The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-30
Managing the Boys.

When Fred, Rufe and Ham (short
for Hamilton) went out into the coun.
try 10 visit their Aunt Sarah, they had
"Do end of a good time" Aunt Sarah
was a conscientious, careful, nervous
soul, who compiled u number of rules
and regulations for the benefit of her
young kinsman, and then worried her.
self perpetually because they paid no
heed to them.
The rule requiring them to be in
| bed by nine o'clock was a particular
source of irritation. No sooner would
the poor lady chase them up the front
stairs, than down they would come by
the back ones, and out they would
scud into the darkness, to be followed
by such reproachful exclama,ions as.
"Come in this minute, you naughty
boys, What are you hiding in the wet
grass for, trying to catch your death of
cold? Rufe, you're old enough to know
better; I'm ashamed fyou all, >" and a
great deal more of the same sort.
This game of hide-and.seek was oc-
casionly rendered more exciting by
Aunt Sarah's invoking the aid of the
hired man, Timothy Warren. Tim
othy was a man of few words and nu-
merous deeds, and he was warranted
not to cease his labors until he depo it.
ed three hotly chased and soundIy
cuffed boys into their respective bed
rooms the doors of which were imme-
diately afterwards locked. on such
occasions Aunt Sarah would observe,
"Oh, Pm 20 much obliged to you,
Timothy. Pm afraid, never could
haye caught them all by myself" !"
And Timothy, gazingat his mistress's
$50 pounds, would respectfully answer,
81 reckon ye couldn't marm."
But one day Aunt Sarah's married
sister Bertha came TO make her visit,
and expressed herself in this way:
Il declare, Sarah. you're all worn
out and haggard looking, tagging after
those boys. Now you 60 and visit
Cousin Phebe a week and get rested.
I'll stay here and manage the boys"
"You don't know what. you are in
for" said Aunt Sarah solemIy.
"I'm IN for having a good time" re-
torted Aunt Bertha, merrily
All went well during the first day of
the new reign. AS night advanced,
Fred approached his aunt, and respect
fully, inquired the hour they wonld be
required to 60 to bed. .... ..
Il don't know" replied the lady n
differently, go when you like"
This reply, when repeated to the
other two, so amazed them. that they
came to her in body.
"Aunt Sarah always made US 90 to
bed at nine," observed Rufe with the
COZ ~ nf hn 70
SEE domestic discipline relaxed.
"All right" said Aunt Bertha with
a yawn, "go at nine If you want to-"
"But don't we have to go then2"
asked Ham anxiously.
"Certanly not. l don't care when
you go to bed. You can stay up all
night if you like"
This was astounding. "Have you no
consideration for our health?" asked
Fred. -:
"Why should II" inquired his aunt.
eff you're sick you'll have to stay in
led IT'LL you get well, and that will
teach you more common sense than q
thousand considerations for your
health" g..
The long evening dragged wearily
away; with no rules to break, existence
seemed to have lost its charm.
Aren't you going to hove a single
rule Aunt Bertha!" Fredi mournfully
inquired.
eyes she responded composedly;
"the rule that any boy who is not up
in time for breakfast must 60 without
his breakfast"
We'll, / guess with no sleep and no
breakfast, We'll 60 home looking pretty
thin," growled Rufe. - -.
"Oh, just as Iyou like about that"
said Aunt Bertha. "You know you
can have all the sleep and all the
breakfast that you want"
And in a few days the boys drifted
of their own accord into the habit Of
going to bed early.-E.W., in House
Keepers Journal.