The Van Buren press., 1895-08-10
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.
Esthers dreaming was interrupted
by voice issuing from the window
above the porch: Esther, Esther!
what did you do with my. cuffs?
Esther, III be late; Joe's waiting for
mel" tt s e 4iAsfl2Ai1 q 5aa
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 boyl What shall ]
do with him?s and Esthers forehead
assuihed complicated pattern of
lines and crosslines. She brushed the
pods from her lap, and hurried up the
stairs. Rob, what do l know about
your cuffs? Do you suppose Pm 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 30 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 60 off without your breakfast"
1"Oh, thanks!" said Rob, as he adj
justed his recovered linen. II know !
oversight this morning. Couldn't help
it, really. Papa gomez"
'Of course. What do you suppose
would become Of US all II he went on
your principles2 I'm afraid, Rob,
thnt unless you mend your ways you'll
have to give up your hope Of being doc
tor when you are grown mp. 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. - = zs.ssi''4si '''=l''
"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 slice
| of bread a 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 simi
lar circumstances. But then she hat
helped cuddle him when he was q
fuzzy-headed baby; and now that ht
was q curly-haired, needless, lovablt
boy Of twelve, was she the one to &c
back on himp A clattering down the
back stairs announced his coming. lie
approached the table with more hast
than elegance.
Hell be dyspeptic by the time he''
! grown up" thought Esther, as sh'
watched the fast disappearing viands
YOU'RE both .wful good,' said Rol
between mouthfils; "and SOS thi
toast. Wish | had time for anothe
piece" 49,.
"Now, Roy, try to be home in TIM
for luncheon" pleaded Esther "Yo'
know how IL annoys papa to have yo'
| 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 weel
before. sri 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 thre
minutes, ana her busy brains coneocte'
little scheme. :,
/ ) She waylaid him on his way to tn
croquet ground. y.-r.tAttA
| aRob, / want 70 speak to you inc
ment."" ..nFr. Ic4;g
| VAL TiBhV, o"y oAA'
pleasantly attentive. -,
I'm going to make bargain VIII
| YOU. II you will be on time at ever
meal the next four days--breakfast
ms we'll rs all the others-Pll let 20
have q candy pull at the end OF ina
time. You can have three or iour .
the boys you like best, and" -,-.-
"Good for you!" interrupted Rot
The prospect of . s-candy pull is ger
erallv an alluriug one to- the juvenil
mind and Rob's was no exception
..Shake hands on IT. /, II don'tfulh
nv part of the contract. ~ know IN
reason why" r !.
$50 shall l." answered Esther az
,rrrelv. at will be because you FOL
rot or didn't mean to stay SO long a
the fishing pond Or" ,e, ,.,.
gasay, now, that isn't fair laughe
l Rob rood-naturedly. "1'll show yor
ia be perfectly safe to invite IN
bovs in advance, but perhaps ia bette
mo: better wait and see how 70
coma out" and Rob fancied Estne
Locked a trifle skeptical. 1t put mir
on his mettle. r,,,,.
Esther's ''scheme" worked ike
charm The next day Bob was one 9
the first to answer his fathers goo
morning" at the breakfast table ,
"Well, now" said Mr. Jordan, . = . 2
Waved the youthful faces around nn ~.
snd dispensed the griddle cakes ~.
n n,sa sant to sit down all together. Let
keep it up, Bob. I tell you, punSsas',. pss,a y.
is great thing;" and BOP nc noaasu "a !, r.
:, sneetfuily, though his fathers remar al,
AZ 5id not bear for him the charm OF ho'
city. a pob was bean