Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-08-03
: 4 SWEET INCENTIVE.
Bv BERTHA eERNEAux DAVIS.

pleasantly shaded, and just at this
hour in the morning the vines were
filed with blue and red and purple
trumpcts TINT seemed to need only q
hint from the south wind to throw
them into musical ecStasics. The green
peas were keeping up demonstrating
tinlle OF their own, dropping into the
bright tin basin as Esther pushed
them out of shcltcr-like tenants
elected by cruel landlord from their
little green cottages.
Esthcr's dreaming was interrupted
by voice issuing from the window
above the porch: Esther, Esther!
what did you do with my cuffs?
Esther, I'll be late; Joe's waiting for
mei'
Somehow eighteen-year-old Esther
seemed always in demand by some one
of the three motherless little brothers
and sisters of the household.
Dear me, that boy! What shall
do with him?" and Esther's forehead
lines and crosslinca She brushed the
pods from her lap, and hurried up the
stairs. Rob, what do 1 know about
your cuffs? Do you suppose I'm wear
ing them? Why don't you leave your
things where they belong?" Here she
picked up one OF the missing articles
from the floor, where Il had slipped be-
hind the little round table. II wish
you wouldn't lie In bed so late.
There!" producing the other cuff from
behind the curtain on the window
ledge. Now hurry down, Robby. I'll
have Jane scramble you an egg. You
can't go off without your breakfast"
Q"Oh, thanks" said Rob, as he ad-
justed his recovered linen. ~ know 1
oversight this morning. Couldn't help
1t, really. Papa gone?7
"Of course Whnt do you suppose
would become OF us all II he went on
your principles? I'm afraid, Rob,
that unless you mend your ways you'll
have to give up your hope OF being doc
tor when you are grown mp. Your pa
ticnts would all die before you got to
them" And Esther hurried to the
kitchen to ask Jane to help her pre-
pare a nice little breakfast for the rec
reant brother.
"Some folks" said Jane, "hadu't
ought to have any breakfast" with
which very general observation she
scurried to the pantry, bringing forth
two specially large eggs While these
were "scrambling" she toasted slice
of bread delicate brown, and stopped,
even in her irritation, to select the
red-banded plate that was Rob's espe-
cial favorite. Really Jane did more
for him than many queens of the
kitchen would have done under SINH
lar circumstances. But then she had
helped cuddle him when he was
fuzzy-headed baby; and now that he
was curly-haired, needless, lovable
boy of twelve, was she the one to go
back on him? A Gathering down the
back stairs announced his coming. He
approached the table with more haste
than elegance.
He'll be q dyspcptic by the time he's
grown up" thought Esther, as she
watched the fast disappearing viands.
You're both awful good" said Rob
between mouthfuls; "and SOS this
toast. Wish l had time for another
piece"
Now, Roy, try to be home in time
for luncheon" pleaded Esther. "You
know how 1t annoys papa to have you
always late; and then think of the ex-
ample you set the other children"
That's So" said Rob, whose birth
day had been celebrated on the week
before. "1ll try-honest, will"
And he did try, and succeeded in be-
ing only three minutes late that noon.
But Esther shook her head at the three
minutes, and her busy brain concocted
a little scheme.
She waylaid him on his way to the
croquct ground.
Rob. want to speak to you mo-
ment."
"All right say on" said Rob, looking
pleasantly attentive.
I'm going TO make q bargain with
you. If you will be on time at every
meal the next four days-breakfasts
us we'll as all the othcrs-I1l let you
have a candy pull Mt the end of that
time. You can have three or four of
the boys you like best, and"
Good for you" interrupted Rob.
The prospect of n candy pull is gen.
orally an alluring one to the Juvenile
mind, and Rob's was no exception
"Shake hands on it. If don't fulfill
my part of the contract. I'll know the
reason why"
$50 shall l." answered Esther, de-
murcly. 1T will be because you for
got or didn't mean to stay so long at
the fishing pond, or"
Say, now, that isn't fair" laughed
Rob, Pood-naturcdly. "T'll show you.
I'd be perfectly snfc to invite the
boys in advance, but perhaps I'd better
not"
mo; better wait and see how you
come out" and Rob fancied Esther
looked trilc slseptical. 1t put him
on his mcttle.
Esther's scheme" worked like n
charm. The next day Bob was one OF
the first to answer his fathers good
morning" at the breakfast table.
"Well, new." snid Mr.. Jordan, as he
viewed the youthful faces around him