The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-11-10
FUR OUR YOUNG vi READERS.
"1HE BADGE OF SILENCE"
How y Wise Grandmother Punished
Fretful, ImpHtSont Child.

tIotiuis lmpbtsouS Nuhus
Perhaps you young people might
think our grandmother harsh children,
are SO petted and spoilt nowadays.
But she was dear. good old lady, and
well it was we fell into her hands when
our sweet young mother died. John.
little Davy and I-my name was Eliza
beth, but the boys called me Bess-
went to live in the old home when l
was about ten years old, and do not
in the least doubt that the next two
years were the very hardest of grand;
mas life. l know ] must have beena
terrible trial, and how she could have
been as patient, l do not see. was
not only very selfish child, but i'm
patient and overbearing. would not
endure the least bit Of teasing from
the boys, and yet almost tormented
the life out of them. > = & ~
One morning it had been raining
since breakfast, and we were all three
in rather a gloomy mood. Grandma
had reproved me more times than lean
remember for speaking in cross, ugly
way. for teasing and aggravating the
boys, and at last with heavy sigh
she said, in a solemn tone: II see there
is no help for it, Elizabeth; have tried
every other means; you must wear
The Badge of Silence l used it for
your Uncle John once; he never deed
ed it again, but it has lain ever since in
my chest Of drawers.
Her tone was SO serious, her face so
gloomy and hopeless, could scarcely
have felt mole shocked or puzzled had
she proposed using the guillotine.
1.-The Badge Of Silence!' What could
it be. 1t had not killed Uncle John,
though, for had seen him only the
day before, and he looked strong and
we'll. My brothers John and Davy
seemed almost as much impressed by
grandma's manner as was, and, like
myself, were watching her movements
with the keenest anxiety.
Very slowly she crossed the room
as ii on some important errand,
opened the bottom drawer of the chest,
and after removing several articles
drew from its depths a vivid red cot.
ton handkerchief; there were bright
yellow spots all over it, and the thing
was 50 ugly that l instinctvely sbrank
as she came with it towards me. She
laid it carefully on the table, folded it
from two opposite corners, made
bias bandage and placing it under my
chin. drew the two ends up over my
head and tied them in secure knot.
''Now, she said, gravely. ut must be
as though you were dumb; you must
not speak word under any crcum-
stances. Perhaps by giving your
tongue an entire rest it may lose the
habit of speaking in such sinful man.
ner. Alas! the tongue is an unruly
member; you are not to use it again the
whole day. l trust that will prove
sufficient, and that you need not wear
the badge tomorrow.
At tlrst l could scarcely believe it
true, l, Bess. the willful, petted Bess,
standing in the middle of the floor, a
red cotton handkerchief bound about
my face as If afflicted with the tooth
ache, and John and Davy, their SOL
emnity all vanished. standing in the
corner slyly laughing at me. This,
then. this horrid old handkerchief, was
the Badge Of Silence. In my anger
and indignation almost wished it had
been the guillotine instead, and that
my head had been actually cut of.
opened my lips to ask if might 20 to
my room, but grandma's warning fin
ger reminded me of her hope that the
badge would not be needed tomorrow,
and closed them again She gently
led me to seat by the window, placed
glass Of water by my side, then re-
turned to her rocking-chair and knit
ting.
l could see that John was almost
suffocating with mirth. that his hand.
kerchief was stuffed into his mouth,
and that he was shaking all over, but
l pretended not to look at him and
turned towards the window, quite for
getting that could be easily seen from
the village street. Directly my best
friend, Fannie Lewis, came hurrying
by under an umbrella, the rain had al
most ceased now, and, looking up sud-
denly, she came Fastening in. Before
she had reached the room my cheeks
were scarlet and my whole heart in a
tumult Of rebellion. looked up, but
grandma lifted her finger and did
not dare move. I..
''Oh, I'm so sorry" exclaimed Fam
ME, bursting into the room; 'are you
suffering much, Bess; when did it be-
gin to hurt your"
But grandma interrupted: Il am sor-
ry, too, dear, itisn t a tooth hurting her,
but very bad temper and an unruly
tongue. l am trying to cure her with
the Badge Of Silence. She will be glad
to see you another day."
With perplexed face Fannie re-
tired, and Mortified lest some one else
might discover me l turned from the
window.
Only little later, when the rain had
quite ceased. Aunt Grace came DASH
ing up in her pretty carriage; she had
come to take me out to the florist two
miles in the country to buy plants.
But mo-" said grandma very positive
ly. "She is wearing the Badge of Sill
ence; she would hardly like to go with
it about her head. You remember the
day your brother John wore it, do you
not, Gracee'
Aunt Grace assented, and there was
an odd, suspicious look about the cor
ners Of her lips, but she fastened away.
The dinner-bell rang, and mine was
brought on tray BY a mischievous
listle servant who giggled outrigh
when she saw me. l did not taste .
thing, and sat in sullen silence during