St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-02-15
lie water ?" queried the mother doubt

| the water p queried the mothef oouot-
fully.
his copper-toes. He didn't reply.
sAnd necessary to play on the raft p
"Tom Gray dared me to-" interposed
Fred, dulliug his knife rather recklessly.
''And necessary to stand in the cold
| water 2"
"Well now, mamma, let's not talk about
that now. It's most ten o'clock. Please
be writin'."
-"What shall writer
ooh you know" And the speaker
nervously twisted his shoestring through
an eyelet.
Mamma began writing, gravely. Fred
hoped on one foot to the table, anxiously
spelling out the words he saw.
IN o, no; ex-cu-se 9, excuse"
Down went the undressed foot. Mat
tiers were growing serious.
"H-i-s, his; own, own; ia u-l-t
fault"
"Oh, mammal She'll punish me, she'll
punish me! How can your Oh don't
you love me? Oh, mamma! !"
Eyes, dear, love you. Isn't my note
true?'
well, but couldn't you just say-just
say-Well couldn't you fix it ap some
how % he sobbed.
ssThat is the truth, dear, and the truth
can't be improved by fixing. Mamma
can't tell lie for you"
81 don't want you to tell liei' Oh, no
| the dear face of mother was too pure for
that. Fred only wanted compromise.
"But don't you love me? Do you want
me to be punished"
Il love you too well to send you to your
teacher with falsehood in your hand l
cannot fix the note, Freddy, without max
ing it untrue; but l would gladly bear
the pain of your punishment on my own
hand"
"Never |" exclaimed Fred, with I'M
wonted chigalry, kissing the hands that
were finishing his toilet.
81 will walk with you, dear" putting
the neat Shaker bonnet over her strangely
dewy eyes, land you will not be as lonely
then"
"But you'll hear her whip me. She
will certainly do so if take this note, :"
and sobs began again.
"Then shall know you are bearing the
pain rather than carry an untruth from
your mothers hand" said Mrs. White,
taking Fred's in her own, and moving to
the door.
Going toward the school room, strange
medley of thoughts passed through the
little boys mind. Mothers way was so
strange, so irresistible. 1t made trouble
for him yet it was right he knew, But
that terrible ruler His hand would
tremble; but his mother babe him good by
at the gate, as though punishment were
nothing.
sc, in now, Freddy. Mamma can wait
for you to decide whether she is right or
wrong. Good by"
Fred brushed the tears away. Tom
GRAY shouldn't see him cry. He waited to
kiss mamma Sne looked SO pale. and
maybe her way was best. He locked back
from the entry. He would smile toward
her. 1t would be too bad to let her go
home grieving, and he remembered her
arms were so small, and those stockings
were only two among many muddy ones.
He had made her great deal of trouble
this mornipg-Gttle mother
He went into the school-loom. Mamma
waited without for three, four, five min
utes. No sound OF blow or cry. Six,
seven minutes. All quiet within.
Then she drew a long breath and went
home.
At noon, two feet bounded irto the
kitchen and voice exclaimed:
"Hurrah for mamma !" 4
"Well, dearf' brightly.
ssShe never touched me. Not stroke.
She only looked odd around the eyes, and
she read your note aloud, and she said !;
Here is good mother My ! was SO
proud didn't care if did have to stay
and make up my lesson. l wouldn't
have you write the other 'scuse for any
thing"
land how about Rob and the others p
asked bis mother.
"Oh, didn't ask. They didn't have to
stay. though, cause they weren't gone as
long. Oh, didn't mind. When fellow
is SO full of happy and proud, and never
meaning to bs bad again, he don't think
much about the others getting off easy. l
say, mamma" Fred's face was in the
kitchen toweD, 81 say, after all, even if
she had whipped, think your ways the
best. Dinner ready 2"-Independent.