The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-17
A MUSTARD PLASTER.
An Early Experience in the Life
Of Rainmaker Dyrsnforth.
Howard Fielding Relates It az q Warn
In. to All Little Boys Who Arc
Tempted to Ee
Good.
rCOPYRIGHT. 1871

Apropos of nothing at all, as the
senator remarked when he arose to
answer the argurAept of his colleague
] want to tell the story of Rainmaller
Dyrenforth and the mustard plaster.
1t happened long before Mr.. Dyren-
forth undertook to correct the mis-
takes of providence. In fact it is a
story of children. We all like stories
about children.
Bobby Dyrenforth had cold which
threatened to settle on his chest. Mrs.
Dyrenforth knew that he ought to
have mustard plaster, but the ques-
ton was how to get it on to HIM.
Bobby did not like medicine. Most
boys don't. Their youthful instinct
tells them what the Investigations OF
their ripper years confirm, that medi-
cine, on the average, benefits not more
than two persons out of three. The
doctor and the apothecary arc the two,
and the patient is the third. Bobby
had never heard of 4 mustard plaster,
but if he had been told that it was
good for him and that he would prob
ably die without it. he would have
sung Il want to be an angel" and
run away to go in swimming.
Mrs. Dyrenforth was far too shrewd
to make such a mistake. She went
quietly down to the stord and bought
little box, of English mustard. Then
she had it wrapped in about a dozen
sheets Of paper of different colors,
and brought it home. With great de-
liberation she unwrapped it in the
prence of Bobby and his brother Phil,
a year younger. They instantly stopped
playing or fighting or whatever they
happened to be doing at the time, and
ran to their mothers side.
''What is it, mother?" they cried in
chorus.
1T is the real, genuine English mus
tard, she said, impressively, as she re-
moved the last wrapper and pointed to
a lion and unicorn on the cover Of the
box.
What's it good for?" asked Bobby.
'It's great luxury, my son." she
said. "It makes the finest mustard
plaster in the world
w Hdl lildl. CTItu DOtH Jnc DOVS
in chorus. Say, mother, make one
now and show u.s.
Mrs. Dyrenforth slowly and carefully
wrapped the box in the colored papers.
The boys looked disappointed. They
besought her to make a plaster even if
she used it all herself and didn't give
them bit.
I'll tell You what I'll do, boys"
said she, with a sudden burst of moth
erly feeling: ''I'u make one tonight,
and whichever of you has been the best
boy all day shall take it to bed with
him"
Having made this offer she adjusted
bim. Goodness began to shine out
the skins of those boys They
grew better and better all the fore
noon. When she mentioned an errand
they fell over each other in their eff
forts to do it. She sent Phil for pail |
of water and Bobby went out and |
took it away from him, in order to |
have the credit of the task. They |
brought in wood enough to last |
through three winters. In short, if |
merit could win plasters they both de-
served to be covered from head to foot.
1t strikes me that this competition !
was first rate working model of Elec-
ton and Free VIII. The rivalry was
very interesting while it lasted but
Bobby was bound to get the plaster.
The only difference is that they didn't
both feel sure of it. Indeed there was
one stage of the proceedings when
Bobby would have sold his chances at
4 very low figure. This was at supper
time. Rev. Mr.. kimmerly (related to