St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-01
MOTHERS WAY.

MOTHERS WAY.
Fred White sat on the edge of the SIDE
walk, slowly replacing his shoes ana
stockings. The shoes were heavy with red
clay, and the stockings chung with camp
tenacity to a pair of blue feet, refusing to
be rugged beyond the wet little heels OF
their owner.
81 say, Rob-"
"Well," inquired Rob, medttatively
tracing with one bare toe the hop-sco CD
pattern on the sidewalk. "WellT
"You and the rest of the boys go long
and get your 'scases. Don't wait for me-,
Juggling st the refractory sock. ''Teacher'll
expect us back right away"-tug, tug, and
a sound of parting stitches in the stock
ing. Meet me at the corner and we'll all
90 to school together. ThereE
Seeing that Fred's prospects were
Frightening, Rob and the others ran down
the street, intent on producing from ma
ternal pens the required excuses for the
unfortunate hardness in the school-room.
How they sing !" soliloquized Fred, as
the voices of his school mates fell upon
his ears through the open windows.
.'They amt late, nor going home TOR
note, nor anything. Bother the raft and
the poles and the mud y and the little b'y
ruefully wiped his cheek with his clean
Jacket sleeve and proceeded to tie knot
in the stiff, clay -colored shoe string
II will be good, will be good,
1 will be good to-day"
shouted the chorus in the school room, as
Fred rose and started for his home around
the next corner.
II will be good, l will be good y
proceeded the songsters, with the usual
vehemence of threescore mischievous and
thoughtless urchins but the words struck
the listener unpleasantly.
Gust what l said to mamma this morh-
ing when she pinned my collar, said ne,
feeling involuntarily for til, too frequently
lost article. 81 meant it, too. But Rob
and the boys called me to the water, and
then Tom Grey said didn't dare go on the
raft; and, anyway, / won't be dared by
Tom"
Fred sighed as he opened the little gaia
anu went Though the grass TO the ktchen
door. the hsrdest OF his way was In
meeting his mamma and corquerlng her
scrupIes-tor mamma had her scruples
and they interfered sadly sometimes With
Fred's plans She was washing, though,
was in his favor.
VI say, mamma" winningly.
tWhy, Freddie v' came in sweet, sur
nr,sed tones from the clouds of steam.
"Say, now-now, mamma" laying a
stick of wood with great precision on the
nearest pile.
school2 1t is late"
"Well, that's just it. You see Rob and
the boys snd-wsll, yes-snd, and me
Come here, Freddy. Let me wipe youl
face and your collar, How came you tt
take hold of it with muddy fngers9 Come
into the house."
..Oh, never mind. I'm in hurry.
Fred thrust his feet behind the chips, fol
reasons best known to himself. "pn
tardv, mamma, and teacher wants q note
Please do it quick, cause I've got TO b.
back in time Tor 'rithmetic Ill be BRING
ing In wood while you write"
Now this unusual offer of Fred's struci
his mother suspiciously, and she dried he
hands slowly, with troubled look on he
face. 1t was way his mother had. SD
always looked seriously upon the mlsde
meanors of her children in their dealing
with their teachers. Fred never liked 1t
1t made him so much trouble to have he
ask questions Why didn't she let thing
20, as Tom Grey's mother did,
Freddy"
"Yes'm," hesitatingly, from the dim re
cssses OF the woodshed, where the dr.
sticks lay.
s.Come in for moment"
Fred obeyed. She was little mother
but he always obeyed when she spoke
She led him into the cool room beyond tn
kitchen.
ayes, sir" said Fred to himself. eye:
sir. She's going to ask questions. In
boys'll be waiting. Oh, dear That oil
raft and Tom Gray land anyway, whs
did make mamma so inquisitive 2
Where have you been?" began n
mother, sitting down in the green arm
chair (she looked pale against the greer
Fred thought), and removing the strip
linen from the neck of his roundabout
s.Just down to the ravine little whil'
There were whole lots of boys nd raj
They said darent get aboard, and SO
did. You wouldn't have me be cowar'
of course" doubtfully, but encouragingl.
Mamma didn't seem very appreciati'
lust here, so Fred proceeded:
end then we went to the brldge, 81
the bell rang before we could get ashor
Rob and the others were late, too.
As his mothers eyes were slightly dow
cast, Fred stood little closer TO her skirt
His feet seemed in the way.
"What did your teacher sayf" ask
Mrs. White-so sadly, it seemed-takll
from Fred's pocket roll OF soiled line
once clean handkerchief.
..Oh she said we must get our 'scus
the rule, you know. Oh no My Re
are warm enough. Don't mind me y
inst keep writin', cause / a,n in such
hurry r
Quietly surveying the clay -spread she
Mrs. White began removing them. RI
thought her hands looked very white q
delicate against his soiled stockings, O.
wondered. as she laid the damp artic
aside, if washing was very hard any Wa
mamma's arms were slender, too. TN
too bad to make her SO much WORK. L
the note -
Come mamma-will your"
eyes, Freddy, since your teacher
anires 1t. Put on these dry things a
she turned away TO get hef pen.
why, ain't SIDE Jolly, though WI
pered Fred to his dry seeks. mo gu
lions nor grieved looks. Tal you,
never co this again. No sir"
aWhat shall cay r asked namma'
she pushed down the clothes IN the 90
and returned.
..Oh, just what they all say Pie
a-'scuse Freddy, Is he was necessal
stained, said the young diplomat
'aThen it was necessary for you 90 8