The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-28
ssMANNERS."

Little tommy could never tell Wnlcn
OF his two grandmothers he loved best
--Grandma Phelps. who was tall and
straight, with soft gray curls, pretty
white laces, and plain black dresses
that were never wrinkled or mussed; or
Grandma Slater, who was short and
stout, wore funny black caps that were
always askew, and long calico aprons
that were never of duty from morning
till night.
Grandma Phelps was always saying:
Tommy, dear, remember TO take Oft
your cap or, Tommy, dear. you are
eating too FAST or, Tommy, my
dear, it is very ill-mannered TO leave
anything on your plate" But the blue
eyes beamed so lovingly through the
gold-bowed glasses, and the pepper,
mints in her black satin bag were so big
and round, Tommy listened dutifully,
and tried to be as polite as he conven-
iently could, with the very short men,
ory which most little boys have. Some
times, however, he felt obliged to tuck
a few crlsts or plain bit OF cooky un-
der his plate, lest he should lose hear
ing one of grandma's lovely fairy
stories at bedtime; and this brought its
own punishment, as you will see.
Grandma Slater lived on farm, and
was too busy 10 tell stories, but Tommy
was never tired of tumbling about in
the new-mown hay, hunting for hens
nests, or helping grandma make the
cheese, eating all the while bits Of de-
licious curd.
Grandma seemed to look upon little
boys as sort of grist-mill, with
mouth for hopper, into which she
must keep pouring something or other;
she had such funny, and Tommy
thought delightful, way, of heaping
his plate with all sorts Of goodies at
the table, and filling his pockets be-
tween meals.
On this particular day, there was
boiled chicken and plum-pudding for
dinner, with sauce for the latter, such
as only our grandmothers could make,
mostly Of molasses, but simmered and
stirred and spiced to the creamiest,
daintiest Of sirups. Unfortunately,
Tommy during the forenoon had eaten
as many apples and pears and peaches
as would comfortably fill three boys
stomachs instead Of one, and 1t is little
wonder he dallied so long over his
chicken bones that, by the time he was
ready for pudding, Uncle Ted and the
hired man had hurried away 10 get in
the oats, and grandma had gone to look
after her dried apples. 1t was a very
nice pudding, but there was very
small cavity lett for it, and Tommy, al
though he sighed over the vanishing
sweetness, felt sense OF relief when
two or three mouthfuls more promised
to leave his plate as 'mannerly' as
even Grandma Phelps could desire.
Just then, pat! came another whole
slice OF pu1 1ding and small deluge OF
sauce. Grandma Slater had stopped a
second, in one Of her rapid transits
through the room. "Eat away, sonny"
she said, there's plenty more; take
your own time.
"Please, ma'am, couldn't'-began
Tommy. But grandma was gone; and
oh, dearl What If he did have plenty
=. Of time! Swallowing another mouthful
was quito out of the question; and what
aOOuld Aunt Jane think OF that plate
when she came TO clear of the table!
What would Grandma Phelps sayl and
she was sure TO ask if he had been her
Z" little man" all day.
Now. il Tommy had never hidden
those disagreeable crusts the rest of this
story might never have happened. AS
it was, quick as flash, he unbuttoned
his little blouse waist, slowed away the
pudding, sauce and all, and, seizing his
cap, rushed through the kitchen to the
outside door,. calling Rex. the old shep-
herd dog. TO follow. Faithful old Rex,
he knew, would never tell what became
Of the pudding.
But, right in the doorway, he ran full
tilt against his own papa, who had taken
half holiday, and driven out TO the
farm with mamma and the baby and
Grandma Phelps.
"Saye and preserve usl" cried papa,
catching Tommy up in his arms,
WHATS the hurry, little manP or is
this the way you and Rex usually get
over the groundP'
30, papalp exclaimed Tommy,
"don't--doTt squeeze me. I--please
oh, dear mer' es u.s. ~
"Why, Tommy SIaterl'' said man.
ma. pulling open the little stained
blouse and looking ruefully from that
to papa's white vest and linen duster.
"Why, of all things" exclaimed
Grandma Phelps. holding up both her
hands. "Can 1t be-our Tommy is--a
glutton!"
"I wasn't, didn't" sobbed Tommy.
.'Its the--mannersl couldn't have
'em any other way; N what's the use
OF 'em. anyhow, s'posin' you're full of
something else insidc?"
ITO be surep' laughed Grandma
Slater, coming TO Tommy's rescue.
Manners, just for the outside, don't
amount TO much. Never mind now,
sonny, grandma was most to blame this
time-both grandmas I'm thinking"
she added, shaking hands with Grand
ma Phelps, q twinkle OF mischief in her
black eyes. "a lcetle too much pud-
ding and manners, too, l take it Well,
well. soap n water II mako the-outside
rsaa- 4flaa 4rl1 ~