The Forrest City times., 1895-07-19


speak to him."
mo, no." Joe hastily interposed. II
was looking for you" He broke off a
morning glory which had gone to
sleep under the suns too ardent atten-
tions, and ground its purple juice into
his fingers. Esther, from long expert
ence with boy ways. knew a disclosure
| of some kind was coming.
'Sit down." she said, pleasantly.
You have something to tell me, and l
want to hear it"
"Well-er-Bob was over to my house
| yesterday afternoon, you know We
| had big time out in the barn, and L
l kinder forgot about the baby. Ma
and pa had gone out, you know, and
left him to me-"
| Uest you might think it a piece Of
gross neglect on the part of Mr. and
Mrs. Simmons to intrust so precious a
charge to SO youthful an older broth
er, it is we'll to state that the infant in
question was sturdy young creature
of two years)
| "He-er"--another lunge at the morn
ing-glory vine-''got a-hold of some
green apples, and after awhile he
came out to us in the barn, yelling
awfully. First we didn't know what
was the matter; but we went into the
house and saw the pieces that he hadn't
eaten, and | knew something must be
/ done right off quick. Cholera morbus,
| you know, is so awful dangerous [
couldn't think OF thing to give MIN
but whisky; knew they gave that in
lots of sudden cases; so while l held
Alfie Bob went after it."
My goodness! whisky!" said Esther,
her startled imagination picturing her
innocent brother making his way be-
hind Objectionable screens. Il hope he
thought to go to drug store"
"Oh, yesm," answ cred Joe, s'he did.
1T was bad enoug to go there after it.
I'm temperance, You know--belong to
the loyal legion; but knew the baby'd
got to have something. The clerk
told Rob he could get something better
than whisky and gave him bottle Of
medicine. We gave the baby dose of
it, and after awhile he went to sleep.
Ma said q told her all about it this
mornlng) that it couldn't have been
the apple that hurt him; he couldn't
have felt it so quick, and besides, it
was ripper than it looked But / tell
you was scared at the time
What came round for, Miss Esther,
was to tell you that this is what made
Rob so late home yesterd ay. made
him promise not to say anything about
what kept him; but forgot then about
the candy-pulling (you know Rob told
me before. that he expected to have
one). / didn't find out till this morning
that he was late for dinner / asked
Freddy. Ma said l oughtn't to make
anyone keep anything from his folks,
and that it generally wasn't wise to
make such promises But it was all
my fault. / hadn't wanted ma to hear
OF it, for fear she wouldn't trust me
again. And then afterward that
seemed kind of sneaking, so / told her
myself. 1 hope you'll-er-fx it up
about the candy-pulling, Miss Esther;
not so that l can come, I'D feel too
mean for that, but on his account-to
make it up for him, you know"
''Joe." said Esther, I'm glad you and
Rob are such friends. That candy-pull
is coming off this evening, and you and
o soihS W nave the lining III
charge"
An hour later Rob, entering the
kitchen, found Jane cracking English
walnuts, and Esther removing them
their shells.
What are you doing?" he asked
curiously.
Getting English walnuts ready for
the candy-pull this evening. Won
blessed boyl" said Esther.-N. Y. In
dependent.