The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-05-20
son as unreasonable and suspicious .

son as unreasonable and suspicious as
herself.
A few months after the school opened
an examination wa, held for the purpose
of promoting such of the scholars as
were fitted for the advance TO higher de
partments in the school. Frank Sunder.
land was the only boy in his class who
was successful in passing the examine.
tion, though Charlie Cooper had mo-
been far behind him, and his heart, and
his mothers as well, had been set upor
his obtaining the promotion.
That he failed to do 80 was, in itself,s
bitter disappointment, but that Franz
should succeed where Charlie failed wa!
trial much harder TO endure. Mrs
Cooper's undisoiplined tongue wagsel
freely, and her opinion that the sehoo
was conducted upon the rankest princi
piles of favorilism was widely dissemina
ted. She would even have been fooist
enough to withdraw Charlie from the
school had not his father interposed BIZ
rarely exerted authority and put posi-
tive veto upon any such absurd proceed
ing. s
As usual, Charles wrath soon evapo
lrated, and as there was now no occasion
for actual rivalry between them the two
lads got along very harm oniously, AMI
Frank was able to do many kind turl
for Charlie, which Tie latter, as genera
thing, fully appreciated.
Though very well aware Of the rumo
of Mrs. Cooper's feelings toward her ant
Frank, Mrs. Sunderland was sensibl
enough to feel rather amused than 'rrita
ted, even when Mrs. Cooper's conduct
on their chance meetings, verged upol
actual insolence. The widows cheerful
ness and politeness continued to be Quit
Iinvinclble until the events of a certain
morning proved 10 her that forhesranc
had at last ceased to be virtue.
1t was cold dav in January; Franl
bad gone to the we'll to draw bucket o
water, but found the wel-buc half full
of ice, so that it would not sink wher
lowered into the water. His mother cam,
to his assistance but succeeded no bette
than be had done. Charlie Cooper wa.
at the we'll In their own lot, scarcely ,
stones throw distant, and he called out
"Come gill your bucket here, Frank; ou
we'll is all right"
Without stopping to ask permission
Frank scrambled over the fence, and soor
the two lads were laughing and joking
together as Charlie lowered the bucket
just then Mrs Cooper came out of the
house and advanced toward them; she
brought another bucket to fill, one thai
was already half-full Of water, which she
was shaking around in the bucket pre-.
paratory to throwing it out.
"WhaG are you doing 10 my lot, sir
may ! ask ?" sle said as she noticed the
intruder Frank colored and took up bis
still empty bucket.
"Nevsr mind, Charlie" said hs, 1--WE
can get the ice out OF our bucket. I'll
go back now"
Charlie was provoked at his mother
and his temper being as ill-governed as
her own, he turned toward her aDgrily
crying: "What's the use of being 60
hatefulp You ought to be ashamed OF
YOURSELF" at which words his mother
anger rose to the ex ploding point.
"1ll thank you tc mind your own bu.
siness Charlie Cooper!" she said and
then turning ferociously upon inoffensive
Frank. "ss fo- you, you Young baristo.
crst, want you to get hoff nv premises
and stay hoff 'em. We don't want no
favorites rouId here Then throwing
the contents OF her bucket, not e2actly
at Frank. hut 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
10 help Frank, shivering and crying, 10
get over it. Her gentle temper, proof
against insults or attacks directed upon
herself, was at last aroused. Frank was q
very delicate child, aud the effects of
such a shover.balh upon such morn
ing might be serious. With flashing
eyes and face flushed with indignation
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 / will have moth.
ing to do with YOU" Then she buried
Frank to the house and mingled her tears
with his as she helped him to attire him.
self in dry garments.
The lad had cold and a sore throat
as the result of his drenching, and his
anxious mother, during the period of his
indisposition, entertained toward Mrs.
Cooper "a resentment hearty enough to
have satisfied even DR.. Johnson. Frank
got we'll that time, however, and was
even at school again, bright and merry
as usual.
But he had several attacks OF sore
throat before the winter was over, and
they left him 80 weak and puny that his
mother never before welcomed spring
weather so gladly as she did that year
Frank seemed to get q1ite well and
strong as the warm weather came, and
therefore perhaps less prudent for in May
he again caught cold and came homo
sick from school.
He was severely Ill from the nrst; in a
few days diptheric symptoms developed
themselves. and twenty-four hours later
the bright young soul was freed from its
fral tenement and Mis-. Sunderland was
a childess widow.
l will not dwell upon her desolation !;
the whole community sorrowed with her !;
everybody hal liked merry little Frank
Sunderland, aud his mother was an all
most equal favori'e II friendly sympa
thy could have lighlened her grief that
solace would have been hers; perhaps 1t
did, even though unconsciously to her.
self, but as she sat the evening before
the funeral by the side of her dead dar-
ling, she felt as though there could never
be any more brightness or pleasure for
her this side OF eternity.
She sat there fearless, speechless and
despairlng, and heard not the timid knock
that came upon the door, nor did she
notice the figure that moment later en-
tered the room, until voice Choked with
sobs said:
"Pease, Mrs. Sunderland, mayn't ]
see him ?"
Then she turned and saw Charlie Coop