The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-05
A More Excellent Way.

1t all came about through Johnny's
dropping the syrup-pitcher at break
fast. The tableclOth was spick and
span clean. and his mother had risen
with miserable neuralgia headache,
and Johnny wasn't as careful as she
would have been, of course, when in
his hurry he tipped the pitcher, which
in its fall overturned very full tum-
bier. And so, in another half-minute,
there was an island of syrup set in a
small pond of ice-water !! All the cir
cumstances which have enumerated
were too much for ordinary maternal
patience.
johnny, YOU are naughty, care
less boy! You may have no syrup on
your cakes this morningw
Johnny's eyes opened in astonish-
ment.
"Why, mamma, I didn't mean to
do it ~
"But you are always doing things
with such q rush. You make other
people great deal of trouble and Ia
Dor, and then you say, Il didn't mean
to T."
A cloud of very gloomy character
had suddenly fallen over the group at
the pleasant breakfastrtahle. Just
here, in the confusion consequent up
on the accident, Kate, the twelve-year
old sister, who sat opposite Johnny,
struck her napkiD-ring sharply
against the salt-box standing by her
plate, thereby overturning the dainty
little china device. This incident be-
ing of SO trivial nature, nobody
made comment, until the rebelIious
and fearful Johnny exclaimed "kate
has been careless, too, mamma, and
you havn't blamed her bit. Shan't
she 60 without syrup, too?"
cit isn't anything to tip over salt
box" demonstrated the little girl.
"What silly thing to mention,
Johnny v' added the mother.
But somehow, almost before the re-
mark had left her lips, her conscience
had disputed its truth.
"Johnny," she said suddenly. "will
YOU excuse me f)r speaking as die? :?
1t was because the clean tablecloth
was soiled, and the spilling make such
confusion and so much work, that l
was discouraged. But it was an acci-
dent, and not my little boys fault.
You did not mean to do damage, any
more than Kate when she hit the salt
hox. You can see that yours was q
much more trying accident, and it
was hard to be pleasant over it; but ]
see that 1 was In the wrong, because l
was really blaming you because there
was syrup in the pitcher, and not for
being careless in tipping it. as ! said,
Ka,e's salt-cellar DIDN'T have any sy-
rup in it, you see, only salt, which did
no damage"
The picture before her was chaotic,
but Mrs. Way succeeded in smiling
brightly into Johnny's eyes, and ad-
ded, II am sick this morning.
didn't sleep well lust night. You
know how 1 dislike soiled tablecloth
80, on the whole, won't you try to
excuse me "'
Such a queer expression Johnny's
face wore, but smiles carried the day
very speedily. >. :
"Now, children, /" interposed their
father, "since mamma has been so po-
lite, aud has apologized so beautifully;
don't you think small boy and girl,
not very far away, ought to be very
careful as to their manners at table,
and run no risks of tipping pitchers
and tumblers and saltcellars, and max
ing ugly spots on clean n tablecloths"
"Yes sir" said Johnny, with great
emphasis.
,"I'll try" added Kate.
That morning, as the children were
on their way to school, Kate said in q
thoughtful way, with a tender accent
in her voice: III think mamma is just
the sweetest mother in all the world.
She is always sorry when she does
wrong, just as much as she wants US to
be-"
To which somewhat confused gram:
mar of his sister, Johnny responded
with earnest loyalty. Yes, and she
owns up right out loud, too, l tell
you"