Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-10-12

and dust-pan OF the mud which his
careless feet brought In. II was now
dried and ground into the carpet, TO be
raised in clouds Of dust by his vigorous
sweeping.u
'Phew" Glad enough was he, hav-
ing Mt length finished, to get into the
open air burdened with few doubts
ms to whether, after all, he so very
much enjoyed the new order Of things
II don't really believe boys were
made to be housemaids," he concluded
But it's only an experiment There
won't be any trouble in getting back
to mothers dear, careful ways" con-
scious of an unexprcssed yet decidedly
increasing respect for his mothers
ways.
Late in the day Fred rushed back to
his room TO make ready Tor an evening
to be spent in company which he held
Ia high esteem. Frcd's slovenliness did
not, as u general thing, extend to the
care Of his person, his mother having
often had occasion TO wonder at the
neat appearance with which he con-
trived to emerge from the chaos Of his
room,
"Thunderl" Fred stood for mo-
ment at his room door, finding the situa-
ton worthy of his strongest explctive.
The dust from which he had He'd lay
thickly upon everything, adding dis
mally to the prevailing disorder.
81 forgot all about the things mother
spreads over things when she sweeps.
How hate dust on booksl Well, ",seiz-
ing u towel and hastily whislting II
about ~ haven't time TO do much dust
ing now. Jack Harper will call for me
In quarter Of an hour.
buttons off2 | forgot TO take my
best suit TO mother. And there's lit
tie rip near the coat cuff, but can ink
that"
Setting the ink on the bureau, he
carefully darkened the white streak.
but as he turned from "A study of the eff
feet, his brow took ON deeper cloud.
"My white tic in the backing hoxl"
lie snatched II up. THE last one
have left! And all these" tumbling
over number which were mixed In
with other things thrown on tho table,
"aro covered with dust Perhaps this
one will do; but there's II spot ON IT,"
Selling towel, he carefully rubbed
the front OF the lightest-colored tie ho
could find. hut IL was the towel which
had already done duty rs n buster, and
was strealed with the sooty dust which
prevails In house in which bitumin-
GUS coal is used.
AS the tic soon looked rather worse
than better, Fred threw both towel
and tic from him with an angry excla.
nation. They struck something ON tho
| ,.shtph ,.ttl -, Ia.
floor.
"Oh, that inkl And all over those
books | left thercl What shall /
Mothcrl mothcrw
Mother, quickly appearing in answer
TO his loud cry of distress, could not for
bear smile at the mixture Of express
sions on Fred's face. Despair NORTH
cation and u comical sense OF the ludi-
crous seemed striving for the mastery.
80 mother" he said, after she had
done her best TO arrest any further mis-
chief from the ink will you take me
back?"
Take you back2" she asked, not
quite understanding what he meant
YES, mo and my room. I've given
up. III take all you have to say ON
the subject Of boys and tidiness II only
you'll wind me up and then keep
mo running. But first will YOU please
60 down and tell Jack Harper can't
go to-night?"
why can't you, dear? thought You
were 30 anxious 10 60"
80 ! was; but look ut me buttons
oil. Rips. can't find a clean collar
in that middle, and my white ties
spoiled"
I'm ask Jack 10 wait for you few
minutes think we can manage things
yet"
Most boys who have mothers can
imagine the quickness with which her
hands few from one thing TO another
In making that particular boy look as
boy should look. From hidden
depths Of her own stores n tie was un-
earthed. Buttons went ON and rips
hid themselves from sight A. the end
of Il quarter Of un hour Fred joined his
friends wiser and happier boy.
Some hours later he turned the
light high for IA satisfied gaze about his
room.
"This is jolly Everything clean, ev-
erything in place. Well, it's rather
mean In me II | cant cooperate with
mother and Susan In keeping myself
straight. guess its best for folks In
this world TO help each other run each
other, and not be always making things
harder for each otheT--l mean me, for
mother and Susan-and other folks for
each other"
With which very indefinitely OK.
pressed but very sincerely felt scnti-
ment as 10 every days small duty, Fred
went 10 bed-Sydney Dayrc, in lnte-
Tior.