Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-09-16
MisckllaMenM5.
A BAD BOY.

bare-logged fellow, with round, apple
checked face, defiant blue eyes and tan
gled, sunburned hair. SO absorbed was
his father in affairs of local interest, in
attending caucuses, arranging church
meetings, and considering schemes for
the Outstanding of certain portions of
Patagonia he had no time to spare for
the child, who wandered around town
very much at his own sweet will, neg
lect being his portion. His mother was
poor, silly, shallow creature, who,
docked out in cheap finery, delighted to
parade the main street of the little town
and TO lean by the hour over the ooun-
ter of the general store talking to the
woman behind it about tho fashions
the latter had seen on her latest trip to
St. Joe.
Whether little Andy was born with
ga natural inclination to evil" as tho
catechism has it, or whether his leaning
towards depravity was acquired, is a
matter of doubt. Certain it is that no
came to be known rs the bad boy of the
town. His pleasure consisted of prauks
not always harmless or mere mischiov-
Gus. II a stone whizzod through tho
window of n citizen, if youngster came
home with dexterously depleted mar
Bile bag, or if one of tho infant class had
been induced to poke his hand into u
hornets nest "for money" it was an
accepted fact that Elihu Corners Andy
was either the culprt or instigator. At
all hours Of oil seasons he wandered
around the streets, sometimes tagged"
by a few diminutive, reverential fol-
lowers, but generally alone. 10 winter
one could see through bis tattered
clothes the "goose-hesh" Of the little
blue legs, and the toes protrudng from
the ragged scraps of leather designated
as shoes seemed trying to curl away
from the frozen ground. In summer he
roved around like Il vagrant little spirit
of contrariety, darling in and out among
the farmers teams on market days and
and to the frequent commands TO "Git
out'n the way there J" Hinging back por-
sonal remarks which could hardly be
classed with the retort courteous. As q
rule hatless, the little bullet head in
vited sunstroke.
Thus it was from the time he could
tOGdle till be came TO tho mature age Of
six. Then-perbaps it was sunstroke,
for the blaze which beat on the dull
prairie town that summer was enough
to sickon the strongest, perhaps it was
the poor food ignorantly prepared, per-
haps it was the lack Of that love for
which children instinctively il uncon-
sciously pine--anyhow, he fell i'll.
"Fever p the doctor said.
The boys aud girls with whom he had
gone To school. when he took il into his
head to attend, spoke Of the matter TO
their parents with much interest.
candy Conner is sick" they said.
Then added by way Of distinction "the
bad boy, you know"
"Ilush, Dolly one mother romon-
strated. "You know you are not al.
ways good yourself"
II know that" acknowledged the tot
unabashcd, "but he amt ever good.
He's always bad. | guess he was m AIDED
bad"
Days passed, days with high winds
and swirling dust and blasts Of furnace
heat from the south, And in the dark,
dirty room Of the little old house which
skulked among the cottonwoods the
young sufferer lay and moaned and tossed
and babbled. The doctor came, left
medicine from his leathern case, and
went away--half in dependence, half
in anger.
at is nursing the boy needs" he
said. And then, recalling the frivolous
mother, BIO muttered "IIe'll get no in-
telligent nursing there"
For weeks the child could cat moth
ing. Whom appetite returned no was
given greasy messes at which the weak
stomach rcbellcd.
"Let him alone" said father, "be's
a bit airish.'
"When he gets 10 runnin' round like
he ust. his bankerin' for fried pork ap
sody biscuits with sorghum Ill come
back, prophesied his mother cheerfully.
Aud SO July burned itself away, with
! August came day Of rain, cool, gusty.