Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-10-20
GooD-NATURED ROBERT.

A writer in Pansy gives picture we
fear of many children who while they
have love for their parents do not take
pains to show 1t in The proper way.
Grandmother was settled for the
night The day had been long to her,
and full of WEAKNESS. She had had to
work beyond her strength, for there
was only her one pair of hands to keep
the house in order and prepare the
meals for her son, Joseph, and her
grandson, Robert. Very willing hands
they were. Nearly seventy years
they had been at it; but of
course they were not so strong as
they used to be, and grandmother
spent some sorrowful hours, occa-
sionally, wondering who would do for
Joseph and Robert when she was gone.
On this particular day her head had
ached and she felt that she taken cold.
I'm go to bed early" she said, and
see il / can't get good nights rest and
sleep it off. / shall have to be up
early tomorrow morning, anyhow"
So not lorg after s o'clock her light
was out, and She was carefully night
capped and ready for her first nap,
just as she was doing off to sleep
the sitting-room door opened and closed
with a bang, and Robert, whistling to
the full extent of his lungs, came up
stairs three steps at a time, and
bounced into his grandmother's room.
why, grandmother" he said, in sur
prise; 1T isn't nine o'clock yet"
Il know it, dear, but my head aches.
1t has ached all day. | thought would
slip away to bed real early. and see if
could not get a long rest. | have to be
up early in the morning on account Of
your father going on the first train.
Did you want anything"
"Yes'm; l want a ball of Irvine and
ueedle the worst kind"
Wont it do in the morning dearie?
I'll fix it for you then"
This is something out of your line,
grandmother It is an April fool we
are fixing for al fellow, and I've got to
get il ready tonight"
Well, you'll find ball of Irvine in
my work basket under the bureau, and
a needle-case in the bottom Of the same
basket; don't mix things up Robert"
Nom, said Robert, making a dash
for the basket and overturning it,
whereupon balls and spools and but
tons rolled under the bureau under the
bed, under any spot they could find to
disappear Grandmother raised her
self on one elbow and groaned, and
Robert whistled.
I'm an unluclly chap" he said, land
that's fact Don't you worry, grand
mother, III pick them up all right.
Grandmother turned her back on them
all and shaded her eyes with her hand.
The sudden start had set her head to
throbbing BE as quick as You can,
Robert; my head aches and the light
hurts my eyes
"All right" said Robert, and he be
gan another CHEEKY whistle, selecting a
great needle meantime and trying to
tread it with the Irvine.
Robert, don't whistle, there's dear;
it hurts my head
"All right" said Robert again, and
was still for five seconds; after that he
forgot and whistled Threading the
needle proved to be long job Then
The Irvine failed to go through the
shoe-leather as he wanted it to, and he
dived into the basket for the tangled up
scissors, muttered at them little in a
good-natured way for being in such a
snarl. and finally cut apart what he
had done and commenced again. This
time he whistled eheerily with every
stitch.
There" he said, after what seemed
half hour to his grandmother. II
don't believe YOU could have scwed it
better yourself We've got the cutest
idea for tomorrow, Grandma; don't
Won want to hear about it,"
Not tonight Rob dear; and can't
You hurry and make the room dark;
that is a good boy, My head aches
harder every minute"
"All right, said Robert, I'm be gone
, now in iiffy. All / want is a little
tape and spool or two Of thread. and
Q, Grandmother couldn't YOU lend me
one of Your caps? A lace one with pur-
pie ribbon in it, or something OF that
kind ! can find what | want in your
drawer.
For PHYS sake" said grandmother
rising on her elbow in dismay, what
do You want OF one Of my caps? Don't
open that box. There, now, you hav,
ruined my best cap, with your great
clumsy hands Robert Jenkins, a,
think Won are too bad, Shut tina
drawer and 90 out OF my room tht
minute.
why, grandmother said Robert il
an injured tone, Il won't hurt your
cap that's nothing but little sho
backing on my fingers, and shoe black
ing washes off real easy. l can wet .
rag and rub it off Of the cap as we'll a
not.
Don't you touch it again.
"Well, then, won't" in good
natured tone; but, grandma. | reall.
must have some tape Where will
find it?'