The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-12-31

children. three girls and two boys,
came in with languid footsteps. and
pale faces from which all childishncss
seemed stricken. SpOtlessly clean,
with shiny hair and polished boots.
they followed in orderly fashion the
lead of the eldest, who stood before his
mother, awaiting her permission to
speak.
''Wcll, my son?' she said quietly.
There is no school this afternoon:
the senior class is to be examined
he said, wearily.
mo school! Very well, | will set you
some sums after dinner, and find you
some words to study in the dictionary"
Silently the five sat down aud watt
ed till the visitor departed, uncomfort-
ably conscious Of ten weary eyes, and
| five pallid, pinchcd faces.
Crossing her own doorway. Mrs.
Turmoyle was greeted by merry duet:
NO school. no SCHOOL,
Then the tenor:
s.WOn't you make some bobs for nv
kite, mamma? There's splendid
wind. -
Followed by sweet soprano:
'And oh, mamma, you promised the
first holiday you would trim my dolls
bonnet
..Iain't 4 kite, tOO?" stuck in Mark.
..Oh. do let me get my breath, I
cried the little woman. where's your
hat. Tom?''
"Oh, | forgot said Tom, sweeping
It off with profound bow. Here,
take this chair, and let me take your
bonnet and sacque up stairs. Yon are
very tired
..I'll help make them.' said Bessie;
land II go and watch Tom mamma,
If you don't feel like trimming the
bonnet.
well see after dinner said Mrs.
Turmoylc. loosing from one round.
rosy face to the other, marking the
sturdy limbs and dancing eyes. To be
sure the hair Of all three must be re-
duced from state of rebellion before
they were prcsentable at the table. and
soap and water were pleasant sugges-
tions in the maternal eyes. There was
perfect health and happiness. if the
voices were shrill and boots noisy.
i've been to see Mrs. Stone,' she
said, when washed and combed, the
children gathered around her TO wal,
FOR papa aha dinner, ..and wondered
if could ever make my children as
quiet and orderly as hers are.
"Willie Stone is milk-sop!' said
Tom, contcmptuously. "Always crying
because his head aches! He cant play
anything. and daren't move for fear Of
spelling his clothes. Wouldn't play
football for fear Of getting dust on Iii.
shoes! There's a nice hoy for YOU
he might as well be a girl''
And mother. the teacher had tc
write 4 note to Mrs. Stone the day John
Grey split the ink on Maud's apron
She was so afraid to 60 home it was
awful! She said her mother would
whip her. and keep her on bread and
water for whole day. Miss Lee told
her to say it was not her fault, but shs
said her mother would not believe
her.
.Dinner-and here comes papar
cried Tom.
Mr.. Turmoylc came in with u very
grave face. He made no comment oi
the boisterOus announcement of the hol
iday. but stopped to kiss the rosy face,
with unwantOn tenderness. After din.
ner he sent the children to the nursery
and he said to his wife. who had been
anxiously watching his clouded face:
..Tillic, met Dr. Holmes on my way
home. and he tells me that there have
been three cases of scarlet fever from
school. It is raging fearfuIly, he says. :
Mrs. Turmoyle turned pale.
I'm the schOol?' she murmurcd.
well, among the scholars"
There was little more to say, bu
the heart of each parent sent up &
petition to kind Heav .nly Father K
keep the plague from their door.
Yet it came. "A week later MARI
sickened, and in three days more al
three were down. Tender, loving care
and unexpected docility of patients
carried the little Turmoylcs safely ou
upon the road to health again. The
most nauscous medicines were swal
lowed If mamma coaxed, and the mos
stringent stiffness was observed whel
papa was discovered to have tears il
his eyes beside Bessie crib.
| The day the children assembled il
the sitttng-room for the first time was
gala day. but papa was observed to hay,
sad face.
while we are thankful, dear chill
dren,' he said. .'for our blessings, le
us not forget to sympathize with th'
sorrows of others. Willie and Mau.
Stone were buried to-day and Amy will
be deaf for life. The others are still
very i'll.
Il At bedtime, when the children slep
the sleep of convalescence, Mr.. Tnr
D.0yle came to the nursety. where tn
blue-eyed wife was laying out the morn
.Tillie. he said. drawing the littl
. woman close in his strong arms
have had long talk with DR.. Holmes
} and l cannot rest until thank you TO
our unbroken nursery. Next 10 Co
J you have saved our children
Il am sure you never spared your
! self in nursing" said Mrs. Turmoyle
The nursing was the smallest par
of it. DR.. Holmes says it was not tn
, scarlet fever that killed Stones chi
, dren. but the mothers system. III
, fever found Overtaxed brains, bodie
weakened by want of exercise. temper
made sullen by deprivation of a
childish pleasures. They were nurse
J by system. no allowance being mad
for weakness or suffering. and the tw
J that are gone but preceds the two tha
! are dangerously i'll. If they recoye
from the fever they will never reac
] maturity unless their mother sees he
error. You may thank Your wife
, management for your children tn
doctor said to me; there was sOmcthin
to build upon in the sturdy frames I
those young sayages. ~
Il Mrs. Stone could see no fault IN be
} system, though two little graves attes
! ed its weakness. Her children, r,
covering from tho fever, there was n
: relaxation of home rule, and listles
pale and dull-eyed. they went back
! the routine.
Four years passed away. and Tol