The Forrest City times., 1895-07-19
A SWEET INCENTIVE.
BY BERTHA GERNEAUX DAVIS.

There couldn't have been a nicer
place for thinking. The porch was so
pleasantly shaded, and just at this
hour in the morning the vines were
filled with blue and red and purple
trumpets that seemed to need only a
hint from the south wind to throw
them into musical ecstasies. The green
peas were keeping up a demonstrating
tinkle of their own, dropping into the
bright tin basin as Esther pushed
them out of shelter-like tenants
elected by cruel landlord from their
little green cottages.
Esther's dreaming was interrupted
by voice issuing from the window
above the porch: Esther, Estherl
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 I
do with him?" and Esther's forehead
assumed IA complicated pattern of
lines and crosslines. 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. Il 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"
"Oh, thanks" said Rob, as he ad-
justed his recovered linen. Il 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 a doc
tor when you are grown up. Your pa
tients would all aie 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 a slice
of bread a delicate brown. and stopped,
in har if.rita ~
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 simi-
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 60
back on him? \ Gathering down the
back stairs announced his coming He
approached the table with more haste
than elegance.
Hell be dyspeptic by the time he's
grown up thought Esther, as she
watched the fast stdisappearing viands
You're both awful good" said Rob
between mouthfuls; land 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 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. "l'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
little scheme.