Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-08-17
THAT BOTHERSoME BOY.
Ills Absence Caused More Trouble
Than His Presence.

There is certain age of that playful
mischievous animal. the boy, when
home Is thought to be made pleasaute
for his absence.
Deacon Ezekiel Croft and his wife
"Aunt Mary" as every body called
her, were about to enjoy the felicity O
a house, minus that boy,n for Tom
their noisy nephew, had gone to spend
whole fortnight at Sandwich among
the glass-blowers and sandpipers.
I What rest it will bel" sighed
Aunt Mary, remembering Toms hob
nailed shoes and dreadful appetite; and
the young professor, who was boarding
with them, thanked his stars by
their Latin names-that at last he could
have little peace"
1t was just supper-time, and the three
sat down to a bountiful country table.
Aunt Mary, by force of habit, had
placed four chairs, but one was vacant,
and the pause which followed the bless
ing was somewhat awkward.
As a general thing Aunt Mary looked
over at Tom Immediately and said:
Tom. take your elbow off the table, +"
or Tom, eohere is your napkinP l Go
wish that could ecer teach you man
ners at the tablep
Uncle Ezekiel" was apt to ask as soon
as there was u pause; Tom, did you
come right home from school and do
the chores2" And if-as sometimes
happened-Tom could answer in his
off-hand way: Eyes, sir, all done,
then Uncle Ezekiel would ponder dark
ly for few minutes, finally coming out
with.
Tom, how many boys did you take
down to the cider-mill week ago last
Saturday. or something similar
Thon while Uncle Ezekiel was sum-
moning up the evil deeds of departed
Saturdays, the professor found his OPP
portunity.
Hadn't ought as l have often told
you, Master Tom, is entirely contrary
to the genius of the English language.
Ought not is the correct expression"
he would add, with schoolmaster's
didactic air.
By this time, in spite of his various
sins, Tom, going on with undiminished
appetite, had worked his way to about
the sixth biscuit
Il aever." Aunt Mary would say as
he took it You'll certainly have the
dyspepsy, Tom"
mo, Aunt Mary, nTom would answer,
his good humor as irrepressible as his
appetite. '1m safe up to ten; tens
my limit-never go over"
So, at this first supper, it is not
strange that there was a sudden ST
lence, since the unfailing subiect-and
Obiect-of conversation was absent
Finally Uncle Ezekiel spoke, looking
over at the vacant place again.
Seems kinder lop-sided an lone
some without Tom, after all.
Now, guess it will be a happy
lonesome for the next two weeks.
replied Aunt Mary II should like to
have a chance to hear myself think
once in awhile"
Aunt Mary had an opportunity to
shear herself think" all that evening.
There was no one to upset her nerves
by sudden hand-springs, popping corn.
cracking nuts or munching apples while
he pretended to study But, somehow.
her quiet thinking seemed fatiguing
operation, for. weary and little dis.
pirited in appearance, at half-past
eight she rolled up her knitting-work
and retired for the night
Neither thoughts nor dreams dis
turbed her until in the early twilight of
the next morning voice penetrated
the mist of slumber-land, calling.
Tom! T-o-o-ml Come, TOMB And
looking out she saw herhusband stand
ing at the foot of the back stairs. call
ing with all his might: Get up. Toni
Time to make the kitchen fire. Toni
Come! Comet Toni Don't be a
sluggardi
Early to bed and early to rise,
Makes boy healthy, wealthy and wise >"
why. Ezekiel Croft" called out
Aunt Mary, in establishment, "be YOU
clean gone off your mind this norningp
Don't you remember that that bows
gone to SandwichP
We'll. I declare said INDIE
'zekiei. sinking down into a splint-
bottomed kitchen chair, and laughing
until his fat sides shook, Il never
thought a word about til I'm 50 used
70 gettin' that boy up in the mornin
that ! don't know how to begin the day
without It I'll make the fire right
away
NO Ezekiel, said Aunt Mary, an i
make the fire and you go out to the
barn and do Toms chores
She dressed herselfrather hastily and
lot quite 50 neatly as was her habit, |
nd hurried outinto the kitchen. There
rs 20 kindling-wood ready as was |
sual-no one had thought Of that
90. taking basket she went out to
g great wood-pile and gathered a fe@
hips 80 damp from the morning dew