The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-10-24
W|atebi39 a Boy Grow.
H. s. KELLER.
in Detroit Free Press.

Y7 HEY were twins, VIII ana Susie,
~ and had been Watching them
O. } grow for six years. During that
short period in their young lives
| had not been able tu discern much
difference between the individual
tastes, likes, diSlikrS and mclimatiomS.
Susie handled II rattle with WITS dcN-
trrily, and viii was equally adaptable
to nicely of touch in formulating dolls
~armcnturc ont of stray bits of cloth,
paper or ribbon. There WAS only one
slight disparity and it puzzled me not
Il litilr when first observed it. While
Susie was satisfied to draw her little
self up to Il chair and stand there crow
ing with delight, Will went II step
chair. There was only one other little
marked feature which presented itself;
Susie would wait TO be helped ut the
table while Will pounded his plate with
his spoon with impaticmcc. That was all
that | can recall that showed the differ
cncc between their sex. Susie waited
for the good things: viii called after
the good things. Susie crawlcd to the
level of II chair; Will crawlcd upon
the chair. When the twins reached
the remarkable age of six and Il half II
great epoch dawned upon them.
VIII presented himself with his first
pair of pants. He chucked his chubby
hands deep into the pockets and strut
ted proudly about the room. 1t was Il
curious little study in human nature
and was comical to observe. Susie
for the first time in her life was Jealous
of her brother. lie was receiving moIc
attention, he was more observed, he
was getting above her. She told her
mother that she wanted to wear pants,
too: she SAID that she was just as BIG
Us Will, and she didn't see any reason
why she shouldn't don Il pair of pants
poke her hands into the pockets and
stand before papa to be admired, on
strut up and down the walk in front of
the house, or 90 to the picture gallery
1t took Il deal of explanation to cX-
plode the tots curious fancy; but in {;
short time she noted Wills disdain for
dolls, also II growing fancy for balls,
tops, whips and, last of all, little
tricycle.. Ard there the twins separat-
ed in their baby fancies. Susie became
the lady, and commenced over again
to watch the boy grow.
y growing boy is Il curious creature
and it requires Il man of nerve to watcl
him and stay by him. A growing boy
is full of pranks-some need to bC
curbcd and explained rs to the futur,
consequences. Some must be nippeC
in the bud and cautioned against Wisc
servants have their hands full will
growing boys, and many IN intcllcctu
al fathers brain has been nightly
puzzled over the quaint streaks tha
creep into and out of Il growing boy
mind.
When VIII reached the age of l. h,
knew more about birds, bugs and bee
Ties than ! had ever learned i'm TIN
natural history days of my boyhood
He soon gave up that bent and begal
to prowl around old desks for postug
stamps of value. He spent all hi
pennies for quaint stamps, and sool
HAD collection worth S50-the priz
of which was one particular staml
which cost him 81. The purchase o
this stamp must have cost the dear bo
much self denial and deprivation q
goodies; however, he owned the rar
specimen and was proud of it. The
Will reached the age of ID and becam
L. 4
older lads in this especial nine, bu
none could 90 behind the bat an,
catch the swiftly-thrown ball quite Il
well as VIII. He became so arouse,
with the frenzy of base ball that h
had four or five dozen cabinet photo
taken with Il catcher's mask oycr hi
face. He talked base ball in his sleep
he gave us base ball for breakfast
dinner and supper. Finally Susie SAT-
that base ball was only fit for littl
boys, ut which VIII began To cXpoun,
the laws, rules and regulations AM
features of the game SO hotly tina
mamma said she surely couldn't hav
the tircsomc subject mentioned ut tn,
table again. Wills fine eyes blaze
furiously when ''tircsome subject" wa
spoken of. lie closed his mouth an
kept mum. The next morning n
told me he wanted to go away t
school, some school where there wcr
no women folks. | gave him my ad
vice and VIII went away and Il strang
quiet crcpt over our little circle Susi
missed the jolly fellow, and | doul
not she would have taken him bac
with 'sfoul-tipS, 'sdandy-slide, '.ln
curve and .'yellar decision and all.
When Will did come back the dow
was no longer upon his chin an,
checks. There was Il suspicion of tn
sickness of the razor's touch: also
little shadow was upon his upper liz
His hair no longer crinklcd in tn
neck and curlcd about his ears; il wa
cropped short behind and stood II
straight on top. There was one littI
thing that noticcd-hiS fingers, e.
pccially those of the right hand weI
yellow about the tips. | knew what
meant. took Will aside and told hil
If he loved me he'd stop smoking ci.
arcttcs. While | was opposed to tc
bacco in every form, I'd rather buy
respectable amount of cigars for hIl
than to think of his smoking the di
gushing cigarette. Will saw that
was greatly concerned and he promise
to quit cigarettes ut once. He was
manly boy and, though he has oftc
blown whiff of smoke over my shou
, der, he has never indulged since
cigarettes After he graduated Il
took Il desk in my Office and began t
grow ahead of me. That clear youn
head of his was gradually Y assuming Il
leadership and in II short time he knc
more about the affairs of business thu,
did. IL was Il relief to me, and
was satisfied that should be relieve,
! Will married nicely and settled
, another part of the town. He is ol
OF the growing business men of Il
place and |, his father, am not aSham,
, To write, as | do. what | know abo
: watching Il boy grow.
-. 1.-The Honest Dollar"
$ There is 4 deal of rot and Slu,
written and spoken these days aho,
the "honrst dollar, in connection vii
that once highly valued and rrspcctr
/ silver ''doIlar of the daddicS. ri
$ treatment that silver is now rrcrivin
is shameful. Ii is analogous To II gre;
: brute OF Il fellow wallowing Il boy
- the mud and then Kicking him for bcirI
A.. dirty. "I'hc silver IN Il dollar is no
Ia l,tti a. m ll,f n IISl