Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-03-16
MRS. DECKS NEW LEAF.
BY ELIZABETH CUMMINGS.

Mrs. Deck was troubled about a
great many things. She craved the
newest fashion in sleeves, not only for
herself, but for her little girls, and
wanted to have every sort of dish and
silver appliance fancy has invented to
clutter the table and enrich the shop
keepers. She belonged to two mis-
sionary societies, and to the musical
and literary clubs, and she delighted
in giving dainty afternoon teas and
little dinners. Mr.. Deck often said,
with smiling pride, there was nothing
slow about Sally, and then he would
give an odd little sigh as if he uncon-
sciously regretted his Sally's ability to
keep up with lIfe's procession. But
40 oSe noted that sigh, unless it was
little Tommy, whose quick ears and
sharp eyes noticed everything.
Tommy was so often called an awful
boy, it is probable he had his faults.
To sail in a mud puddle on bobbing
bit of board, he would scour the little
city over, and if there was ticklish
| Job Of tree climbing necessary 10 -
rescue of some fellows kite, Tommy
was always the boy to undertake it.
He would tuck nails in the pockets of
his Sunday clothes, and drive them in
to impossible places with the potato
masher, if no other hammer was avail
able, and the times he had flooded the
house from the bathroom, and given
himself the Group and twisted his
ankles skating, could not be counted.
But Tommy never told lies. He never
even told tiny tibs. when by so doing
he could have saved himself unpleas-
ant punishment. Tommys eyes we're
big, and that sort of gray that often
looked black. His hair was brown and
as thick on his head as it could be
without being solid, and over his nose
was thick sprinkle of freckles. The
little boys ali Liked Tommy, and so did
the cats and dogs, aud so did Miss Bran
hall, his teacher, though he was stupid in
number work. But his sisters usually
spoke of him as ga little plague, and
his mamma without being aware Of it,
felt him to be great hindrance to
everything she wanted to do. If she
was practising a sonata, he would
break IN upon the adagio by beginning
to sing "After the BALI to the best Of
his ability. He had no voice what
ever. Or, he would, beset by some
demon of unrest, steal to the stairway
and take the opportunity to slide
down the baluster rail, and leave upon
it etchings drawn by his buttons. If
she were studying page of Brown
ing, or trying to write an ESSAY upon
art, it did seem as if Tommy
always chose the moment that
would disturb her most to
play wild Indian with select party
of friends just under her window. So
it fell oat that by degrees Tommy fell
more and more to the charge of Mol
lie, the nurse, and consoled himself
when in trouble by visiting the Tuck
ers, who lived just around the corner
in brown house. Mrs. Tucker
somehow kept bread in the mouths of
her brood of six by washing and what
she called "days' works" At night
they gathered about her and the one
lamp, and in all Shoreleigh there was
not happier group. She was busy
at something always, patching usually.
but it was wonderful the amount Of
work she could get through with
swarmed upon by six pairs of arms,
and talked to by six eager tongues.
The Literary Club was going to
hold its annual banquet at Mrs. Deck 5,
and that lady determined to make the
occasion one long to be rendered.
There may be costlier ones by and
by, when Shoreleigh is a great city,
she told Mr.. Deck, "but there shall !
not be prettier one.
"Well, nssented Mr.. Deck. $50 it
don't cost too dear. Sally, I've moth
ing to say. | do not mean in dollars,
for you are always sensible about
spending them, yourself. You spend |
too layishly sometimes.
Mrs. Deck only laughed at this, and |
went off to the florists and spent the
whole morning deciding whether she
would have roses or chrysanthemums
iof decoration.