The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-29
DOING FOR MOTHER.

The Experience of "A Little Boy who Made
Himself Comfort and a Blessing.
81 can't find my glasses, George. Dc
you see them anywhere?"
"Seems to me you're losing some
thing most all the time" said George,
rather fretfully.
$50 it does. Perhaps they are under
the pillow, or, perhaps, they have
fallen on the floor"
With a very bad grace George shook
up the pillows and looked on the floor.
mo, don't see them, he said.
go, here they are under my shawl.
Now, dear, hand me your jacket to
mend. And see, my work-basket is a
little beyond my reach"
The boys are waiting for me to go
berrying with them" growled George.
"Well, l am sorry to keep you, but
I'm afraid you'll have to run up to the
machine drawer for bit like this
jacket
The scowl on Georges face deepened
as he went up stairs, not with run,
but with slow, unwilling feet. ''ls
there any thing else you want?" he
asked, in an injured tone, as he
brought her the piece. She did not
answer at once, and as he looked at
her face he saw that her lips trembIed
and tears were in her eyes.
mo, dear" she presently said, TAX
ing his face between both her hands
and giving him a very tender kiss. Il
hope you will have very nice time.
1t is a beautiful day to be out, isn't it?'
A sudden thought struck sharply to
the boys heart. 1t had never before
occurred to him how hard it must be
that his mother never could go out;
that for three years she had been "
ing in that one room. 80 mother" he
said, Il wish you could 90 out. I'd be
glad to stay in if you could"
you dear boy" she said, kissing
him again. Hurry away now. can't
go, but it makes it a great deal easier
to stay when l know you wish could"
docs it really?" he said, wistfully.
yes, really"
''Hurrah, George" called the boys,
and he went out
But he did not join in the frolic with
his usual headlOng eagerness. His
head was so full of thoughts of a kind
very unusual to him that there seemed
something lacking in the brightness of
the sunshine and the softness of the
summer wind. When the boys reached
the berrying-ground they separated
more or less in search of the red, ripe
fruit, and George several times found |
alone and able to go on with |
his thinking.
Il don't believe I've been q very
good boy to mother" he said to him
self. 81 know | haven't. I'm always |
in hurry to get out, and l grumble
when she wants me to read to her,
and make a fuss when she can't find
things. If | had to stay in bed all the
time | guess I'd lose things worse than
she does. | mean to help her
every day. I'll 90 every morning and
find all her things for her and put 'em
on a chair by her so they won't get
lost again. Goody, though! | know
what I'll do that's better than that.
He gave such a jump as nearly to up
set his pail of berries. His new
thought took such hold of him that he
had to sit down and give his full atten-
lion to it for awhile, and then the boys
were astonished at hearing him pro-
pose to go home. As none of them
were inclined to leave the berries so
early he went by himself. I'm going
a do all can for mother, truly am"
ne said to himself, "but I'm not going
% begin all at once for fear she should
guess whats up"
lie carried hers saucer of his Der
les, and the next day and for several
lays afterward waited on her kindly
md carefully in the morning, and then
Sept good deal away from her through
he day fearing that she might read
Z his face that he had . wonderful
e;ret.
What is George about that l see so
title OF him?" his mother asked Of
'usan, the woman who took care of
he bouse. rs he away from home so
1uch?n
80 no." said Susan, "be's about here
nost Of the time and is as busy as a ]
zee, but there's no tellin' what he's up (
0. 1t must be some new caper, for he {
huts himself up in the Toulouse and |
ont let nobody go in. Mischief i
atchin', like enough [
Susan was a good, faithful woman, t