Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-08-01
A SWEET INCENTIVE.
BY BERTHA GERNEAUX DAVIS.

There couldn't have been nicer
place for thinking. The porch was SO
pleasantly shaded, and just at this
hour in the morning the vines were
filed with blue and red and purple
trumpets that seemed to need only
hint from the south wind to throw
them into musical ecstasies. The green
peas were keeping up demonstrating
tinkle Of their own, dropping into the
bright tin basin as Esther pushed
them out of shelter-like tenants
elected by a cruel landlord from their
little green cottages.
Esther'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
me.'
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
assumed a complicated pattern of
lines and CROSSINGS. She brushed the
pods from her lap, and hurried up the
stairs. Rob, what do | 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.
n"Oh, thanks said Rob, as he adj
justed his recovered linen. 81 know l
oversight this morning. Couldn't help
it, really. Papa gomez
"Of course. What do you suppose
would become of us all if 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 Wp Your pa
tients would all die before you got to
them" And Esther hurried to the
kitchen to ask Jane to help her pre-
pare nice little breakfast for the rec
reant brother.
''Some folks" said Jane, hadn'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 n 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 a
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.
Hell be a dyspeptic 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 I had time for another
piece"
Now, Roy, try to be home in time
for luncheon" pleaded Esther. you
know how it 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 "I'll 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 waylajd him on his way TO the
croquet ground.
Rob, ! want to speak to you mo-
ment."
"All right, say on, said Rob, looking
pleasantly attentive.
'Pm going TO make bargain with
you. II you will be on time at every
meal the next four days-brcakfast
as well as all the otherS-Pll let you
have a candy pull at the end Of that
time. You can have three or four OF
the boys ysu like best, and"
Good for youl" interrupted Rob
The prospect OF a candy pull Is gen
orally an alluring one 10 the Juvenile
mind, and Rob's was no exception.
'Shakc hands on 1t. II l don't fulin
my part OF the contract, I'll know the
reason why"
$50 shall T." answered Esther, de-
murely. at 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
Bob, good-naturedly. I'm show you.
I'd be perfectly safe to invite the
boys In advance, but perhaps I'd better
not"
mo; better wait and see how you
come out" and Rob fancicd Esther
looked Il triile skeptical II put him
on his ncttle.
Esther's scheme" worked like
charm. The next day Bob was one OF
the first TO answer his fathers good
morning" at the breakfast table.
"Wcll, now" said Mr.. Jordan, as he
viewed the youthful faces around him,
and dispensed the griddle cakes, 'It's
pleasant TO sit down all together. Let's
keep II up, Bob. l tell you, punctuality
Is great thing" and Bob nodded re
spectfully, though his fathers remark
did not bear for him the charm OF nov
city.
Three days passed. Bob was beam
ing with pridcin his own improvement,
and in anticipation OF the promised re-
ward. Tho fourth morning he was
the first TO slip into his chair at the
breakfast table, and it was at least an
hour before luncheon that no left the
fishing pond and repaired to the side
porch, so as to be sure OF hearing
James summons TO the dininR-room.
Bob, Pm proud Of you," said Esther;
"Tll have Jane order the molasses thia
evening"
you're brick, Esther" said Rob
at isn't SO awfully hard TO be on time,
after all; and I'm going to keep It up,
too"
The summer afternoon passed away;
IL was Ave minutes OF six, and the
children clamorcd for dinner. Rob bad
not put in an appearance, though Es-
theirs fingers were giving the finishing
touches 30 the table. The minute-hand
seemed TO speed over the face Of the
cuckoo clock; sho felt as II II were
trying 10 cheat Rob, and looked
anxiously down the path, hoping TO
see the boyish figure dash in sight.
"CoolSool cooIsoow began the old
clock, triumpbantly. Still no Rob.
Ifst g., IL,