Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-26
LuSI FOR Fun.
The Terrible Consequences OF Thought
less boys Practical Joke.

The Terrible Consequences OF Thought-
less Boys Practical Joke.
In n beautiful park carefully kept
and only lately thrown open for the
use OF children, the visitor often sees,
holding tightly to the hand of her sad
faced mother, little girl beautiful in
form and feature but no light Of intel
lect brightens those blue eyes. Though
getting to be large girl of eleven,
Margie is not able TO answer a simple
question intelligently or tell the differ
ence between u horse or cat.
Margie Ray is an imbecilc, which
means that her reasoning powers,
or intellect are impaired. lmbecil-
ity is very different from insan-
ity; the former means future
devoid Of all brightness, hopeless
samencss, all is blank to tho va
cant mind. Margie Rays body grows,
her hair is a bright golden, and COM
pleNion clear and smooth, and she Is
always gentle and easily controlled,
yet her mother weeps bitter tears over
her little girl. who must grope through
life's journey in darkness, and all be-
cause of big boys fun, which worked
Margie such mischief.
One evening in the winter II was
showing fast and furiously. Margic
was wee toddler OF two years, just
big enough to get papa's slippers and
set them before the CRATE fire, and
carry her small chair close beside his
easy one, Just where she could lay hel
head on his knee while he told sucl
"Looful stories.n and whistled lovely
tunes for his "girlie." Mamma Ra,
was flying around frying pink slices o
ham, molding cream biscuits and bak
ing cake for baby, She didn't sc,
the big boy of twelve, with shee
wrapped about him and wearing
hideous false fGct, come creeping 81
lcntly into the room and walk close N
to happy, innocent little Margie, VIII
stood with her rosy face pressed clos
to tho window pane, softly singin
"papa's tummin to mamma an MAJ
gle.
Mrs. Ray had Just finished sprinklini
currants and sand sugar over Margie'
cake, when shrill screams from bab
frightened her. She caught just on
glimpse of the boy; hurrying to Margi'
she tried to calm her, but tho mischiC
was done.
Papa Ray came home to find h
daughter in commissions, which lasted ;
intervals the entire night, and the
they knew that Margie was in dangC
of being sick mentally so long as sh
lived, yet they hoped for better things i
the years brought strength to the bod!
Said Mamma Ray: "a will deal {
gently with the child, that she ma
live over this and out grow II. ."
"Do not hope. madame. il is Il
use, =" said the physician. But mothe
like, she did hope for light to come
her Margic, as years rolled on.
But Margie never grew one day old,
In feeling. 1nvain Mrs. Ray takes her
hear sweet music, to look upon beaut
ful objects, or reads aloud sweet, pu
stories such as little folks like to hea
Margie's eyes do not sparkle wi
pleasure, and her stammering tongl
Is silent, she being unable to spei
many words.
The boy who for fun dressed up
scare Margie has shed bitter tears
repentance, and after long, seve
struggle, the stricken parents have fc
given him, as they hope to be forgive
In an agony of tears Mrs. Ray som
o times catches the little girl up in h
arms, saying: I'm so glad my pl
cious one, that there's light and joy
% such as you in Heaven"
= Boys often think it great fun to sea
little ones, not dreaming of the hurt
sudden shock often intiicts upon 4
nervous organization of the wee ones
J A brave boy will not be so cruel al
craven as to take advantage of {
weak and young. 1t is poor sort
, fun which causes pain to others. l.
= us remember that practical jokes q
often cruel.-Hia Guernsey, in Gold
= Rule.