Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-05

anu -ltEe was LoLL-t ELt m INTO DeE
empty pail, and Benny looking at her
with a red. guilty face from the opposite
side of The table.
why, Benny" said the mother.
Il didn't mean to-truly. mamma.
only meaned TO taste one-then fore
could fink they was al gone.
The fox Of selfshness, Benny
'Hes'm, said Benny. swallowing hard
and winking very fast But I'm dreful
sorry. Don't cry. Lottie and IN give
I you the ten-cent piece that's in my bank.
/ Mayn't l. mammal
/ His mother assented, and with the
/ dime shining in her hand, Lottie's heart
was comforted.
! The next fox showed his head at the
/ tea-tahle. Benny wished for piece of
/ cake before he had eaten a biscuit, and
il was refused him. At this ne grew
quite cross, and pouted his lips until
they stood out like shelf Il shan't
eat this old biscuit, anyway he NUT
tered
But although this mutter was very
/ low one his mother heard il, 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 70 stop by a question asked
over his fathers shoulder.
Have YOU looked into the wood-box
tonight, Ben?"
Benny knew quite we'll what this
! question meant. It was his task to fill
the wood-box every pleasant afternoon.
But he hated to bring in wood There
was naughty scowl on his forehead as
he turned back. Ali 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 %
himself while he picked up an armful
Of wood. When he came Juggling it UP
the two low steps he said: i jus guess
that old fox, III Temper. won trouble
me again. He came and talked rightin
my ear and said: Benny, don't bring in
any wood till you get ready But l id.
And | imagine he's pretty well 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.
'Oh. 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 the
barn with a 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 a 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 a skip and a hop. while Lottie
stood watching. Now he touched the
stone. He had not slipped. he was say
ing to himself triumphantly. Then all
at once, there was a splash and cry.
and the next instant frightened and
dripping bog was serambling 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 way
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
boy into the house.
Benny said his father, what do
you think should be done to boy who
won't mind what he is told?"
Benny twisted uneasily. Il s'spose-
he ought TO have-a-whipping
hope amt the boy that's going to get
Mr.. Knox walked to the window, and
looked 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 kiss
| him goodnight she found him with
wide eyes fixed solemnly on the cell
ing. A soft twilight was only just
creeping into the room, for the July
days did not bring dusk until after the
children's seven o'clock bedtime.
Mamma, said Benny, Il am very
| tired"
Are you?" said the gentle mother.
"Yes-but not cause of my playing
too hard. I'm JUS 'xausted looking out
for those ugly little foxes. But p'raps
there won't be SO many tomorrow. -
Mary Clark Huntington, in Springfield
Republican.
About Birds.
The movements OF birds on the wing