Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-09
gfRUE'S BACKBONE.
Thomas met me at the boat There wa
INV exlars sion in lis face.

nav eXpfrs SION in lis face.
"fhope Sarah and Prue and Jnmes are
well. - said |.
"No are al well as usual" he returned,
and tee knows how well that is,
.acy."
let when | enterad the house the change
ms there MS II had been In Thomas face.
rah was in the sitting room overlooking
ue garden.
Come TO the window" said she.
Prue was among the shrubhery below.
walking up and down listlessly,
Poor child" sighed Sarah.
What ais her. asked | in alarm.
81 know" chirped a small. brisk voice,
ven that Of James, Thomas and Sarah's
young son. who bad been reading u book
rs | entered the room.
"JaIacs, y said |, lis that threY'
Thee knows tits. Tacy, answered lie
And know what ails our Prue."
james, corrected bis mother.
Yes, mother. returned he. and re
>umcd his reading.
Thee knows, Sarah continued, cha
rhomas and have once or twice beer
uonght to be rather too ~lenient in oul
,oycrnmcntof our children
Mother, here ventured james. bend
ng over his book. "here's another whop
per, a regular scroudcer. Could thee tel
ne the derivation of the word Boshg' is j
he plain uns.agcl'
but hi mother went on. holding up hcl
d and To- silence the youth. when Ed
ward Audoyer came. and afteward Georg,
sell, and we knew that each had a kind
cling Cor Prue, We were a-tonished TIA
p should ONE 10 ~ one day and tell a.
.ui both Tie young men had asked il the
'nIcAt speak 20 her father and me. but INA
uc die not know which one size care
uo,t for. both appealed 10 hcr. and
Edward Andoycr go:e our Pruc all tn,
Nhite roses IN the garden" iuterposeO
young James, that's AL he done"
james corrected his mother.
~ es, mother. dutifully suid he.
They. pursued Sarah, with energy.
Il Is not silly WHycriug on the part oi
Prudence. And we. her father and I, re
isc 20 fed bian'eworthy-we leave IL al
% The chiid-Vc never mention cihcl
oung man To- u p. There are puzzles H.
ais life which we must solve fOrour,elves
re young men have rival claims, eve.
iiough lrUc may DC IA title weak in no
p0using one CT the others cause. En-
ara Auiovcr is as thee knows him
Gorge bell
George ". Bells the boss kite make,
the earth. cried james. III size hi
3; be went o. COLLEGE and his father q
we'd him SO 0.o.uUo the FIST year. bu
G. olu mau heard led smashed the Due
olcsSprs window, 50 n cut hh
Iwn-'
James" corrected his mother.
''Ycs, mother, Gutifuily returned he.
james il "a partisan Of George Bell:
clustered Sar3h. FOR the young mar
yes him toys and hooks, and HE lA,
,AaI Is thee reading now. SOM
''li0binson Crtisoe. answered James. -
lTe book Friday Ac done some OF ia,
lIes1 things"
"Dld. james, corrected /.
9th yes said he, Well. after Fl
N had did some OF the
'Bonr, " corrected l..
Il said that Oncc-thdt's q chestnut
pyway, i know what ails our rruc-sh
.,,u'l got any backbone
',Jumcs' ted his mother.
'Yye. mother Said he. bat he arose an,
sod Der before he began Il new clapic
hl, book.
/ went down to Prue. She tore frou
er golta little poSy Of white roses.
oh. TaCy." size said, when | IN,
'ked freely. "kad mciIcr and father j
e trst place told me uat they p~rcferre
dward Aulogcr.'
Then three WoHld have favored IL
th T man. Ictorled |.
"a don't know. she murmurcd. Il
avs have my way it seems. But
Il here She clu,chd my gown, lookin
td y at me, let NC hisper to thcc-au
beg Of thee not ~ repeat it indoors
tve promised to d eide TO day. ha,
roWiso5 both. ABd how it would dis
-s> mother Bnd father 10 know mat
rry this Wavering~s so far. Pity me-
there ushritl.- low voice startled IS. an,
rue hurried away through the busiic>
glanced about me in wonderment. Jane
t1s near al hand.
Il want to u thee something. Tacy.
al he. Tonight our Prue's going I,
i0pe.'
! caspcd the word he had said so cheer
: ully.
Il fixed it, young James went on y
HE Only one.
did any Of your family get cut t
)ieccs with a moving machine this year.
{ asked a farmer on the market yCs;el
lny.
b Any LEGS taken of by the reapcr2'
Not a lca"'
ANYONE fall of a hayutack and run
)itCbfQrlt into lGm!'
No. SIR
ANY ono CIT wound up in the tumblin
od OF the finishing marhines"
no. sir
Anyone killed by the explosion OF
portable boiler"
No
None Of the women burned TO dcath b
! 1eroscne?'
"'No."
"Wcll, you oneht 20 be thankful"
tIfee. I SUPPOSE 80. The only accidcr
! rae bau in Our ncighborbood occurred to
! hap who came out Of the city TO stay
FAY or two Nth me. He fell asleep in a.
richard, and a calf chewed all the hair o
MS hcadt'
First Art Critic lot an exhibition
| Great SCOTT.
Second Art Critic-I should .av IN"