Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1892-01-06
Danny.
"Come here. Danny

Come here, Danny !"
Danny started. He had not heard
his father come in. He had only
started, but if his father had been a
man of fine discernment-whi he
was nOt-he would have seen that his
child trembled with fear or some other
strong emotion.
Il hear that you don't want to 90 to
school. Your mother says you have
been crying about it like baby. Now
want Q know what this sort of non
sense means. Do you want to be a
Ounce ?"
Moo, sir" said Danny. As he
stood at his fathers knee he twined
the fingers of his small, thin hand in
and out of that large strong one Il
only wanted to wait until next month.
Its so nice in The woods with the birds
and flowers"
Birds and flowers One would
think you were little girl. Well sir,
don't want any more such nonsense.
l expect you to be ready on the first
day of school, and you've got to re-
member your lessons too and remem-
Der no Sinking"
1t would be hard to realize that
Danny was an only child, hearing the
harsh words of the father. But this
was his way. People apologize for
such men by that phrase.
When Danny's father left the room,
the boy seated himself on a hassock,
and with his elbows on his knees and
his sharp little chin on his hand, he
looked out of window up to a square
of blue sky, just visible above the
curtain. He was thin and peaked and
very miserable about that school bust
ness.
Danny hates to learn anything"
said Danny's father aggressively to
Danny's mother. who was in the next
room.
81 don't think it's that exactly"
answered his wife patiently He is
not we'll and he does love the country
so. And you would be surprised,
Rufus, to see how much he learns
there. Why, he was SO interested in
the bees that he knows all their habits,
and really, you would be pleased to
hear how we'll he can talk"
Bees ~ echoed Danny's father and
there was a contemptuous infection to
such knowledge.
Danny did not 60 back into the
country, but staid at home to be ready
for school, which began in two weeks.
1t grieved him to think of his dear
birds and bees without him, but he got
out his books and rubbed up his
knowledge of arithmetic in obedience
to his fathers order.
1t was funny performance, for his
mother knew scarcely more about it
than he did.
A few days later Danny sat with his
hand in his mothers talking very
fast.
why the bees know me, mamma,
and they can tell an enemy from a
friend, and l saw them bringing in the
hOney-and on, mamma, l know place
where there is tree of sweet apples
and there's the light-hOuse-I know
what its for, to keep ships from driv-
ing on the rOcks-and l never learned
such nice lessons at school,"
But, Danny, you must learn to read
and write and say their lessons. All
little boys must"
Must they, mamma? When it is
warm summer and the woods so cool
and green, and the birds, every
where, and the pond full of lilies and
cat-tails I've learned such lots of
things. Why, mama, it's ever so much
better than books"
Then he told her of the wasp's nest
under tho reef of the barn when he was
in the country, and of the sheep with
dear little white noses, that came and
nibbled salt out of his hand, of the
| swing in the orchard that went up-up
so high and let the old cat die, and then
he laid his tired, heavy head, that felt
twice too big for his body. into his
mothers lay, and still babbling of the
country, fell asleep.
1t was night when he awakened and
it was all so strange. He felt so light
and queer. Was that his father sit
ting by and speaking in such low
tone. And that was surely the doctor
who came to see him when he was
sick. 1t was so funny that he laughed
| loud and long in voice that did not
sound bit like his own.
THE bees" he said. Lots of them
buzzing in my head. This isn't the
country, is it, mammal"
"Seven from nine-plus one-mamma
l saw yellow hammer to-day. Six
from six, nought to carry-and he
caught a poor wOrm--how does it go,
mamma? l hate 'rithmetic."
He knew his mother and wondered
why her face was wet and shining.
81 can't learn my lessons" he feebly
complained; they're too hard and the
bees are all mixed up with them.
There isn't any plus seven, plus four
in the country, is there, mamma ?"
No, DEAR" sObbed his mother as she
smOOthed the little hot hands ten
derby.
"There's only one more lesson"
painted the child. The birds told the
bees-it's plus nothing and nought to
carry. an oh, mamma, it's SO easy
when somebody does your sums,-for
-yOu-tO - make-'em-come--Out-
right"
His hands relaxed their nervous
tension and fell by his side. The
closing eyelids quivered a moment.
1.-THE book is closed" said the doctor
gently, "all the lessons are said"
| Mpo M I. RAUNE