The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-06-18

"Why, BENNY" said the mother.
81 didn't mean to-truly. mamma. l
only meaned to taste one-then fore l
could fink they was all gone"
''The fox of selfshness Benny?'
"Yes'm," said Benny, swallowing hard
and winking very fast. "But I'm drefful
sorry. Don't cry, Lottie, and I'll give
you the ten-cent piece that's in my bank.
Mayn't l, mammal"
His mother assented, and with tho
dime shining in her hand, Lottie's heart
was comforted.
The next fox showed his head at the
tea-table. Benny wished for piece Of
cake before he had eaten a biscuit, and
it was refused him. At this he grew
quite cross, and pouted his lips until
they stood out like shelf. II shan't
eat this old biscuit, anyway" he NUT
| tered.
But although this mutter was very
| low one, his mother heard 1t, and, bend
| ing over, she whispered in his ear;
Look out for the little fox of ill-tem.
per-"
And Benny ate the biscuit very quiet
| ly. He was busily thinking, too, as he
smoothed his face, so that when his
father passed him the cake he was his
own happy self once more.
When supper was over Mr.. Knox took
the milk pals and started down the
path to the barn. The two children
trotted after him, but Benny was
brought to a stop by a question asked
over his fathers shoulder.
Have you looked into the wood-box
tonight, Benz"
Benny knew quite we'll what this
| question meant. 1t was his task to fill
the wood-box every pleasant afternoons
But he hated to bring in wood! There
was naughty scowl on his forehead as
he turned back. All! it had popped up
| again-the fox of ill-humor. He stamped
one foot resolutely on the ground, and
stamped the little fox away for that
| time.
As she stood at the sink, washing
Dishes Mrs. Knox heard him talking to
himself while he picked up an armfu)
of wood. When he came Juggling it up
the two low steps he said: II jus guess
that old fox, Ill Temper, won't trouble
me again. He came and talked rightiD
my ear and said: Benny, don't bring in
any wood till you get ready But did.
And imagine he's pretty we'll scat"
"That is good" was the mothers sober
reply. "But look out that he doesn't
whisper to you again. And look out for
the other foxes, too"
ooh, I'm looking out" Bonnie said.
cheerfully.
Perhaps the fox of disobedience heard
this and determined to lay Benny's
pride in the dust At any rate, he ap.
peared quite unexpectedly, and much
to Benny's sorrow
Mr.. Knox was coming in from tho
barn with full, frothy pail in each
hand. the children running along before
him with little leaps and springs at
every STEP
Benny" said his father, you'll slip
into that puddle if you jump on that
smooth stone in such o careless way.
Don't do it again"
| But Benny had fixed himself for an
other jump and felt very sure that he
should not slip. Besides, his father had
passed on and would hardly notice
whether he obeyed or disobeyed. So he
gave q skip and a hop while Lottie
stood watching. Now he touched the
stone. He mad not slipped, he was say.
ing to himself triumphantly. Then all
at once, there was splash and cry,
and the next instant a frightened and
dripping boy was scrambling out on one
side of the ducks puddle, while the
whole duck family. equally frightened,
were Tapping hastily out on the other
side. Then the duck mother, quacking
very loudly, led her quacking ten away
to the other end of the yard as fast as
they could waddle, and the mother, say.
ing that she was sorry her Benny should
be disobedient led very quiet little
hoy into the house.
''Benny," said his father, "what do
, you think should be done to boy who
} won't mind what he is told?"
t Benny twisted uneasily. Il s'spose-
7 he ought to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
[ hope 1 amt the boy that's going to get
| it,
Mr.. Knox walked to the window, and
locke d out for minute..Then he turned
and looked at the very wet boy. ''Per
, haps your ducking was sufficient pun
! ishment he said.
When Benny's mother went to kis,
him goodnight she found him with
| wide eyes fixed solemnly on the cell
ing A soft twilight was only jus
: creeping into the room, for the Jul!
i days did not bring dusk until after the
! children's seven o'clock bedtime.
q Mamma" said Benny, II am yer.
!, tired"
! 'Are your" said the gentle mother.
). "Yes-but not cause of my playin
y too hard. I'm JUS 'xausted looking GU
:" for those ugly little foxes. But p'rar
:, there won't be so many tomorrow. y
~ Mary Clark Huntington, in Springfield
:, Republican.
Is About Birds.
os The movements Of birds on the win
n furnish a familiar world of wonders
i. Some fly like arrows, some describe eli
lie cles in the sky, and others take wa
r. ing, undulating course. There are birt
ne everywhere, and they are capable Of a
ly most any thing; what one bird can nj
y. do, another can. There are birds of th
ut earth, birds OF the water and birds
in the air. There are birds that scream