The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-06-06
A DAY OF LIBERTY.

why Ned Concluded That 1t Isn't 1Se6t Tor
Children to Have Their Own Way.
Ned Townsend was little boy who
Was particularly fond Of having his
own way. His mothers commands he
always received with such sullen
look that he made her feel very sad.
One morning he had been left to but
ton his shoes, and he was pouting over
them as usual when Mrs. Townsend
returned to dress him for school.
Taking the button-hook from his hand,
she said, pleasantly: There has been
new law passed, my boy: Children
arc to have their own way for whole
day: no one is to interfere with them.
and when the time is up they will know
whether it is better TO do as their
parents say, or go according to their
own wishes" i:
'.Hnrrah.' cried Ned; won't have
good time. Shall | 60 to school to-
day? Yes: ii! lose all the fun with the
boys il don't. Besides. / won't have
to mind the teacher when | get there.
How flies ] -.
So, without another thought for his
nnbattoned shoes, he threw. on his that
and overcOat and started. The boys
we've having rare fup whom he, reached
the playground, and he joined them
heartily: ;sSoOn the bell rang for them
to 60. into school, but they went on
playing inst the.same. They all un-
tlerstOOd that they were having their
own way now, and they meant to play
as long as they wished. However.
they at last grew tired OF this sport,
and concluded to 90 inside and search
for different fun. The teacher invited
them 10 take seats, but they scorned
the inyit&tion. They laughed. and
played and talked, and ran around just
as If they were outside.
..'How grand il il not to have TO
mihd:" thought Ned. But at that
moment Il rough little boy ran past
Ned's desk, and knocked over the
basket containing his lunch. OF course
it fell on the dirty floor, and was
spoiled. ~ wish he had been made to
mind" said Ned to himself. But he
tried TO look happy, and to join in the
general fun.
Somehow, toward noon the privilege
grew less and less satisfactory to the
scholars, and without any apparent
reason they began 70 feel cross. After
that they took to quarreling. and actu-
ally ended in fighting. The poor
teacher looked very sorrowfll, but she
had no power to stop them that day.
Lunch settled them for awhile; but
when they had taken their last bite
they became more boisterous than be-
fore. st
In the meantime Ned had grow u
very hungry. and his feet were wet
and cold. His head was aching, and
the noise of the other children made
it worse. He sat down and wished
the teacher could get them quiet; bu I
instead, the usually pleasant room was
beginning to somewhat resemble a
miniature battlefield Ned 1onged to
get ont into the still air ''But what
hinders me?" be suddculy thought
And. leaving his seat, he hurried. on,
OF the noisy room. Then his feet
grew colder andtwetter than ever; this
throat began to feel sore, ts,o, and he
came tosthe wise. conclusic" that he
had ahetter go directly ho'oe to his
kind. mother.
It was = very tired, very cold ant
very sick little boy that crept Into Mrs
Townsend's house that afternoon,
When he. saw his mother ne ,criet
out, in. hoarse voice: 20 mamma!
don't want boys to have their can wa.
| any more"
You are sick. my son. was oil sh,
replied.
/: And. taking him in her arms. sh
laid: him in his bed. Then the sittl
fellow had a. peculiar feeling al
through his body, and he believed b
was dying. u.
+ mamma. he cried, in alarm, .;;d.,n'
let me die. and I'll always m ind VITA
you say!'
| After that the feeling passed s"aj
and he saw that his mother was smil
ing.
why. Ned, you must have bee
dreaming!" she said.
!. And Ned looked down on his nigh
clothes, and realized that all his trout:'