Thomas County cat., 1886-11-11
FOB DUB YOUNG READERS.
.rhE BADGE OF sILENcE."
How q Wise Grandmother Punished \
Fretful, Impatient Child.


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 my name was Eliza
beth, but the boys called me Bess-
went to live ia the old home when
was about ten years old, and DO not
in the leas. doubt that the next two
years were the very hardest of grand.
mas life. know L must have been a
terrible trial, and how she could nave
been us patient, / do not see. l was
not only 4 very selfish child, but i'm
patient and Oyerbearing. / would not
endure the least bit OF teasing from
The boys, and yet almost tOrmentcd
the life out Of them.
One morning it had been raining
since breakfast and we were all three
in rather gloomy mood. Grandma
had reprovcd me more times than can
remember for speaking in a cross, ugly
way, Tor teasing and aggravating the
boys. and at last with heavy sigh
she said. in a solemn tone: IL see there
is no help for it. Elizabeth; l have tried
every other means: you must wear
'"Jhe Badge of Silence 1 used it for
your UEcic John once; he never deed
cd it again. but it mas lain ever since in
Any chest Of drawers.
Her tone WAS So serious, her face So
gloomy and hopeless, | could scarcely
have felt m0Ic,hocked or puzzled had
ia bn
''Tiie Badge Of Silence!' Wnat could
it be. 1t had not killed Uncle john,
though, for L had seen him Only the
day before, and he locked strong ami
well. My brothers John and Davy
geclned almost rs much impressed by
Esrandma'S manner as l WAS, and, like
myself, Were watching her movements
with the kcenest anxiety.
Very slowly she crossed the room
as if on some important GRAND,
opened the bottom drawer OF the chest,
aud after removing severa! articles
drew from its depths a vivid red cot.
ton handkerchief; there were bright
yellow spots all over it, and the thing
was So ugly that l instinctvely sbrank
as she came with it towards me. She
laId 1t 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
1Now. she said. gravely. .it must be
as though you were dumb: you must
not speak Il word under any c.rcum-
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
mcmb Der; 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 iIrst l could scarcely believe it
true, l. Bess, tie willful, petted Bess,
standing in the middle of the floor, u
red cotton handkerchief bound about
my face is if afflicted with the tooth
ache. and john and Dayv, 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 anocr
aud Indignation almost wished it had
been the gUillotine instead, and that
my head had been actually cot OF. |
opened my lips TO ask ii l might 90 to
my room, but grandma's warninr fin
ger reminded NE of her hope that the
badge would not be needed Tomorrow,
:and cosed tnem again She gently
led me Ia a sea: by the window. placed
q glass of water by my side, then re-
turned to her rocking-chair and knit
ting.
l could see that John was almos.
suifoc.,tinG with mirth, that his hand
kesc'licf was stuffed into his mouth
and that he was shaking all over. but
1 pret, nded not to look at him and
turned towards the window. quite for
getting that could be easily seen from
the village street. Directly nv best
friend. Fannie Lewis. came hurrving
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 nv checks
Were scarlet and my whole heart in
tumult OF rebellion. looked I'D, but
grandma lifted her finger and | did
not dane move.
'oh, I'm SO sorryi' 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, it ism Ia tooth hurting her,
but very bad temper anu an unruly
tongue. | am trying to cure her with
the Eadge of Silence. She will be glad
TO see you another day"
With perpieXed face Fannie re-
tired, ard horriiicL lest some one else
might discover me 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 NE out to the florist two
miles in the country to buy plants.
But no." said grandma very positive
ly. "She is wearing the Badge of Sill
ence: she would har.ily Ike to go with
1t about her head. You remember the
day your brother John wore it, do YOU
not. Grace2"
Amt Grace assented. and there was
an odd. suspicious look about the cor
ners of ber lips. but she fastened away.
The d.nner-bcil rang, and mine WAS
brought on a tray by mischievous
listle servant. who giggicd outrigh
when she saw me. ! did not taste a
ching. and sat III s;,llen silence during
fhs, whole ,ft = In