The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-11

lessnossr II a fellow happens N knock
over the syrup mug, ana, IN lomnile,
YOU needless hoy cause ne drops rev
sticks ON the floor when he's tlling up
the wood-box: and on. TOmme what
shall ! DO with your when he gets
little mud on the floor As If boy,
with all he's got on his mind, could De
always remembering 10 wipe ms ieet
/ should think she'd Doe glad 10 see some
thing 10 scrub off (shc's bound TO Dee al
WAYS scrutbirgl. ! should think she'd
be tired OF cleaning. when II would take
six pairs OF glasses 90 see that shed
made a bit of difference.
And now I've got 10 stay i'm the house
cause there's sprinkle Of rain, like
girl with the Group
Tom rehearscd his trials till he worked
himself into such state OF indigna-
ton that when. FIVE minutes later, Aunt
Susan called. supper. Tommie.' mp the
stairway. 20 growled. Don't want no
supper" and pulling a book a boy had
lent him from his pocket. he settled his
elbows on the table, ran his fingers
through his hair. and commenced TO read
with such Sowing eyes that 81 was
wonder he could see the words. Pos
sibly the half dozen dOughnuts he had
helped himself 10 had something TO do
with his present abstinence, though ne
did not realize H. but felt that going
without supper was an act or heroic
sacrifice TO his Independence. which would
show Aunt Susan he was not a boy 10
be triied with.
Wen, there was some little excuse for
Tom. In the first place he was l. years
old; and when IS boy so thoroughly
and unmitigatedly a boy as at that agey
Then Aunt Susan did say "Oh, Tom
ME-" a great number Of times. and
when she did not say IL. ner lace wore
an expression of mdrtyred resignation
which Tom found particularly eXasper-
ating. And then the care Of boy was
such a new responsibility 10 the old lady
that he was never away from her an hour
that she was not tormented - visions
of his being brought home drowned or
mangled so she never willingly let him
20 out Of her sight. This restraint Tom
strongly resented.
But there is much 10 be said for Aunt
Susan, too. During the twenty years
since her husbands death she had lived
alone, and in all those years, there had
been no syrup mug upset. no mud on
her floor No one had moved her lit
tie rocking chair from IFS particular
nook. dispOssessed the dgniied cat, Pro-
fessOr Grey, Of his red cushion. or slam
med the door. or kept meal waiting.
And Tom did all these, in the most m
different manner. And what Is more.
Aunt Susan knew before he came that
he would do al these things Yet with
a signing farewell 10 peace she wrote.
send Thomas 10 me" IN reply 10 re
letter which told that her brother had
died, leaving his son entirely orphaned.
Aunt Susan was a sweet old lady. a
little querulous now. because shaken out
OF her vOlted calm.
And really. Tom was a fair sort OF
hoy. given suitable surroundings. ~
was a bad case OF incompaubility or
temper, and Tom sometimes Thought
seriously OF deserving.
one afternoon he rushed in, eSclaim-
ingff
for a tradey"
Thomas holland, take II out. quick
quick" she cried. dropping her knit
ting.
why aunt. it's not loaded3' and Tom
came a step nearer.
NO matter; it's a gun. it'd be danger
Gus sunk In twenty feet OF water. DO
take II out.' Laughing scornfuliy. Tom
Obeyed.
Now. Thomas" she asked. trembling
ly, what did you pay for that frightful
thing?"
Nothing but my chickens he an
swered slowly.
'Oh, Thomas. those fine Brahmas
whose eggs you we're 10 sell?'
Il don't care. I'll make lots more, sell
ing the game | kill"
mo you will not" she answered de-
cidedly. you'll carry that gun back and
get what you can for II. l won't have
IL on the place, Likely 10 go off and
kill us both in our beds"
Tom felt sadly abused as he walked
away with his gun. and made up his
mind to store 1t under tho barn moor
for the present.