The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-19
GOOD-NATURED ROBERT.
He Had a Pleasant Disposition, But Wa
So Very Careless.

So Very Careless.
A writer in Parsy gives picture we
fear of many children who while they
have love for their parents do not take
pains to show it 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'll go to bed early" she said, land
see if can't get good nights rest and
sleep it off. ! shall have to be up
early tomorrow morning, anyhow"
So not long after 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 bang, and Robert. whistling to
the full extent of his lungs, came up
stairs three steps at time, and
bounced into his grandmother's room.
why, grandmother" he said, in sur
prise; lit 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 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; | want ball of Irvine and a
needle the worst kind"
won't it do in the morning dearier
III fix it for you then"
This is something out of your line,
grandmother 1t is an April fool we
are fixing for al fellow, and I've got to
get it ready tonight"
well, you'll find ball of Irvine in
my work basket under the bureau, and
| 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.
Pm an unlucky chap" he said, ''and
that's fact. Don't you worry, grand
mother, I'll 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. Their
the Irvine failed to go through the
shoe-leather as he wanted it to, and he
dived into the basket for the tangled NJ
scissors, muttered at them little in 6
good-natured way for being in such {
snarl, and finally cut apart what hit
had done and commenced again. Thi,
time he whistled cheerily with every
stitch.
There" he said, after what seemed
half hour to his grandmother, $
don't believe YOU could have sewed i
better yourself. We've got the cutes
idea for tomorrow, GrauAma; dom
You want to hear about it?''
Not tonight Rob, dear; and can
you hurry and make the room dark
that is a good boy. My head ache
harder every minute"
IAN right" said Robert, I'm be gon
now in jiffy. All I want is littl
tape and spool or two of thread, an
o, GRANDMOTHER couldn't you lend IN
one of your caps? A lace one with pun
PIE ribbon in it, or something of tina
kind. can find what want in you
drawer
For PHYS sake" said grandmother
rising on her elbow in dismay, "wha
do you want of one of my caps? Don
; open that box! There, now, you hav
ruined my best cap, with your grea
clumsy hands. Robert Jenkins, I
8 think You are too bad. Shut tha
drawer and go out of. my room tn
minute
5 "Why, grandmother" said Robert
p; an injured tone, Il won't hurt You
. cap; that's nothing but a little she
A backing on my fingers, and shoe blacl
E ing washes off real easy. l can wet
: rag and rub it off of the cap as well a
+ not
Don't you touch it again"
e well, then, l won't" in goo
a natured tone; but, grandma, | real
= must have some tape. NheCe viii
dud it,