Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
SOMETHING TO FRET ABOUT
MRS. EMMA C. HEWITT.


the front gate?''
eyes," indifferently.
aren't you going to put it ONT"
Sometime, maybe" and the boy con.
tinaed his absorbing occupation of flick
ing the flies from the window-paqe.
Il never saw anything like IL" fretted
Mrs. Wilson as she left the room. 'The
children are ali alike. They do nothing
but worry me to death all the time, and
they don't seem TO care one cent"
aren't you going TO fx that gate for
your mother, Stephenf"
"Not if | know myself, at least not just
now"
''Why not?" she demanded, rather
sternly.
"pm going to leave her something to
fret about. She worries and frets so
about everything that it d oes me good to
see something really wo nth it ALL
81 don't think that's exactly the way
for boy of seventeen to talk of his
mother"
''No, perhaps not, Aunt Ellen, but let
me tell you one thing, and that is, that a
boy of seventeen sees a parents faults as
well as anybody. There comes a time in
everybody's life when he begins to gauge
his parents as man and woman. His af-
- p
sees their faults, as he sees those of the
rest of humanity. All my childhood our
household was uncomfortable, and 1
never knew exactly why, although felt
the difference between my home and that
of some other boys l know. You've
never been here before, but you'll see.
You'll find out what [ found out, that the
whole discomfort rises from mother's
nagging, fretful pOsiticn-day in
day out-morning, noon and night, can
just tell you" Mrs. Wilson's entrance
put au end to the confidence.
"Jus5 look at that carpet" she exclaim-
ed, the same fretful frown on her face,
''all the corners turned up. L never saw
anything like it. | suppose Stephen
kicked it up. lou may be thankful,
Ellen, you never married and had any
boys. They are enough to drive al :
body distracted. Where is he now?"
Il really don't know; perhaps he has
gone to mend the gate"
81 suppose ne has, just as wanted him
to go on an GRAND; he's never on har d
ut the right moment. Stephen! Stephen p
she called, in rasplng tones.
"W ell?n came from the distance.
Il want you to go on an Grand"
"Can't | fix the gate. Ihave Just got all
put them ell back again? 1t won't take
me a minute to fix the gate" called
Stephen in reply.
NO! You must go now. GOOD
gracious! L never saw boy SO long to
put away few tools. What have you
been doing?" No reply. "What have
you been doing?" in a louder tone.
"You know perfectly WE'LL" fired up the
boy, "that father always makes me put
the tools back exactly so III the chest and
it takes good while"
"Well, now you can go down to the
store, and get me these buttons for your
shirts, and let me see if you can be as
long about that"
Naturally Stephen, thus xdmonished
started .out in anything but pleasant
temper.
"Now, Ellen" she said, ''youve been
here two days, and / just ask you, did you
ever see such disrespectful, indiffe rent
boy as | have? I've done everything in
the wide world for that boy. Wait, there's
James! James, did you know the latch
is off the gate?"
eyes, wife," answered good -natured Mr..
Wilson, easily.
did you get the flour? I dare say you
forgot IT, 1 wish l had told you to get a
hundred pounds instead of fifty. We
might just as we'll have d hundred"
Il got huuGre5, wife. It'll be up this
afternoon"
'Since I've come 70 think OF it, think
a hundred Is too much; what made you
get hundred, James? I never saw such
thOughtless man. What am l going to
DO with hundred of four?"
80, I'll fix place for the other fifty"
az
in an injured tone. mo; [ suppose I've
got to go out in the pantry now, and
spend half hour finding place for that
-four" and she left the room With a
sigh Mr.. Wilson seated himself TO read
the paper till dinner time. Soon Stephen
appeared with the buttons, which were
received by his mother in an anything
but gracious manner.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
Cousin Ellen said TO Mrs. Wilson: "Matia,
I'll help you sew those buttons on
Stephens shirts any time you are ready
"Oh, no, don't mean to SOW them on
to day. | only wanted the buttons so as
to have them. What is the matter? What
makes you look so fuhnyS" as a curious
expression fitted over Cousin Ellen's
Couztenance.
Il don't feel particularly funny do
not know why I should look So"
"Oh, pshaw! l didn't mean funny that
way. L meant you had very curious ex-
preston on your face"
Miss Renter besitated. Should she tell
this cousin of hers, whom she had not
seen for so long, the truth? She decided
that 1t would be the kindest thing to do.
Il suppose L looked as you say | did,
because was trying to fit together two
parts of story. Will you tell me just
why you Insisted on Stephen going for
those buttons just when you did?"
Certainly" decidedly, the color mount
ing to her face. He seems perfectly in
different to pleasing me lately, and its
my private belief that he only started to
fix that latch because he thought I want
ed him to go. I've adopted the plan
lately of having things done at once and
then they're done. Everything he does
for me he does unwiuingiy, so that hl
might as we'll do it first as last"
you're all wrong-all wrong, depend
upon it," and Miss Renter shook he1
head.
"You don't know anything about it
Cousin Ellen. You never had Stephen to
deal with"
No, but I've had men and women Il
deal with, and l can see very well whert
most of the trouble lies"
Il wish to goodness you'd tell me then
The way l work aud slave for James and
stephen never was beaten, and they dom
seem to try to please me one bit"
10 you try to please them?''
Try so please them!" in angry aston
1shment. Don't 1 work my finger end