Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-07-07
Nechanrswn Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday July I, 1892
BB:|R'q'K,'.

Berty!' Mrs. Jack Lees brother, Her.
bert Lester, cried with enthusiasm.
You are not teaching him that hor-
rid thlag?' Mr.. Jack Lees sister Kate
said, Indignantly.
Horrid? ? Sing it for her, Berty,
said Herbert. I've been only an hour
teaching him, and hear how he does it!
Go ahead, Bert. There were three
flies that's the first line
Berty, IN the middle room, with his
hands behind his back and his small,
four. year old face beaming, was inter-
rupted at the third syllable by his
aunt.
She caught him up in her arms,
crushing him against her pretty dress
heedessIy. Love and sternness blend
ed in her fine dark eyes with a thrilling
effect, Of which Herbert Lester, raising
his handsome blue ones to her, appeared
to be acutely aprrecistive.
You know how l dislike it, Mr..
Lester SAID Kate; and know Alice
does. OF course you're her brother and
she doesn't say much but to have Ber-
ty taught those awful things-a dear,
sweet, precious little lamb like Berty
l want HIM to know some plecs to speak
and sing, but such pieces
You remind me Of a chrome l saw
once of a mother guarding her infant
from wolves or something said Her.
bert, grlnning lazily.
Il feel that way Kate retorted M
smillngly. clasping Berry closer. 1
think You ought to understand, Mr..
Lester, and-and sympathize. l can't
bear to haye him know those dreadful.
rough. slangy, ridiculous things like
Like the 'Three Flies, said..lIerbert,
cheerfully. Its gem. Not classical
but
The Free Flies chimed in BertY, be-
lieving that an enumeration Of his ac-
compllshments was in order, is Dat
Mr.. Reilly p and Johnny. getcher. dur,
and
And Mary Kelly's Beau said Her.
bert, stroking 6 his moustache, and mil.
ing.
You will go right on dolngit, sup.
pose Said Kate, coldly.
In her heart there was confusion Of
anger and bewllderment and of some.
thing like grief. She bad not been
really angry at frst-no; the right
word from him, or look, would have
dissipated all her half amused displeas'
nrc. But such indifference and heed
lessncss aud molkely-lt sent the blood
to her cheeks and made her heart pound
with strange agitation.
You will 60 light on dong 1t
teaching hlm all kinds Of horrid things
and making HIM rude and rough. and so
that ! can't take bit Of comfort with
hi IN, " hen he would be so sweet. Alice
doesn't like it, nor Jack. You're
srolling him. think-I think it's
But her voice was unsteady, even
choked. Her eyes met Herbert Les
ter's fastened upon her with humorous
inscrutableness.
She hurried to The door, with her
pretty, flushed, distressed face turned
from him. and with Berry clutched fast
'I-Tm sure I'm sorry, Miss Lee,
said Herbert, rising lazily to open the
door for her. I'm sure I'm more than
willing to make amends in any way pos
sible. If you'll come down by and'by
Berty, Ill teach you Il Want 10 be an
Ange.' anything else you might
suggest, Miss Lee
Kate was running upstairs. Feeling
something wet OH his cheek, which was
pressed to his aunt's, Berry stSCked her
head with his soft, little hamd-
Can ! have some choe its? he saM,
winsomely.
Yes, dear.
Kate kissed him, and set him in the
middle of the great cushion on her sofa,
and kissed him again.
It had been all on his account She
did love him and want him to be sweet
and gentle and refined. She was anxious
that he should be the paragon she was
sure nature had intended him to be.
But-but-Herbe '"
'some choo'itsY' said Berty.
'Yeg. darling She put fancy bon
bon box into bis lap. Eat three, dear
just three. More than that would
make ny baby sick. You count three,
Berry ?
Berry noddsd many times in emphst'
lc token. of bis entire ability to count
three. Just then, however, Bert u
small mind was infant on something
e)se.