Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1885-04-30
PAYING OFF.

Ii pay MIN OH! LII pay hlm on
the first chance I get, if 'tisn't till
I'm as old as Methusalem, now!'
Tony's two brown fists came to-
gether with a thump. His eyes
flashed, and his face was like a
blaze. Mamma looked up, surprised
and grieved at the outburst, but she
didn't say word; she only waited
for what would come next.
II WILL" cried Tony. "Tll have
to, mamma. He's the worst boy
that ever lived. He's-he's-Pd like
to pound him black an blue, So"
Whack! came his fists together
again, poor Tony, and the fire in his
eyes was all at once put out by tears.
Mamma spoke then.
"Tell mother all about it," said
she.
And Tony sat down on a little
cricket at mammals feet and laid his
head against mammals knee and
told, which was just what he wan
ted to do.
'He's kept plaguing me ever since
first I begun to go to school, NAM
ma, Johnny Spratt has, every way
he could, and he's the biggest, too.
I wouldn't plague boy littler than I
was, would you mammal"
mo, dear; I don't think I would"
s.But he does, and calls me names,
too," Tony went on, beginning to
grow rosy again. "He calls me
Tony George because I always lift
my cap to old Aunty Dinsmore-and
that's right, isn't it, mammal as he
thought he saw sly little twinkle in
mammals eye.
"Quite right, Tony she answered.
quietly.
"Cause it pleases her SO much, you
know. And sometimes I carry he,
basket for her a ways. And he
makes fun. And this morning.
Tony's breath came fast and he
doubled his fists-ssthis morning
was the least bit late to school, anG
when I went in they all commenced
to laugh, easy, Of course, so Mr.
Blake wouldn't hear, and look at thu
blackboard. And I looked too; ans
there was picture of boy lifting I
hat biggern he was and bowing rea
low-an awful looking boy, mamma
and Tony George was right unde,
lit. I know who made it quicl
enough, and my face got hot as fire
and just then Mr.. Blake saw it, ant
he said, John, rub that thing outl'
cross as anything. He knew witt
made it too, you see. Mamma, if
was big enough, I'd-I'd thrasl
him all to pieces! I'd just like t.
pay him off so he'd stay paid on
while, mammal"
Mamma didn't even smile. Sh
felt that this was q serious matter.
II don't blame you a bit," sh
said, soberly. 81 think I woul
want to pay him off if were you.
think, dear, I would kill KIM"
Tony jumped from his cricket, h
was so astonished.
"Why, Mamma Walters!" b
cried. ''Why-Mamma-Walters 7
Mamma smiled then, she couldn
help it. But she was quite i
earnest. .
s1t would be a great deal bette
than thrashing him all to pieces
Tony" she said; and Tony held hi
head and blushed. "Suppose yo
try it."
81 don't know how" said Ton,
81 think you can guess, dear. An
now we won't say another wor
about it for a week"
81 s'pose," said Tony, slowly, wit
his face puckered into dozen wrinl
lies over this new idea. ~ s'pos
mamma, you mean the way that ol
Quaker man did that gran'pa used
tell about. But I can't be kind
Johnny Spratt, mamma. How CO
II sides, I wouldn't have al
chance"
"Make one," said mamma. 'tNo
mo more for a week, my son, ar
|then-''
Tony knew what that meant.
meant that at the end of the week
would be expected to tell mann
lust how much he had done towal
killing Johny Spratt with kindnes
"I'm afraid it won't be much,
J thought, with a little disconnect'
pucker between his eyes. "Itn
pretty hard, I s'pose.'
And so it was. Why, it did see
as if Johnny Spratt grew worse eve
day. Tony had to bite his tong
hard a good many times to ke
from telling tales out OF sche
about him. And as for being h
to him-that seemed quite out
the question, though Tony honest
did his best, and didn't get ane
: any more times than he could he
At the end of the week his bir1
day was coming, and Washington
!. and the night before he rushed ho'