Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-31
WHEN YOUR BOY COMES FROM
SCHOOL.
BY KATE THORN.
NayV York Waok1-

What an appetite he has! How hungry
| he Is always How the cookies vanish
and the gingerbread disappears before his
| determined onslaught He is all noise
and impulse, and warts, and frecktes.
His hands are .dirty-his fnger-nails
trimmed with black; he has stuck lead
of gum to the shelf in the pantry to clear
the way for the edibles and his trousers
are torn at the knees, and he smells of fish
bait and peppermint candy, but he is your
boy, and you love him.
The house is turned upside down i'm
mediately- He wants a string for his
kite He want his ball mended. He
wants money for Jim. to pay him the boot
on the jackknife he has snapped. He
wants to &c fishing with Tom and Jack.
He Grams his mouth full of bread and
butter, and with the jelly running out of
the corners, he makes dis wants known.
Ma, can't have bicycle? want
one Where's pa? Who's been here
with carriage? Where's my box of
worms? wish | had pistol, or a shot
gun. Jim's got one. Say, ma, teacher
says I've been late twice. and it's only
just once. jim been late dozen times.
and never got marked. did ten examples
to-day. wish had a new slate. Oh.
ma, the circus is coming next month |!
Can't | GO every day? | wish | was in a
circus, or a menagerie! Wouldn't | have
jolly old times! Going to school is awful
slow! Toms dog bit Mike Lane. They
think he's got The hydrophobia. It was
in the leg and he had two white ears and
a white tail, and he'll sit up ike-like-
well, like anything. should like to have
a dog, Say, ma. amt there any custard :?
Tom has rince pie all the year round at
his house! Oh. say, ma, can't have
three kittens? Mikes mothers cat has
got five, and they'll give me three Mike
said so! Amt they real good Halloi
these comes the boysl They've got their
poles. Where's nv line? Don't let Min
ME eat up all the cake. shall want some
when | get back! You won't let her, will
you, ma?
And with a whoop and hurrah. he
dashes out of the house, and leaves a
track of mud behind him, and a generally
dlsordered room for you to clear up.
But you do not mind It, You 90 abont
it maybe with sigh. but you are not I'M
happy IL doing it. You are only tired.
He Is no doubt pest-at least, he would
be to any one ese-but not to you. He is
Jun COys ulIC
boy who loves you, and who is to be tie
prop and stay IF your old age.
You look after aim as he scampers off
along with the other boys. Tanned and
torn. noisy and boisterous, his cap on
askew, his shoes untied-but still your
boy.
How glad you are that he is yours! How
you pity those woman who have no boys
like him! How you recall his good quail
ties, and allow his faults-and Heaven
knows they are many-to retire into the
background! 1t is true he pulls the cats
tail to hear her growl, and he likes to set
the hens to cackling. and it is fun for
him to tie tin cans to the stray dogs. but
you excuse him by saving that he is not
eruel-it is only his fun; and you miss
him when he is gone, and you long for
him to come back; and when he sneaks in
about dark, with his feet soaking wet.
and his face bitten by mosquitoes and his