The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-08-17
Young Mulkittle.

willie" said Mrs. Mulkittle to her
son, Il am going down town to do some
shopping, and want you to behave your,
self while I'm gone. Don't bring any
more of that old whoop iron into the
house. I'm tired of picking up your
trash and ,say,if you put any more rusty
nails in the bureau drawer Ill whip you
You ruined one of your fathers shirts
and you ought to be ashamed of your
SELF"
"Let me go with you. please"
will you be good boyT
Yes, I'll be so good you'll always
want me to go with you"
am almost afraid to take you," SHE
said, lingering for moment fin that
hesitation in which a woman so per.
fectly acts the character of the weaker
sex. "COme on, then"
The boy lost no time in getting ready
Under severe restraint he walked along
the street. Occasionally he would ex.
hibit disposition to loiter and investi
gate, but word from his mother would
bring him back to her side. Once he
stopped where man was sprinkling a
flower bed, and had asked question
when his mother plucked him by the
sleeve and hurried him along. Mrs
Mulkittle reminded him of his promise
as they entered drygoods store, and
declared in an undertone that if be
opened his mouth she would take him
home and lock HIM up and not give him
anything to eat.
I'D starve then, wouldn't II"
Hush, now! Don't you open your
mouth"
Must breathe through my nose?"
"Hush," sad Mrs. Mulkittle, as advan
eng she was met by clerk, smiling
old bachelor, on whose head there was
not enough hair to spoil plate of soup
Just then a young widow, to whom re
port said, the old fellow was very de
voted, and several young ladies' came
forward. The bachelor blashed anC
turned on pivot of politeness from
first one customer TO another.
"Ma," said the boy. "every time l g
with you we see bald-headed man
don't we?'' --.---.--.----
Hush! What did you promise me?
"But l didn't know we'd see a bald
headed man." and he looked at the an
noyed man with an interest he Away
felt when confronted by such a curl
osity-an interest inexplicable, and on,
which nothing could keep from crop
ping out. The girls giggled and "nudg
ed" the widow.
How long have you been bald, mis-
terP"
"This is worth twenty-five yard,
said the bachelor, pretending not tt
have heard the boys question.
81 say, how long have"
And this, which l think is a mucl
better quality, is worth thirty"
"How long have you been bald"
"Ten years. mean ten yards of Thu
only is left
Wasn't you bald before thatP'
NO." he said, giving the boy glanc,
which plainly said, "how I'd like to boz
your ears" Mrs. Mulkittle had paid n,
attention to the boys impertinen
questions, for if there is anything in th,
world that can relieve a woman's mmC
Of family affairs, it is dry goods. WheI
she had so readily corrected the chill
when she met the first clerk. she wa
purchasing something for her husband
Now she was selecting drygoods fo
herself.
ayes, you were bald before then," th,
boy persisted.
mo, l wasn't. Yes, / think this will
make up we'll"
"Yes, you was. You was bald whel
you was a baby, bet you"
The girls giggled and "nudged" th,
widow again.
Il don't know"
"Yes, you do know. Is your heaC
soft on top like baby's?
Hush" Screamed Mrs. Mulkittle
realizing the situation of affairs, ant
reaching around she pinched the young
ster.
"Ochr' Quit that now"
"What makes you talk that way say 2
and she shook him. After few mo
ments and when Mrs. Mulkitte hat
again become absorbed in the array o
goods on the counter, the boy asked:
"If the boys was to laugh at yol
would you sick the bears on emp"
"No."
"You haven't got any she bears, hav,
you?"
"No," and he lifted down another boil
Of goods.
"It anybody was to slap you on th,
head it would go 'cospank wouldn'
it?"
Madam" exclaimed the man. strik
ing the counter with the yard-stick
"its no trouble to show goods, and
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