The Republican journal., 1886-03-18

Meeker stood at the window, watching with
anxious eyes her eldest son, who was expert
menting with new bicycle.
20 Mrs. Brown" she said. looking over her
shoulder, ''come in, do; | can't 90 away a
minute from the window, Pm so afraid Char
Il bicycle, and Mr.. Meeker didn't know how
| to get one for hin-they're real costly-and
begged and begged him not to buy one, for |
| knew well | shouldn't have a minutes peace
while he was off with it; but the boy wanted
| it, and that's enough. What he wants he's got
to have. We're behind with the taxes, and
| I'm fixing over my old clothes, rather than ask
John for cent: but Charlcy'S got the length
of his fathers foot, as folks say, and done
why he shouldn't have. Boys must be boys,
| you know, and | never did believe in making
images of 'em. to do just so and be prim and
proper all their days. Oh, oh, there! |
| thought he lras off that time, but he wasn't.
do believe my nerves will be Worn to ravelin's
| with that bicycle. Don't yo.''
II won't stay now. Mrs. Meeker. | know
| you want 10 watch Charley. I'll come some
| other time.''
50. quite unattended, Mrs. Brown found her
| way TO the door, and Went on to the next
| house, where Miss Sophronia Packard lived all
| alone and took in sewing. Mrs. Brown made
the usual civil inquiries, and then Miss Sophro-
MIA opened the conversation.
Il see you come from Mis- Meeker'>; well.
do pity that woman; she hasn't moments
peace for them children; and here's Mis- Bun
nell next door. is lust as bad. though She hasn't
got but one, but her May is headstrong, now
tell YOU. Why She goes all the time; if tisnta
dance, its a picnic. or Il ride, or sail. She's
as imprudcnt as a bumbe-bee and as bumptious
as wren, but she isn't of no use in this liNin'
world, as ! see, but to plague her ma. Why,
t'other day Mis- Bunnell found out that May
was gon over to NorWalk in a buggy, with
young fecr, at eight O'Clock in tn eVenin', cal
culatin' to come home by moonlight. betwiNt
one an two in the mOrnin', and naturally, she
| sol down her foot that May shouldn't 90. She
didn't know the fellcr. but she knew real well
il wasn't seemly for Il gall of fifteen to 20 of
that way with any young man, and so she told
May; but. if you'll b'iicNc it. Mis- Brown that
piece jest put on her sack and bonnet and walk
ed right ont of the door. and of with her fcI-
Ter! If I'd been her ma she'd have GOT Il lock-
ed door in her face when she come homc'
80 Miss Sophronia. do you think that would
have helped the matter? a fathers house
ought never to be closed Oh child, any more
than our Fathers. least Of all. when the chdS
faults are the result of the parents folly and
weaknes>.'
"WclI. mahbc there's something in that but
it does seem TO me that something had ought to
be done when 4 girl flies right in her mas face
like that -
''Im afraid IFS too late to do much at Mays
age but pray for her"
Land. you don't suppose Mis- Bunnell
thinks May needs prtym for: Why she thinks
she's about as NIGH perfect as they make 'em;
she's clean ect up NTH that child, all the one
She ever had. If YOU should 50 much as hint
about prayn' for her, | guess you'd raise
mil>s right off :"
Mrs. Brown tried to control her face but
found it hard. Miss Sophronias air of fine
>corn WAS Irresistible. She changed the subject
by saving. II am sorry Mrs. Phelps has gone
away meant to have called on her
"Well, you can if you want to; She amt
gone said Miss Sophronia, in AN acrid tone.
Not gone. Why, She had wanted 50 much
to see her sister thought nothing would hind
,r her.
Il know it, she hadn't seen Mis- King for
three wears, but Marian Went and asked two
Girls and the brother to one Of 'cm to come this
week. and stay till after the Fourth. and Mis-
Phelps wasn't goin' to leave 'cm there alone t"
raise hl,dy; besides that her hired Girl amt
competent to do for company but that's the
fashion, the children rcwl nowadays; | feel
thankful to goodness every day that | want
never beguiled into the married state, and |
haven't cot no youngsters awalkin' over me, and
making door mat of me! Not but what |
might be like Miss Perkins. to be sure, eff I'd
had ncvew, thanks be to praise | hant. But
| stepped i'll there t'othcr day, and if that Wo-
man wasn't a-goin' round the kecpin' room on
all four> with her sisters boy astride of her
back, she a-,ayin', oh, do stop, sammy. I'm
50 tired. and he ;l-Whippin' Of her up and IL
>rreamin'. 80 long, hoSSy. Go long. ho>>y.'
And She did 20 long. till picked him up with
a Jerk, and sot him down hard on the highest
chair. My. didn't he holler, and want she
mad. But I'm glad done it -
That night Mrs. Brown detailed all that She
had seen and heard in her round of calls to her
husband. as they sat together by the study fire.
His face clolided darky, but he did not tell her
what heavy thoughts pierced the future. and
saw. a. III vision. impending trouble for the
land Hnd the people that he loved. All that he
did when his reverir was ended was to draw Il
deep Si4l. and repeat in melancholy tones one