River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-08
THREE AWFUL BOYS.
What "'the Little Blue Eye at the
Knot Hole" Accomplished.

The small brown cottage adjoining
Hiss Lydia Blake's premises in the
rear had been rented after an extended
vacancy, and three awful boys and
their mother We're coming TO live in it,
Oh deari Oh dear, What was to be
dOHe2 They would steal her best fall
pippins. and strangle the cat. and
throw stones AZ the windows, aud pull
mp her choicest flowers by the roots
in short, complete the whole. hideOus
list Of small boy devices, to worry and
annoy defcnseless maiden ladies.
Hitherto Miss Lydia had been very
fortunate in her neighbOrs. or
rather in her lack OF them. The
old, square brick house. where she had
been born and brought up. stood a
short distance from the town. the only
dwelling in the immediate vicinity be-
ing the little brown cottage. formerly
occupied by a working man and his
wife-quiet people. who went away to
the cotton mills early in the morning.
returning NJ shutdown to their frugal
evening meal and welI-earned rest
And now she was to BE- tOrmented by
n pack of harum-scarum boys, who
would cut up all sorts OF troublesome
monkey-shines, and make her life a
burden Something must be done
about IT,
So a carpenter was summoned. and
the low. dividing fence replaced by
solid boards. six feet in height. and
with a row Of pointed pickets along the
top, To catch in the clothing OF would
be thieves and discourage n second
visit. And then, with war in her heart.
she resigned herself u mes the in
cvitabIe.
One morning. about two weeks after
this. she was at work in her back gar
den. shaded by its gnarled old apple
tree. and bright with autumn bios
SONS II there was a tender spot in
Miss Lydia's heart. il was for her flow
Crs; and well she might be proud of
them No garden for miles around
could boast such mammoth carnations,
such late roses. or such varieties of
gerstniUms. II was here her lonely
heart found cOmpaniOnship and relaxa-
ton
She was STOPPING TO tie up the great,
ragged. red chrysanthcmums whose
heads were 80 heavy. that they had
fallen over on to the gravel walk.
when her attention was arrested by a
slight noise ia front Of her. and mo
ment later. a large knot came flying
out Of its hole i'm the high board fence,
clearing the air an inch in front Of her
aristocratic nose
What's that2" she cried. in a start
led tone.
Its only me" replied a childish
voice, rs a little blue eve and part Of
a little white check appeared il the
knOt-hole.
You go right away. you wicked
gOOd-fOr-nothiug hoy, or else I'll call
policeman, exclaimed Miss Lydia, re-
sorting to the usual defense OF unprO-
tected females.
Il didn't mean to hit YOU" said the
child Il only wanted TO look at the
flowers They smelled all the way
right through the fence. and wanted
10 see 1T they looked like. Ny,
aren't those chrysanthemums stun
nersr'
BE of with your' repeated Miss
lydia. excitedly. Il want no med
dlesome boys spying out my garden.
BE OF, say"
..All right" said the child. ..rH 90.
But l wasn't going 70 NEEDLE with any
thing. | can come another time.
though. just as we'll. 50 good bye" and
the little blue eve vanished a sudden
i As il had appeared.
Miss Lydia looked around for the
knot. but Hector had carried it OF and
buried it for a bone. 81 with an en-
phatic .'Humphr' she went back into
the house. This. she thought. il the
beginning Of the end: and 50, indeed, it
was
The next morning. when she stepped
out on her back porch. there was the
little blue eye again at lie knot
hole. and a shrill voice called
out: ..Oh. there you arc. I've
been waiting for you ever SO
long. Mother told me to say that I
was very sorry frightened you yes
terday; and that mustn't ever come
again 10 bother you, if you don't like
20 have me look at your flowers.
Did you say wasn't to really look
through your nice little knot-hOle?"
Holes don't belong 10 any body
said Miss Lydia. tartly.
oh can l really come again then?'
exclaimed the child. delightedly. I'll
tell mother what nice lady you are,
and then well be friends. won't we? !
haven't many friends, 'cept two or
three. Do you like boys" he eontin-
ued
NO. don'tr' replied Miss Lydia
They are a plague and a nuisance"
Il wish you did. said the child.
because then may be you'd give ne
aoEeF."