The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-04
A More Excellent Way.

1t all came about through Johnny's
dropping the syrup-pitcher at break
fast. The tablecloth was spick span
clean, and his mother had risen with 9
miserable neuragic headache, and
Johnny wasn't as careful as he should
have been, of course, when in his hur-
|ry he tipped the pitcher which in its
fall overturned very full tumbler.
And so, in another haIf-minute, there
was an island of syrup set in q small
pond of ice-water All the circum-
stances which have enumerated were
too much for ordinary maternal pa
tience.
Johnny, you are naughty, care
less boy! You may have no syrup on
your cakes this morning.
Johnny's eyes opened in astonlsh-
ment.
"Why, mamma, I didn't mean to do
|itw
"But you are always doing things
with such a rush. You make other
people a great deal of trouble and Ia
bor, and then you say, L didn't mean
to vn
A cloud of very gloomy character
had suddenly fallen over the group at
the pleasant breakfast-table. Just
here, in the confusion consequent upon
the accident, Kate, the twelve-year old
sister, who sat opposite Johnny, struck
her napkin-ring sharply against the
salt-boX standing by her plate, thereby
overturning the dainty little china de-
vice. This incident being of so tri-
vial nature, nobody made comment,
until the rebellious and fearful John
nv exclaimed: Kate has been careless.
too, mamma, and you haven't blamed
her bit. Sha'n't she go without sy-
rup, toow
lit isn't anything to tip over salt
box" demonstrated the little girl.
"Whata silly thing to mention,
Johnnym added the mother.
| But somehow, almost before the re-
mark had left her lips her conscience
had disputed its truth.
"Johnny," she said suddenly, will
you excuse me for speaking as [ did ?
| It was because the clean tablecfoth
was soiled and the spilling made such
confusion and so much work, that 1
was discouraged. But it was an acci-
dent, and not my little boys fault.
You did not mean to do damage, any
more than Kate when she hit the salt
box. You can see that yours was u
much more trying accident, and it was
hard to be pleasant over it; but I was
really blaming you because there was
syrup in the pitcher, and not for being
careless in tipping it, as T said. Kate's
salt-cellar didn't have any syrup in it,
yon see, only salt, which did no dam
age"
The picture before her was chaotic,
but Mrs. Way succeeded in smiling
brightly on Johnny's eyes, and added
II am sick this morning. 1 didn't
sleep we'll last night. You know how
I dislike a soiled table-cloth-so, on
the whole, won't you try to excuse
meW
Such a queer expression Johnny's
face wore, but smiles carried the day
very speedily.
father, "since mamma has been sovery
polite, and has apologized so beauti..
fully, don't you think small boy and
girl, not very far away, ought to be
Very careful as to their manners at
table, and run 10 risks of tipping
pitchers and tumblers and salt-cellar
and making ugly spots on clean table
cloths?"
eyes, SIR" said Johnny, with great
emphasis.
'1'll try" added Kate.
That morning, as the children were
on their way to school, Kate said In a
thoughtful way, with tender accent
lin her voice II think mamma is
just the sweetest mother in all the
Iworld. She is always sorry when she
does wrong; just as much as she wants
us to be-"
Tt which somewhat confused gram.
mar of his sister Johnny responded
with earnest loyalty, eyes, and she
owns up right out loud, too, I tell you''