The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-11-06
1.-THE BADGE OF SILENCE."

Perhaps you young people might
think our grandmother harsh. children
are so petted and spoilt nowadays.
But she was dear, good old lady, and
we'll 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 mo Bess-
went to live in the old home when !
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. know l must have been a
terrible trial, and how she could have
been us patient, do not see. was
not only a 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 gloomy mood. Grandma
had reproved me more times than can
remember for speaking in a cross, ugly
way. for teasing and aggravating the
boys, and at last with u heavy sigh
she said, in solemn tone: 81 see there
is no help for it. Elizabeth; 1 have tried
every other means; you must wear
The Badge of Silence 1 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, l could scarcely
1, fo1k .L1 1..l I. Il
she proposed using the guillotine.
1.-THE Badge of Silencer' What could
it be. 1t had not killed Uncle John,
though, for had seen him only the
day before, and he looked strong and
well. 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 if on some important errand,
opened the bottom drawer of the chest,
and after removing several articles
drew from its depths vivid red cot
ton handkerchief; there were bright
yellow spots all over it, and the thing
was so ugly that instinctively shrank
as she came with it towards me. She
laid it carefully on the table, folded it
from two opposite corners, made a
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, ''it must be
as though you were dumb; you must
not speak a word under any circum-
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. trust that will prove
sufficient, and that you need not wear
the badge tomorrow.
AT tlrst l could scarcely believe il
true, l, Bess, the willful, petted Bess,
standing in the middle of the floor, q
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 thai
my head had been actually cut off.
opened my lips to ask if l might go tc
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 u seat by the window, placec
glass of water by my side, then re
turned to her rocking-chair and knit
ting.
/ 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, bu
l pretended not to look at him an(
turned towards the window, quite for
getting that could be easily seen from
the village street. Directly my bes
friend, Fannie Lewis, came hurryine
by under an umbrella, the rain had al
most ceased now. and, looking up sud
denly, she came Fastening in. Befor,
she had reached the room my cheek
were scarlet and my whole heart in /:
tumult of rebellion. l looked up, bu
grandma lifted her finger and die
not dare move.
"Oh, I'm SO sorry!" exclaimed Fan
ME, bursting into the room; ''are yol
suffering much, Bess; when did it be
gin to hurt youp'
But grandma interrupted: II am sor
ry, too, dear, itisn' tooth hurting her
but very bad temper and an unrul,
tongue. am trying to cure her witt
the Badge of Silence. She will be gla'
to see you another day."
With a perplexed face Fannie re
tired. and Mortified lest some one els
might discover me l turned from tn
window.
Only a little later, when the rain ha,
quite ceased, Aunt Grace came dash
ing up in her pretty carriage; she ha
come to take me out to the florist tw
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 wit
it about her head. You remember tn
day your brother John wore it, do yo
not, Gracep"
Aunt Grace assented, and there wa
an odd, suspicious look about the col
ners of her lips, but she fastened away
The dinner-bell rang, and mine wa
brought on tray by mischievou
listle servant, who giggled outrigl
when she saw me. did not taste
thing, and sat in sullcn silence durin
the whole afternoon. At last the tw
light came, tho boys were playing
the yard, and quite alone in the darl
ened chamber; l heard their merr
voices and the low hum of grandma
| voice In cOnyersation with n visitor n