The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-10
MRS. AsHroNs VALENTINE.
BY ANNIE GREER CALENDER.

DIG.
The Ashton family always talked
over the mornings sermon at dinner
Sunday noon, and the text used on
this particular Sunday had been Take
heed that ye do not your aims before
men to be seen of them"
why, Jack" said his mother, ST
thought you liked him thoroughly in
every respect"
$50 l do, mother. He is a fine man
and breaches the most sensible, prac
teal sermons 1 ever listened to, but he
breaches right at a fellow so. Now
this morning I felt that he was talking
for my benefit ard that every one
knew it. I even glanced su~spiciously
at you and father, fearing you had
given the good doctor his text, with
the request to please preach this in
such a way as to humble our way ward
SOD"
Jack" said Mrs. Ashton indignant
ly, How dare you? Have I ever &C
cused you of doing your 'alms before
men, dear2" she asked, with such a
look of loving pride that Jack reached
under the table to give her hand an
affectionate little squeeze as he an
swered:
mo, mother, you have never &C
cused me of anything. Maybe it would
be better if you had done so. You
have spoiled me, you and father"
mo such thing" broke in Ashton
pere, grizzly, Il used to whip you on
an average of once q week and I'll do
it again if the occasion requires"
Jack laughed. Don't try to be stern
father. You couldn't hurt a flea, The
way 1 remember the whippings we're
something like this: Jack, did you
take that jam out of the front closet9
Yes, papa
well, it was a very naughty thing
to do and I'm going to whip you for
it Yes, sir, but, papa, it wasn't but
a little bit of jar, honestly Father
looks relieved. Wasn't ilY oh, a lit
tie tiny one, and the jam wasn't a bit
good. I wouldn't eat any more for
anything
If you r sur about that, I will
let you eff this time"
Here mother looks in tearfully to
say: Did you hurt him much, JohnG
"Never mind, Charlotte, Jack and
l have come to an understanding and
we will have no more trouble in the
future says father, so severely that
mother is led to believe 1 have been
logged within an inch of my life, and
as soon as she can get hold Of me I am
fed on candy for the rest of the day"
Mr.. Ashton leaned back in his chair
and laughed silently to himself.
You have the best of the argument,
my son I admit you are aspoiled child
but why did the text apply to you any
more than to any of the rest of us9"
Because I love to be patted on the
back so, and you know 1 do. If 1 &C
cidentally get a good mark owe at the
University, 1 am wild to tell you both
about it. When I got five dollars for
my Greek translation l could hardly
wait to tell you the news, and it is so
in everything. l can't do anything
right and keep quiet about it."
Il think you wrong yourself, dear"
said his mother, as they rose from the
table. You tell US simply because
you know we are interested in every
thing you do"
Jack slipped his arm around her as
he answered That five dollars vas
the first money I ever earned myself,
and it shall go for a valentine for the
only sweetheart I ever had. What
shall 1 get for you, little mother2"
No wonder they spoiled him, this
bright, affectionate boy, who had been
nothing but a joy to them, all his life.
Jack and his mother b, d always been
the best of friends. Every one said it
was unusual to see such devotion. He
liked the young people and had plenty
Of friends, paying attention to those
girls of his acquaintance who were
merry and sensible, and letting the
silly, sentimental lei religiously
alone, Among the boys he was pro
nounced an 'all around good fellow"
and for his mother, how proud she
was of him, and how sweet 1T was TO
her to feel that he liked to be her es
cort Whenever she might need him.
Jack has been both son and daugh
ter to me" she had often said.
Jack was a little inclined to be lazy.
Being naturally brighthe had not ex-
erted himself much. If there was any