Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-02-23
A NameLess Hero.

Charlie, what naughty boy you
are! Ifyou do not behave better, l
shall certainly have to whip you u
exclaimed weary Mrs. Erskine, as
her little son, on mischief bent, drag
ged down from the clothes-horse one
of his papa's nicely ironed white
shirts.
With a sigh she picked it up and
looked it over carefully. 1t would
have to he washed and ironed over
for right on its smooth shining front
were plainly perceptible the p,ints
of several dirty little fingers. 1t
was too provoking
In tired, listless manner MIS-.
Ersklne returned to her work, and
for few minutes, all was quiet. But.
when at length, surprised at such an
unusual occurrence, she Turne: to
ascertain what was occupying mis-
chievous Charlie, she found him en-
gagged in covering the clean kitchen
wall with hierogiyphics in charcoal.
Il declare, | am all out of pa
thence with you !" angrily exclaimed
the worried mother, ad ministering at
the same time, sound slap upon the
boys naughty hands.
Charlie began to roar /; crying
would be altogether too mild term
for the noise he was now INDUCING
in. Not that he was much hurt, but
that he wasn't used to wnippings, for
Mrs. Erskine didn't believe in their
efficacy, and rarely administered enc
except under great proyocation. But
to-day the poor woman was worn
out with work, and, what was unus-
ual With her, decidedly cross. First,
the breakfast. She had oversight
herself, and had come down stairs
too late to oversee the cooking. AS
a consequence, the mullins had been
heavy, the steak burned, the coffee
black, and no one Wand really eata-
bic. Her husband had tried to make
joke of everything, but conscious
that his efforts had not been very
successful, had gone away, wearing
a long face.
Next, in the midst of her fore
moons work, callers had come. Mrs.
Ersklne would not have cared, had
she been feeling quite as amiable as
usual, for her morning gown, al
though of simple calico, dark and
serviceable, was neat ard becoming
and her linen always immaculate.
Moreover, her abundant brown
hair was invariably smooth and in
order, and she did not need to make
more elaborate toilet. But to day
it vexed her to be Obliged to spare
half sn hour Of her busy time for the
entertainment of callers, and she
could not be qnite cordial and at
ease.
Hardly had the callers gone, when
Sarah, the ''green" help, decided
that the place would not suit her, and
departed without further warning,
leaving to her mistress the work of
serving the midday meal, and of
clearing up after it. But when this
was over, poor Mrs. Erskine's la
bors were not ended, for it was
Tuesday, and heaying ironing must
be done. She had not worked on
this long ere Charley, uneasy and
fretful at having had TO amuse him.
self all day, began to tease and an
noy her, out of pure mischief.
He was bright little fellow, not
quite three years and half old, sun
ny-temperei and lovable, but rogue
all the same. Innumerable naughty
tricks had he played during this
long, hot summer day, but none
quite equal to those with which this
story opens.
/" Mother, why can't I go out to
play 7" said Charlie, finding that his
uproar did not attract any atten-
ton.
I" You might, if l thought I could
trust you not to run away" saidMrs.
Erskine, and added, in an undertone,