The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-05-07
THE "COMM ODORE."
How He Cured His Little Master of Very
Annoying Habit.

Annoying t1aDlts
80 Mamma Terry, I've most smashed
my thumb! Oh! Oh dear!" cried Win
fred, bursting into the sitting-room like
small tornado.
''Oh. hush, Win! If you haven't been
blown to pieces by a dynamite bomb,
run over by an engine, or fallen out of a
seventh-story window, there is no rea-
son for bowling So" said Thad his big
brother, looking up from his Greek.
do be quiet, Winny," said sister
Ruth, 'for you'll have policeman and
all the neighbors in here to know who
is being killed.
''But it hearts awfullyw cried Winfred.
81 guess you'd cry!"
At that moment the bewitching strains
OF hand-organ were heard in the
STREET Winfred ran to the window, and
was perfectly quiet until the monkey
and organ moved on, then he took up
his doleful crying where he left off.
''Winfred," said his mother, trying
hard to speak patiently, what is the
trouble nowg'
81 hurt my finger" said the little
boy.
''Come here and let me see it,"
Winfred held up his fat little fingers,
and looked at them with puzzled ex-
preston on his face.
81 s'pose 1t was this finger-or else,
may be, it was my thumb, I've most for
got which," he said, looking somewhat
ashamed.
''The injury must have been very
slight, Winfred, said Mrs. Terry, "or you
would not have forgotten so soon. You
have very bad habit of crying over every
trifle, and it makes it very unpleasant
for all of us. Besides, dear, habits, like
threads, can be easily broken when they
are little, but they grow stronger year by
year, until they are like huge cables.
How sad it would be, when you are a
man, if you should cry every time you
STUDIED your toe, or got silver in your
finger"
Winfred's face grew very hot with
shame. t Nf
Course sha'n't cry when I'm man.
he said.
II fear you will, unless you break
yourself OF the habit now," said his
mother. "You used to be brave little
boy, but for the last year have grown
more and more babyish. l really feel
ashamed of you, Winfred."
May be sha'n't cry any more" said
the little boy, with his arms around his
mothers neck.
Nevertheless he had three more ",ry-
ing SPELLS" before bedtime.
The next day there was great rejoic-
ing in the house, for Uncle Chester came
home.
Uncle Chester was sailor, and had
been away on long voyage. Every one
liked the kind, jolly sailor, but Winfred
thought him the greatest hero in the
world.
Uncle Chester brought them all pres
on.s from distant lands-shells and rare
curiosities, but to Winfred he brought a
beautiful green parrot, with brilliant
red feathers around his neck.
Winfrcd was so delighted that he was
nearly wild with joy.
You are the dearest, jolliest uncle in
the worldr' cried Winfred, hugging him
till he cried for mercy. "How could
YOU know just what wanted most?'
Il thought you would like it," said
Uncle Chester. "It's fine bird, and
quite young, so 1t can not converse very
fiuently yet; but you can teach him, il
you are patient. This species is very
teachable. There is one thing, perhaps,
| ought to mention, the Commodore dis
likes very much to hear any one cry.
Winfred's face grew red as he saw
Ruth and Thad smiling. He would not
have had Uncle Chester know he cried
for bank full Of money; and in all the
fortnight he stayed, Winfred did not
once cry.
But the door had no sooner closed
after Uncle Chester than he cried loud
or than ever.
The parrot was his constant campan-
ion. and rode on his shoulder or follow
I'D him from room to room.
lie would say Commodore" quite
plainly when asked his name, and when
the others were laughing he joined with
a grulf HAL hal' but the moment Win.
fred began to cry the bird cried out;
.'what baby! Ha! ha! What a baby
What baby! Ha! hal What a baby"
Winfred stopped instantly. so surprised
that it nearly took his breath away. and
it was severaidaEs before he cried again
But whenever the boy began to cry the
parrot screamed, in . mocking tone