St. Landry democrat., 1889-11-09
THE TAFFY TEN.

THE TAFFY TEN.
am bang a whiz, a whlr and
ia, with boyish voices intermingled
re all the elements in commot;on, and
u thS7 earth opened to swallow up her
" Perhaps you would have thought
you had heard the racket. Pale and
d, Mrs. Osborn was hastily putting the
shing touches to the babys new dress,
she dropped her work in blank dismay,
iaiming:
w at under the sun is the matter? Is
Ademonium let loose2" and buried to
scene of action, upsetting her work
ket, and nearly overturning the pre-
h as baby in her hasty exit.
he scene of action was the Osborns
TX yard, where bona fide pitched bat
was in progress, none of your fancy
Ike believe affairs and Mrs. Osborn ap-
ared upon the scene none too soon.
Why, what does this mean2 Arthur,
nix, Percy, stop this minute! |" Mrs.
& n shouted in her most commanding
z,rS was an immediate cessation of
stilities, and six very sheepish looking
ys stood with hair awry and with disof-
red garments, in various attitudes of
Rme-facsd anger.
1 am so sorryH and at the grieved
es, Percy, the youngest of Mrs Os-
ms three, crept to his mothers side,
A hid his flushed face in her flowing
rts. "Come and tell me all about it
sorgie, Charlie, don't run away. | want
hear the whole story, and learn the
use of this sad affair."" and taking
srcy bysthe hand, Mrs. Osborn led the
ay to the nursery.
Baby was sitting on the floor sucking
or thumb. and squealed with delight when
e ne boys filed in. Percy quite forgot that
se had. SO lately been on the war-path.
Don't you wish you had little sister,"
p said to George, giving baby Bertha 9
ug.
George and Charles French and Joe Ben
on we very "thick" with the Osborn
oys and the spacious playground at the
ear of Mr.. 0sDorn's house was a favorite
esort of the six. They had their occa-
ional trifiing disagreements, and some
lines failed in treating one another with
%seremonious politeness, but their battles
lad hitherto been waged with the tongue
& Sshey had never before come to blows.
II 'Joe, you are the oldest; you may speak
i Hrst," said Mrs Osborn.
Joe's face was a study. Joe was manly
$ooy. At the sight of baby Bertha's sunny
face the last remnant of anger had left
This breast, and he now stood self convicted
and ashamed.
sWe were having bit of private drill
for the torchlight," he said, sand I called
@Arthur a great stupid and he called me
pug nose; then gave him rap, and he
etrRck me back, and first thing knew we
8were all fighting. Percy and Frank were
on Arthur's'side, and George and Charlie
xWere helping me-"
" Further investigate. proved that this
twas very simple, nreral statement of
THE case.
"You see Joe began it, mamma" said
Arthur. "He's always calling me stupid
or blockhead, but he's mad as hornet if
call him Names"
"Yda twit on facts" said Joe, with an
Rapproach to smile; "and you know I'm
very sensitive on the nose question. But
III was in the wrong, and beg your pardon,
Arthur. Let us shake hands and be
Friends"
ssAll right" said Arthur, warmly grasp
ing the profered hand, "only want you to-
stop calling me stupid"
sBstter sign a treaty of peace" said
Mrs. Osborn. '.You boys have bad way
of abusing one another, and you are pretty
] apt to get, in kind. what you give. Joe
Edid wrong In using abusive language, but
two wrongs don't make one right. wish
my boy had been noble enough either
quietly to bear the hard names, or pleas
antly to demonstrate with Joe. Quarreling
and fighting are disgraceful and wrong.
II hope this thing may never be repeated !"
eCool COO COO !" said Bertha, crawl
ing upon her hands and knees into the cir
Gle of boys. Baby Bertha was particularly
fond of boys.
ssIsn't she darling p said Joe, takirg
her in his arms. Joe didn't know it, but
this act of his was quite diplomatic
strof$. The Osborn faction was COM
pletely modified.
-. "Sit down, boys" said Mrs. Osborn sand
lei us have little chat
The overturned work basket was on the
floor, and baby.s new gown was in little
I. heap beside it, but Mrs. Osborn had for
3gotten that she was tired, and only remem-
sbered that this was an opportunity to make
an impression on the plastic minds before
her.
.Do you see this tiny cross2" she asked,
unfastening little silver cross that hung
.Isn't it pretty !" said George French,
examining it. al. a. NJ what do these
letters mean2"
an His Name" said Mrs. Osborn. II
belong to little circle of ten, called the
Kings Daughters, and this is my badge OF
afnbersbip. / am pledged to the daily
rdaing of kind deeds for Christs sake.
just ais If mamma needed to take a
nledge of that kind Y said Arthur.
II know about the Kings Daughters,
said Joe; ssmy sisters belong. They've
ioined sConsiderate Ten, and It's made
Z beap of difference at home. They help
mother great deal more than they used
4sThere is similar organization known
as the Kings Sons" said Mrs. Osborn
s.any number may form club. and think
!; II would be capital idea if you boys
should form yourselves into circle, having
for your special obja@ the saying OF kind
things to people. J, .a
20 mamma, boys don't like taffy r said
ssDon't like taffy thought they did
great many pennies go for taffy. IL ls
nice 81 and sweet like 1t myself.
aNow, mamma, you know don't mean
candy r. 4 ar a.
tery. but If saying nice, kind things is
~ Nv then ike staffy. If Joe and you
had used little .taffy' this afternoon, we
shouldn't have had such commotion on
the playground.
E@