Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-01
BLESS THE CHILDREN"
ADOAEsTTc TALE.

of all the sweet summer-tide, and
the three little Berkeleys, playing
beside the brook, had almost for
gotten that there was such a thing
as school and lessons, when the
kitchen window was flung nOisily
up, and a shrill voice broke in upon
their dreams of happiness.
"ChildreR! come in out of that
meadow Don't you see how you're
tramping all the grass down y
screamed Mrs. Hall.
She was a spare, hard-favOred
woman, who was engaged in pick
ing q huge pan of beans at the ia
BILE, while her husband sat opposite
mending the dislOcated leg of a
milking stool with pot of glue
and some heinpen Irvine.
"Now, MOTHER" said Ebenezer
Hall, "why can't youlet these young
'uns enjoy themselves 7 Their little
feet won't hurt the grass"
"That's just like you, Mr.. Hail."
said his wife, ENORMOUSLY. "The
children are always IN mischief,
and you're continually unfolding
'em. Didn't l tell Fanny to mend
her apron the minute school was
overt And there she is, pudding
in the brook, running her dress
sleeves. And Johns dog scratched
up all my flowers in the back gar
den this morning. But / settled
the question: she added, setting
her thin lips together like a steel
trap. IL gave the varmint to the
tinker. He'll never bother me any
more"
"You oughtn't to have done that
MOTHER" said Ebenezer. Johnnie
was fond of the dog
"John must make up his mind to
do without him." said Mrs. Hall.
81 won't be tormented by any
body's mischievous dog. And L
found a Robinson CrusOe hidden
under little Joe's pillow this morn
ing"
That's natural enough, MOTHER
said EbeneEer, alphabetically. "All
boys like story-bOoks."
"NOlo | know the reason he never
could say his catechiz," sharply
added Mrs. Hall. "Tbe trouble
those children make us can't never
be told. And I've made up my
mind to bind 'em out to trades as
soon as ever can"
They're my darteTs children,
mother" said poor Ebenezer. 81
can't bear the idea of partin' with
'em.D
"Then why don't you bring 'em
up to earn their own living, like
other paupers 7" said Mrs. Hall,
who had been the farmers second
wife, and whose grabbed nature had
never been thawed out in the light |
of a baby's smiles. "That's what l
want to know. This house amt |
goin' to be an orphan asylum. Not |
if / know it."
"If you feel so about it, mother, |
I'll take 'em over to Cornelia Cra-
shaw's,S said Mr.. Hall, whose face !
had grown very grave. "Cornelia's |
husband owes me money, and she's |
fond of children. She'll be good to
'em, if my own wife won't"
"Good radiance 70 bad rubbish"
was Mrs. Halls tart retOrt, as she
flung the last handful of beans into
the pan. "But if you really mean
it"
81 do, most assuredly," said Eb-
enezer Hall, sternly. "Nelly's chill
dren shall not be subjected to I'M
just rebukes and tyrannical ill-tem-
per while l can help it."
'Tve done the best l could" said
Mrs. Hall, with toss of her head.
"But / don't like children, and /
never did :"
The three little Berkeleys did not
know what was the cause Of the un.
wonted gloom on grandpa's face at
tea-time. They sat quito SILENT
Grandma had always tried to i'm
press 1t on their minds that chill
dren must be seen and not heard,
and take their tea, with longing
glances at the plum-cake, which
was always cut IN such economical |
slices, and OF which grandma never
would allow them more than one
slice. :
"Mother," said the old farmer, I
when the meal was over, "pack up q
the children's boxes tonight. 1 /
shall start early in the morning" i
"Wherea are you goilg grandma a
Johnny ventured to ask. 0
ITO Cornelia Crashaw's," said d
Mrs. Hall. e
'DO you suppose she will let me 8
Seep my dog 2" said Johnny, visit a
ully, for Tiger came back there r.
"Tiger won't stay f
way from me-" II
ooh, good good :" cried Fanny, Il
tapping her small brown hands, II
frs. Crashaw always lets us play e.
There we please. And she gave II
ne handful of roses the last time c.
re went there" il
al am glad, too" said little Joe, fl
nth kindling eyes. "Mrs. era b
haw has got all the 'Vicarof Wake. al
eld,' and Pilgrims Progress, and Il
n, 49,, Al