Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-05-17
Selected STORY.
His Ma Deceivex Him.

Tive ME ten Genus WOTCn VI oai-
from, quick said the bad boy to the
grocery man, as he came in the gro
Gerry on gallop, early one morning,
with no collar on, and no vest. He
looked as though he had been routed
out of led in hurry, and had just
jumped into his pants and boots, and
nut on his hat and coat on run.
Il don't keep saffron, said the gro
cery man. as he picked up barrel of
axe-handles the boy had tipped over
in a hurry. You want to go over to
the drug store on the corner if you
want saffron But what on earth is
the mat
At this point the boy shot ont of
the door, tipping over basket of
beans, and disappearing in the drug
store. The grocery man got down on
his knees on the sidewalk and scooped
up the beans, occasionally looking
over to the drug store, and just as he
got them pickad up the boy came out
of the drug store anc walked deliber-
ately towards his home, though there
was no particular hurry The gro
Gerry man looked after him, took up
an axe handle, spit on his hands and
shouted to the boy to come over pref
ty soon Us he wanted to talk with
him. The boy did not come to the
grocery till towards night, but the
grocery man had seen him running
down town n dozen times during the
lav, and once lie rode up to the house
with the doctor, and the grocery man
surmised what WAS the trouble -
Along towards night the boy came IN
in detected sort Of a tired way, sat
down on a sugar barre! and never
spoke
What is it, boy or girl ? said
the grocery man, winking at an old
lady with IA shawl over her head, who
was trying to hold paper over a
pitcher of yeast with her thumb.
How in the blazes did von know
anything about it? said the boy, as
he looked around in astonishment and
with some indignation Well, it is
Il girl, if you must know, and that's
enough, and he looked down ut the
cat playing Oh the floor with a potalo,
his face a picture of detection.
o. don't feel bad about it, said the
grocery man, As he opened the door
for the old Lady. Such things are
bound to occur But YOU take my
word for it the young one will have a
hard life unless you mend your ways.
You will be using it for cork to a
Jug or to wad gun with the first
thing your ma knows
4 wouldn't touch the darn thing
with the tongs, said the boy, az he
rallied enough to eat soLe crakers
and cheese Gosh, this cheese tastes
good. | hain't had nothing to eat
since morning. I have been all over
this town trolling for nurses. They
thinks a boy hasn't got any feelings.
But | wouldn't t care Il god darn if ma
hadn't been sending me for neuralgia
medicine and hay fever snuff all win
ter, when she wanted to get rid of
me | have come into the room lots
of times when MA and the sewing girl
were ut work on some flannel things,
and ma would hide them in a basket
and send me off after medicine. |
was deceived up to about 4 0 clock
this morning, when pa came to my
room and pulled me out Of bed to 90
over on the West Side after some old
woman that knew ma, and they have
kept me whooping ever since. What
does u boy want Of sister unless it is
big sister? don't want no sister
that / have got to hold and rock and
hold bottle for This affair breaks
me all up" And the boy picked the
cheese out of his teeth with silver
he cut off the counter.
Well, how does your pa take it 2
said the groceryman as he charged the
bows pa with cheese and saffron and
a number Of other things.
%, pa will pull through He want
ed to boss the whole concern until
ma chum, an old woman that takes
suUE, irel l..M cut into the L2Ml. ~