The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-29
GRANDMOTHER'S WAY

1t Was Not just ~ Mamma Would DO,
sut Was Apparently Enectual Treat
ment.
Il don't see rightly what's the mat
ter with Tom these days. He's as
naughty as ever he can be. !"
And Grandmother Beman sank down
In the little. fat rocking-chair, and
breathed great discouraged sigh.
lin SO sorry, mother dear" said
Toms mother, with worried look on
her face. Il wouldn't have come home
this summer to you, If | had known
what trouble Tom would be. He was
as good as he could be in the city,
Not come home? The very idea! /
guess could have stood it if Tom had
been twins: but confess I'm thankful
there's only one of him, for I'm at my
wits end the most of the time, and
raised seven boys of my own. They
weren't any better than common.
either"
Toms mother stood at the door,
looking out across the field where the
men were ut work; and the sweet scent
of new-mown hay filled all the air
But she was not thinking of the men,
nor Of the fresh summer fragrance. Ii
she had been anyone but Toms moth
or, she could not have helped it. As it
was, she thought only of Tom. 1t cer-
tainly was true of her, as she herself
had said. that sic was rapidly getting
to be woman Of one idea. with Tom
for the idea.
And what wonder! Just one week
ago the little mother had come from
New York all the way to Michigan.
and had brought with her we'll
dressed, well-behaved, tidy boy, and. at
the end of seven days, what record.
The big trunk that had come with
them held scarcely one whole. unin-
jured garment that belonged to Tom:
for hadn't he fallen out of the hay
NOW, and into the brook. and
been caught in the fence, and
chased by the big turkey? And
hadn't he been dranched by the thun-
derstorm. and taken refuge in the
fiour-mill. so that he looked as if he
had been dipped in Rickety AIMS big
bowl Of batter? Mamma remcmbe
all these things as She stood there by
the door: and she remembered, too. the
green spot on his trousers. which told
of the day he painted the old white hen
with the green paint that Jonas was
saving for the pasture gate. Jonas had
taught him to harness the horse, To
milk the cows, and to feed the pigs:
and many We're the troubles of mother
and grandmother before his education
was complete. But mothers never bear
malice. and the goodnight kiss on the
sunburned little face was just as sweet
and loving every night as if Tom had
been AS good as boy in a story.
I'm going to love him into being
good" said the little mother.
That's a good way" said Grand
mother Beman, with a wise smile.
That's my way, too: hut there's low
ing and loving, and my ways different"
Hut by and by there was ST. much else
to do and think of that Tom and his
misdemeanors were quite forgotten.
They were talking Of the various plans
for the morrow, when suddenly the
gaunt figure of Rickety Ann appeared
in the doorway.
Mis- Beman, she said Jonas didn't
git me no sugar when h was to the
Corners this mornin'. and there amt
enough to finish this cake"
"Now there!" exclai med grandmoth-
or. IN dismay. Jonas gets more forget
full every day. shall have to go my
self: cant take him from his work
now. even to harness the horse"
Tom can harness old Jerry, mother;
hes ofteA aoas il" said the little moth