The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
FOUR BOYS TOO MANY.
One Runaway Come and One Run
away Gone.

"A Wild rush and Jar OF Scamper1ng feet
In the morning, hubbub of suppressed
shouts. tumble on the stairway as OF
muffied thunder, and four rollicking
boys land in the lower hall with a sue
cession of resonant thuds, and rush off
to the closet that receives their nightly
deposit Of shoes.
In the same spacious closet is the lava
tory for their morning albutions. and,
after wordy scramble for the right
shoes-which they never can remember
to stand in pairs in row-they wash
and brush, and are ready to tackle papa
for some favor or other as soon as he
shall have come down to breakfast.
This time it is for him to furnish what
Santa Claus has failed to do-a turning
lathe for their workshop. one with a
treadle. TO be worked by foot power. !"
IF we are to DO cooped up here in
town." they say to each other, never
allowed to play on the streets. we must
have tools and things as fast as we grow
to them" So. this morning, Arthur.
the eldest. is going to tell papa that he's
grown to turning lathe.
II can run turning lathe as well as
you cam says Burt to Arthur. ..You
know can whip you any time when
try my level best. cause I've got the
muscle. you see," and he clenches his
fist against his shoulder and strikes out
like young gymnast.
"You know you can't do any such
thing when | try my level best. says
Arthur. tripping up his brother while
speaking. Then Eurt leaps to his feet.
and graphing Arthur. short struggle
follows. ending in a tussle on the floor,
while Carlos and Bonnie stand by,
laughing and cheering.
Their sister Julia, coming down stairs.
yawning and sleepy. hears the tumult,
and rushing in. exclaims:
Il declare, If you awful boys are not
fighting, this early in the morning. I'm
going to call papa down, this minute. 8
Knowing she will do it, they untangle
themselves, and turn their attention to
her.
I'VE can never have any fun where
you are without your interfering" says
Arthur, with very red face. You're
always putting on fine lady airs and
getting shocked at every thing we do.
How did you come to be awake sc
early, anyway. Miss Sleepyheada" asks
Burt, sneeringly.
Awake, indeed" she impatiently re-
forts. Il wonder who could sleep Z
wink in this house after you are awake
The noise you make in getting dowr
stairs is enough to make the neighbor.
think there is an earthquake on hand
I'm positively ashamed Of YOU
%, you're SO touchy," retorts Arthur
I'm glad I'm not a girl. We do try t,
keep still and smother every thing till
till we just explode; you know We
can't help that"
Besides" adds Burt, mamma iSlke!
MS leave of our shoes to save the car
pet. and how can we make much noist
in our stocking feet?'
"How can you. indeed. You couldn'
If you weren't as rude as a pack of In
dams. The fact is, four boys are toe
many for one house.
That's what ! think when they've
got sister like you" snaps out Arthur
land I'm going to run away-that'.
what I'm going to do"
Il wouldn't start till after breakfas
il were you," says Julia, sneeringly
"You shut up.
''And | wouldn't 60 till the weather
changes: its rather cold just now TO
sleeping in barns"
Il tell you to shut up, you hateful
ing YOU
Mr.. Medford, entering with slipperet
feet just in time to hear Arthur's las
words. is shocked at their rudeness ant
unkindness, and, reproving him, orders
him to his room, to remain until he il
called. At the same time Mrs. Medfor,
appears and the bell summons them t,
the breakfast room. While serving tn,
buckwheat cakes the waiting maid an
nounces that the cook is trying to thav
out half-frozen boy by the range an,
feeding him hot cakes"
II must see him after breakfast" say
Mrs. Medford. Its strange he was nc
picked up before he reached thi
street."
Breakfast being over, Mr.. Medfor
hastily buttons himself into his ovel
SO0l HuTTlto W IAe uCAC StIcCC !
catch car, telling Burt as he leaves
call Arthur to breakfast. Burt, thinkin
only Of the boy in the basement runs t
she foot Of the stairs and calling 20 hi
brother toEcome down, hastens to joi
the others below.
There, with frosted fingers and froze
feet, sits boy Of Burt's size, thinly clat
his pinched features telling of past hui
ger, present suffering and shyness.
''Hello!" says Burt, 'how did you 81
in this fix?" No answer.
20, say. you needn't mind me; wal
you to talk. You didn't start out
make regular tramp OF yourself, nov
cid your" Still no answer; only q SUI
pressed moan as he draws one foot up !
his hands from the snow-water wit