Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-08-07
LIVING FOR GOOD TIMES.

How a Selfish Little Boy Learned to Plant
the Good Seed.
There was once little boy who had
such an appetite for good times that he
was called Good-Times Freddy.
Now, what do you think was his idea
of good times? Why, pleasing himself,
playing, eating, reading fairy tales, get
ting gifts at Christmas, and stuffing
himself till his buttons flew off at
Thanksgiving time!
One way of having a good time, ac-
cording to Fred's belief, was to knee
it, up and down and across the lawn.
Another way was to make taffy on the
kitchen stove ironing-day. Freddy had
a most delightfully."- good time whenever
a homeless cat crossed his path. To
see his little terrier brighten timid Mrs.
Tabby, and send her flying over the
high board fence, caused Good-Times
Freddy to fairly bubble over with de-
light.
Or if an ugly little mongrel specimen
of dog happened to stray into Fred S
domain for sociable call upon the ele-
CANT terrier, to see that same dog go
scuttling off over the pavement with a
tin pail banging and bouncing at his
tail, caused Fred the most intense Joy.
There were little sisters in Good
Times Fred's family, and a baby boy.
Sometimes mamma wished Fred to
amuse these little people while she was
making good things in the kitchen for
breakfast, dinner and supper, and the
same thing over again. (Oh, such lot
of goodies as it took for the stomach of
Good-Times FredD
But when Fred was asked to stay in
the house and play with Patty and
Matty and Toddlekins, he would throw
himself fat upon the floor, and utter
wailings like unto this:
''Ow, WOW, WOW! l never can't have
no good times!"
Now you know there are only just so
many good times in the world. 1t seems
a pity that there are not more, but prob
ably things are best as they are in this
respect There being a limited quantity
of good times, if one boy gets more
than his share, somebody else must do
without. On account of the good times
''kneeing it, over the lawn, mamma
was obliged to sit up nights, and patch
and darn till she had bad times with
her aching head.
Because GoodTimes Fred was de-
termined that he wouldn't help take
care of Patty and Matty and Toddle-
kins, mamma couldn't go out and get
as much fresh air as she needed. Be-
cause he would climb scraggly nut
trees and peaked picket fences, his new
suits cost so much that mamma some
times had to do without new gloves or
new gown. AT last this poor over
worked mamma fell sick. The head
aches got worse and worse till there
was not much but headaches.
A tall, sharp-eyed, Ronan-nosed
doctor was called. He was the kind of
doctor who can see right through lit
tie boys, and he saw through Good
Times Freddy at the first sharp glance.
He saw through the gentle, tender
hearted mother, too.
See here" he said, holding up a
long bony forefnger. ''See here, ma
dame, You are worn threadbare. Now
you might take a barrel of pills and
powders; you might dose your liver,
and dose your stomach, and brace your
nerves. and rectify your heart-for
they're all ailing-but it would do no
good. Madame, you must have change;
you must leave every chick and child
behind you, and go off and enjoy your
self Tone, madame, tone is what you
need
So the patient mamma went away for
her share of the good times, and
housekeeper as tall. as bony, as grisly,
as the doctor, came to take her place.
It is well known that housekeepors
like good times almost as well as little
boys. The very first time that Mrs.
Toothacre caught Fred on his knees
out of doors she called him in and sent
him to bed.
mo place like bed for boys she said
They're out of sight and hearing, and
their clothes last twice as long if you
keep 'em in bed.
So hungry was our little Piggy Wee.
But in vain did he squeal for more cake,
pie or bread and butter.
You shan't stuff while I'm here"
said the grim, slim, trim Mrs. Toothaere.
You'd be hungry any way, however
much you ate"
And the hours that Fred spent shut
up with Patty and Matty and Toddle-
kins! Why, it was beyond belief!
Good Times!' exclaimed the house
keeper. ''Oh, you will have good times
when your mothers quite gone from
your
You see, Fred had been complaining,
as usual, that he never had any good
times, and in the midst of his meanings
had jingled the postman's bell. A let
ter from mamma was handed in, which
Mrs. Toothacre FASTENED to read.
''When's she comm home--say,
Miss Toothache, when's my mamma a
comm - said Fred.
ITO the best of my knowledge and
belief, she wont come home at all.
She's very sick. Your papa writes that
she seems to grow weaker instead of
stronger"
''And shall you stay here allers?'' in
quired the grief-stricken boy.
M ebbe, an mebbe not" said Mrs.