The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-09-28
Worth Trying.
Nv ait a minute. Will.
What for

with IA handful of the flowers, with their
dainty coloring thrown out hy "A back
ground of mo or three ferns.
"l on re great fellow for flowers
"ph they're not for myself, but mo-
Tiers crazy over wild flowers"
Aud all through the walk home, not
withstanding he WAS already well laden
with rod and fishing basket. Ned gave
guul hee to his flowers, once stopping
to wet his handkerchief to wrap about
the stem, that they might not suffer
from the warmth of his hand.
There she Is" While still at dis
rance Ned -pied his mother aud made a
dash towards her across the large yard.
WIN following more slowly, saw him
drop hi- rod aud take off hi- hat as he
offered his flowers with II bow and Il
smile. y little stir of pain was in Wills
heart rs he saw them received with kiss
aud some words. evidently loving ones,
which he could not hear.
Come round 10 the barn with your
traps and then you stay to supper-mo-
Their says 50" aud Ned rcoined hi,
friend
YOU'RE different from most boys,
said Will and Ned colored littlc, for
he was inWardly afraid of his mothers
display of fondness provoking ridicule
from the boys.
How" he asked. although knowing
well what wis meant.
"Oh-that,n said Will, with an indetin-
lite backward nod over his shoulder
But like it, really do"
II like ii, said Ned, his deepening
c lor due now to feeling. Don't know
how I'd get along if mother wasn't just
that way. And as she is just that way
now can help being Just that way too:
OF course ii comes natural that | should
be-
Ned, mother. if she had heard this
might have smiled in remembrance of
the many lessons it had taken to ineul-
cate the grace of politcness which was
noA. indeed if not natural. rapidly be-
coming second nature to the boy.
'If had mother I'd like to be so"
said Will
"Well-it isn't only just mothers,
you know. That is, of course, nobody
else can be like your mother, but
mean you can be it to other folks-in IA
'av. 10 anybody in your home. They
all like it
"Will burst into II laugh
"All, hey: | wish you knew my Aunt
Susan. But you will. for now we're
getting settled you must come over.
Youth laugh at the idea Of such doings
for her. Why, if should bring her II
flower or take of my hat to her she
wouldn't know what to make of it, She
would think was crazy"
II don't believe it,, said Ned. That
is, if she's Il good woman. And OF
COURSE" he added in quick poltcncss,
''your aunt must be-"
''Good | guess she is. Shes so
good herself she thinks there's no good
in such thing as IA boy. believe she
thinks boys were only made to be tor
m mt to such as She"
"Some boys are, | suppose
viii colpred IA little is he inwardly re-
allied that Aunt Susan might be some
what justified in holding such AN opinion.
"Well." confirm died. II thought all
ladies liked flowers, and liked to be nicely
treated, too. And" he added stoutly,
II think so still"
II don't believe Aunt Susan would
take the trouble to notice either flowers
or nice behaviour, replied Will
''llave you ever tricd:'
Boys are not much in the habit of
reading moral lectures to one another,
so it is not likely Ned would have en-
largcd on the subject even if they had
not Just then been ready to carry in their
string of fish. to be duly admired by
Ncd's mother.
But Ned's lightly spoken and quickly
by him, forgotten question returned to
Wills mind rs later he walked alone in
the direction of his own home.
NIIaYp Won ever tried =
swell. haven't, that's fact. But.
he gave II little laugh, ''thc idea OF
bringing flowers to Aunt Susan, Fan
cy her stare. She would not know
what to make of it
But the remembrance of Ncd's grace
full thought of his mother, and the
sweetness of the carcssing tenderness
between mother and son had touched the
conscience as we'll as the heart of the
motherless boy.
''lf it wasn't flowers | suppose it
might be something else. Shes as stiff
and proper rs a poker and | suppose Il
boy might smile and bow and be polite
all his life and she'd never know but
what he was cutting up some new kind
of pranks. But then-pcrhaps it's no
wonder She doesn't know much about
any boys but me. guess she thinks all
they are good for is to carry mud IT. on
their shoes and slam doors and leave the
fly screens open, and be late to meals.
But, say. I've n great mind to try
Ned's way-that is, partly-just for the
fun of seeing how she'll take it," With
which determination viii walked around
the house, to find his aunt approaching
the side door with Il huge parcel in her
arms. At any other tim" he would not
have troubled himself about this, but
now he stepped up and opened the door
for. She took little notice of him ex-
ccpt to ask;
$40 you know where Hiram is
"No, don't"
"I've been looking for him. want
to send this bundle Gown to Mrs.
Browns"
She passed on through the hall as if
one else. viii was rushing up to his
room two steps at "A time. when he sud
denly paused:
"I'll take it to her, Aunt Susan
She stopped and looked at him I'M
smilingly. concluding at once in her
own mind that he had some business of
his own that way. yet still surprised
that he should be willing to include in it
service for herself
said.
More intercourse with Ned awakened
in VIII more honest resolution tomake
his best of himself in the matter of
grace of manner and behavior. 1t is pity
that oyn,.y- how shnuld NOT rptippt how