, and Winter is too little
TOR any fun. If pa was here he would
let me sit on his knee and pull his funny
gray forelock. and perhaps when he was
not looking could feel the edge of his
scythe. or turn his hour-glass upside
down. Wouldn't tha, be larks
Your father would shut YOU up in
the big clock directly if he should hear
you speak of such thing" replied Mo
ther Time, s,ernly; "but | do wish,
she added. sighing, tha, he was more
settled in his habits. and didn't go rowing
off in this way with our furniture and
gardening tools. leaving me to keep house
and bring up you boys all slone. 0 dear
o dear, sobbed Mother Time, burying
her head in her white apron. | never
though, once that should live to see my
husband grown so figh,y, and my poor
children obliged to earn their living by
going out as common painters.
30 dear cried Autumn. whose cheer
full tone suddenly turned into the most pit
eous all. " bile be threw his chubby arms
abou, his mothers neck, =" don't want
10 be painter. don't wan, TO earn my
own living.
30 dear" sobbed Spring in a wheezy
voice, running on, from behind mock,
with two small tears in the corners Of hls
two blue eyes. =" don, wan; 10 earn my
living. don, wan, to be painter.
"Ho no ho," chuckled Winter, the
Youngest and naugh,iest of the family,
who was very much pleased 10 hear the
Others CRYING because, regret 10 say, he
was quite angry with his mother, who
had told him to stay in bed until she fin
ished his new white Jacket and knicker-
bockers. Winter was tired of lying alone
in tina, ugly black cave, while his broth
crs we've running about in Jauniy suits,
80 he chuckled all TO himself AZ their dis
,ress. and kicked his little cold feet
through one OF the cob-w web sheets. FoF
Mother Time was queer housekeePer.
and all her linen was spun for her 10y the
spiders.
Bu, Winter soon stopped his naughty
laughter, and doubled up his tat Is; IN
vexation, as another voice sweeter than
the others, but faint and languld, was
heard calling from the edge OF the forest.
Summer IS home again, pouied this
bad baby OF the household, | don't like
him. lie is always coming and tucking
extra blankets about me when | am jus.
melting with heat. / Will not love him
if he Is my brother will turn over
and shu, my eyes up tight.
so Winter buried his small, red nose
in the cob web sheets, and made believe
he was fast as'eep. But he need no,
have taken all that trouble. for nobody
thought anything abou, him. At the
sound OF the voice from the forest, Mother
lime had started and taken down the
apron from her gray head, and the two
little boys had brushed their eyelids dry
on the backs Of their hands in a twink
ling. for Summer, their lazy, handsome,
musical brother, with the sweetest smile
and the hottest temper in the family, af-
ter an absence of three long months, was
coming home again.
He was slender, graceful little fellow,
as he came running up to his mother with
his empty paintpails slung over shoulder;
his clothes looked q trife worn and seedy,
and his shoes were covered with dust, but
Mother Time was delighted to see him
and kissed him all over his flushed and
tired face, for he was her favorite child,
and knew more of her secrets than the
Others.
Hurry, brother. hurry" cried Sum-
mer to Autumn, as soon as Mother Time
gave him chance to speak, "pa won,
like it if you are late. o, ma, I'm SC
tired. want TO lie down. You didn',
mix enough water with my green paint,
and couldn't keep the grass looking very
nice, and then forgot and let the flies
out of my inside pocket, but | wish you
might have seen the currsnts and the
daisies. Pa scolded some because | staid
so late, and told me to see that Autumn
started directly. l met him as | was
coming home, ma. and he seemed in g
great hurry. l think he would have SEN
his love to you and inquired after the
children, only he couldn't. Make haste
Autumn, everybody is looking for you.
I'm all ready" cried Autumn. yer!
much excited, as he ran for his paint pot
and brushes, and fastened them on hi
shoulder by birch-bark strap. GOOD
bve, ma Tell Winter to grow up int
big boy before l come home. Good
bye, Summer! Goodbye, SPRING. {
ma, don't stop me. i know all abou
it. l guess l can paint as well as an.
body
"Wait, Autumn" said old Mothe
T;o bold;no the eager little fellow bacl