The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-02

1CHCC, eHu Elanh Dclu8 T6SpOuSlfc, LILO
former intimacy was soon re-estab
lished. When September came and
the schools re-opened the two lads be-
came school-mates and classmates.
Charlie was a bright boy, and his par
ents had kept him steadily at school,
and were very proud of his attainments;
but though he was two years older than
Frank, the latter was more than his
equal in understanding. There was
no brag about Frank, however, and
there would probably have been no
jealousy on Charles side had it not
been been excited by home influence.
Mrs. Cooper was bitterly jealous and
envious. and her sneers and innuendoes
did much towards making her son as
unreasonable and suspicious as her
sell.
A few months after the school opened,
an examination was held for the pur-
pose Of promoting such of the scholars
as were fitted for the advance to higher
departments in the school. Frank Sum
derland was the only boy in his class
who was successful in passing the ex-
animation, though Charlie Cooper had
not been far behind him, and his heart,
and his mothers as well, had been set
upon his obtaining the promotion.
That he failed to do so was, in itself,
bitter disappointment, but that Frank
should succeed where Charlie failed was
a trial much harder to endure. Mrs
Cooper's undisciplined tongue wagged
freely, and her opinion that the school
was conducted upon the rankest princi-
pies of favoritsm was widely dissen,i-
mated. She would even have been fool
ish enough to withdraw Charlie from
the school had not his father interposed
his rarely exerted authority and put a
positive veto upon any such absurd pro-
ceeding.
AS usual, Charles wrath soon evap-
Grated. and as there was now no occa-
sion for actual rivalry between them,
the two lads got along very harmoni-
ously, and Frank was able to do many
a kind turn for Charlie, which the lat
ter, as a general thing, fully appreci-
ated.
Though very well aware of the rumor
OF Mrs. Cooper's feelings toward her
and Frank, Mrs. Sunderland was sensi-
bic enough to feel rather amused than
irritated, even when Mrs. Cooper's con-
duct, on their chance meetings, verged
upon actual insolence. The widow S
cheerfulness and politeness continued
to be quite invincible until the events
OF certain morning proved to her that
forbearance had at last ceased to be a
virtue.
1t was a cold day in January; Frank
had gone to the well TO draw bucket
of water, but found the well-bucket
half-full of ice, so that it wo,ld not
sink when lowered into the water. His
mother came to his assistance, but sue
ceeded no better than he had done.
Charlie Cooper was at the well in their
own lot, scarcely stones thrown dis
tant, and he called out: "Come fill your
bucket here, Frank; our well is all
right"
Without stopping to ask permission,
Frank scrambled over the fence, and
soon the two lads were laughing and
joking together as Charlie lowered the
bucket. just then Mrs. Cooper came out
of the house and advanced towards
them; she brought another bucket to
fill, one that was already half-full OF
water, which she was shaking around
in the bucket, preparatory to throwing ii
out.
What are you doing in my lot, sir,
may | askP" she said, as she noticed
the intruder. Frank colored, and took
up his still empty bucket.
''Never mind, Charlie" said he; eve
can get the ice out of our own bucket;
I'll go back, now.'
Charlie was provoked at his mother,
and his temper being as ill-governed as
her own, he turned towards her angrily,
crying: whats the use of being SC
hateful? you ought to be ashamed Of
yourself!'' at which words his mothers
anger rose to the exploding point.
'Ill thank you to mind your own
business, Charlie Cooperr' she said
and then turning ferociously upon in
offensive Frank, ''as for you, you young
haristocrat, ] want you to get hoff my
premises, and stay hoff 'em. We don't
want no favortes round here.' Then,
throwing the contents of her bucket,
not absolutely at Frank, but with an
utter disregard of what she was doing,
she dashed the water in such way that
the lad was completely drenched.
Mrs. Sunderland advanced to the
fence to help Frank, shivering and cry.
ing, to get over it. Her gentle temper
proof against insults or attacks directed
upon herself, was at last aroused.
Frank was very delicate child, and
the effects of such shower-bath upon
such morning might be serious. With
flashing eyes and face flushed. with in
dignation, she turned upon her enemy
who did have the grace to look little
ashamed of herself.
''You are a wicked, cruel woman
Mrs. Cooper, and henceforth I viii
have nothing to do with you.n Then
she hurried Frank to the house, anc
mingled her tears with his as she helped
him to attire himself in dry garments
The lad had a cold and sore throat
as the result of his drenching, and his
anxious mother, during the period d
his indisposition, entertained towards
Mrs. Cooper a resentment hearty
enough to have satisfied even DR.. John
son. Frank got well that time, how
ever, and was soon at school AGAR
bright and merry as usual.
But he had several attacks of sore
throat before the winter was over, anC
they left him so weak and puny that his
mother never before welcomed spring
weather so gladly as she did that year
Frank seemed to get quite well anG
strong as the warm weather came, anc
therefore perhaps less prudent. for il
May he again caught cold and came
home sick from school.
He was severely i'll from the first; in
a few days diphtheric symptoms de-
veloped themselves, and twenty-foul
hours later the bright young soul was
freed from its frail tenement, and Mrs.
Sunderland was childless widow.
! will not dwell upon her desolation
the whole community sorrowed with
her; everybody had liked merry little
Frank Sunderland, and his mother was
almost an equal favorite. If friendly
sympathy could have lightened hel
grief that solace would have been hers
perhaps it did, even though uncon
sciously to herself, but, as she sat tn,
L L