St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-02-15
MOTHERS WAY.


Fred White sat on the edge of the side
walk, slowly replacing his shoes and
stockings. The shoes we're heavy with red
clay, and the stockings chung with damp
tenacity to a pair of blue feet. refusing to
be rugged beyond the wet little heels of
their owner.
II say, Rob-"
"Weil," inquired Rob, medaatively
tracing with one bare toe the hop-sco'ch
pattern on the sidewalk. "WellT
"You and the rest of the boys go long
and get your 'scuses. Don't wait for me, ="
Juggling at the refractory sock. ''Teacher'll
expect us back right away''-tug, tug, and
a sound of parting stitches in the stock
ing. meet me at the corner aud we'll all
90 TO school together There!'
Seeing that Ffed's prospects were
Frightening, Rob and the others ran down
the street, intent ON producing from ma
ternal pens tho required excuses, for the
unfortunate hardness in the school-room.
How they sing" scliloqaized Fred, as
the voices of his school mates fell upon
his ears through the open windows.
''They amt late, nor going home for
note, nor anything. Bother the raft and
the poles and the mud !" and the little boy
ruefully wiped his cheek with his clean
jacket sleeve and proceeded to tie knot
in the stiff, clay -colored shoe string.
Il win be good, viii be good,
will be good to-day"
shouted the chorus in the school loom, as
Fred rose and started for his home around
the next corner.
II will be good, will be goodr'
proceeded the songsters, with the usual
vehemence of threescore mischievous and
thoughtless urchins; but the words struck
the listener unpleasantly
"Just what said to mamma this morn
ing when she pinned my collar" said he,
feeling involuntarily for tn, too frequently
lost article. 81 meant it, too. But Rob
and the boys called me to the water, and
then Tom Grey said didn't dare go on the
raft; and, anyway, won't be dared by
Tom"
Fred sighed as he opened the little gate
and went through the grass to the kitchen
door. The hardest Of his way was in
meeting his mamma and corquering her
scrnples-for mamma had her scruples
and they interfered sadly sometimes with
Fred's plans. She was washing, though,
and perhaps would be in hurry. That
was in his favor.
i y
"Why, Freddie ~ came in sweet, sur
prised tones from the clouds of steam.
'sSay, now-now, mamma" laying
stick of wood with great pre- cision on the
nearest pile.
.What is it, dear7 Why aren't You at
school? 1t is late"
swell, that's just it. You see Rob and
the boys and-wen yes-and, and me-"
Come here, Freddy. Let me wipe your
face and your collar. How came you to
take hold of it with muddy fingers? Come
into the house."
-.Oh, never mind. I'm in a hurry"
Fred thrust his feet behind the chips, for
reasons best known to himself. 'pm
tardY, mamma, and teacher wants note.
Please do it quick, cause I've got to be
back in time Tor 'rithmetic. I'll be bring
ing in wood while you write"
Now this unusual offer of Fred's struck
his mother suspiciously, and she dried her
hands slowly, with troubled look on her
face. 1t was way his mother had. She
always looked seriously upon the misde-
meanors of her children in their dealings
with their teachers Fred never liked it.
II made him SO much trouble to have her
ask questions. Why didn't she let things
go, as Tom Grey's mother did,
FREDDY"
"Yes'm," hesitatingly, from the dim re-
cesses Of the woodshed, where the dry
sticks lay.
"Come in for moment"
Fred obeyed. She was little mother,
but he always obeyed when she spoke
She led him into the cool room beyond the
kitchen.
Eyes, SIR said Fred to himself. eyes,
sir. She's going to. ask questions. The
boys'll be waiting. Oh, dearl That old
raft and Tom Gray land anyway, what
did make mamma SO inquisitivep
where have you been Z" began his
mother, sitting down in the green arm
chair (she looked pale against the green,
Fred thought), and removing the strip OF
linen from the neck of his roundabout. !"
sJust down to the ravine little while.
There were whole lots of boys nd raft
They said dsren't get aboard, and 80
did. You wouldn't have me- be coward,
Of course" doubtfIily, but encouragingiy.
Mamma didn't seem very appreciative
lust here. so Fred proceeded:
END then we went to the bridge, and
the bell rang before we could get ashore
Rob and the others were late, too.
AS his mothers eyes were slightly down
cast, Fred stood little closer TO her skirts.
His feet seemed i'm the way.
.sWhat did. your teacher sayr' asked
Mrs. White-so sadly, it seemed-takiDg
from Fred's pocket roll of soiled linen,
once q clean handkerchief.
..Oh she said we must get our 'scuses
the rule, you know. Oh NO Ny feet
ara warm enough. Don't mind mel You
lust keep writin', cause ! ann in such
hurry r.
Quietly surveying the clay spread shoes
Mrs. White began removing them. Fred
thought her hands looked very white and
delicate against his soiled stockings, and
wondered, as she laid the damp articles
aside. if washing was very hard anyway
mammals arms were slender, too. Twas
too bad to make her SO much work. bul
the note
Come mamma-will you 7"
Eyes, Freddy, since your teacher re
auires it. Put ON these dry things" Ane
she turned away to get her pen.
why, amt she jolly, though =, WINS
pered Fred TO his dry socks. mo ques.'
lions nor grieyed looks. Tell you, II
never 90 this again No sir.
ssWhat shall say r. asked mamma: 9
she pushed down the clothes In the Dolle
and returned.
s.Oh, just what they all say Pleas
a-'scuse Freddy, as he was necsssaril.
'tained, said the young diplomat.
tsThen II was necessary for you 70 90 z