Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-06

him.
Nasty cat scrattit me" he sobbed
again, still looking at the bleeding
scratch.
The candy prevailed, however; he
was comforted and at last the bust
ness was proceeded with.
"Ye'll hae hard work bringing up
that BARN without his father" said
the man when they were through; it
talks man body to haze authority over
a laddie like that"
Yes said the woman, sadly. that
is true"
Il think yen dae fell weeI in that
bit shopple There's no a place in the
toon wi sma' knickknacks like that,
an ! would think We would get plenty
Wark in the wey O shooin'," he said.
Il hope so, sighed the woman, ris-
ing and lifting the child into her arms.
All my desire is to get an honest liy-
ing for myself and the child"
"Oh, but nae fears o that. III SEN
my wife an the lasses to We for ony-
thing they need an now, when we've
paid the years rent in advance an
gotten your receipt ven ken that's aft
your mind for ae twalmonth at ony
rate"
Yes, assented the woman.
"A sensible woman that, evidently"
unused the landlord, well pleased to
have rented the house which had stood
empty 50 long and still more pleased
to have been paid in advance.
"A very fine, decent-lookin' woman
a bonnie bodie, indeed; weel made and
weel put on-in blacks, of course
wife, but that wee laddie o hers.
Lod! He's a perfect terror; gaed tear
in through that room after the cat
like a ragin' lion. The cat was able
for him, though" he added, with pro-
found qualification.
The widow woman had not been set
tied more tnan year in Cantiehowe
before her small son, Alec, was known
from one end of the place to the other
by another name-to wit the toons
terror"
"He'll rae to do something wi that
laddie O yours cried an indignant
t0wnswomaE one day as she dragged
him in, struggling and kicking to his
mother The woman was known as a
patient peacable woman, but what she
had suffered at Alec's hands that day
was not to be borne by ordinary flesh
and blood.
oh, Alec what have you been doing
now" his mother walled in a heart
breaking tone; for truly her heart, had
it not been broken already, must have
been so now with the daily complaints
of the neighbors.
What has he no been dom? We had
better speir that Look at that see!
John Souters guide watch his father
left him on's deathbed a pykit to
pieces"
III pay for the watch, Mrs, Souter.
| can't tell you how veXed | am about
it, said the widow, looking with un-
feigned sorrow and dismay ut the dis
sected watch lying in Mrs. Souter's
get possession of the watch?"
Get it? Climbed up on a chair tap
an got it doom aft the nail whaur it
hings at the lug O the mantelpiece
the little sorrow that he is, | left him
playin' wi the BARNS till | gaed to put
DOT my Washin', an this was what
got when ! cam in; him sittin' on the
hearthstane wi the watch a to pieces
in his lap, an a the BARNS sittin'
roond lookin' at him"
While she spoke Alec had slid from
her knee and was now inside the
counter, clinging fast TO his mothers
skirts. Surreptitiously she slipped
down her hand, and, unseen by her
irate visitor, laid it gently on his
curly head
I'm very sorry; can't tell you how
sorry | am, Mrs. Souter, but I'll be
glad to pay for the watch" she said
quietly.
But what are ye gaun to say to him
ABBOTT it, Mrs Marin? I'm no hard
Nplldll, w bdilliS " my an an i
ken what mithers heart is, but If
ony o mine had dune a thing like that
they would sleep in skinful o sair
banos, | can tell ye'
"Oh, I'll certainly speak to Alec; IN
always speaking to him and telling
him to try and be a good boy but
he's"
Speak till 'im'--ay, speakin' till
him cried the woman in contemptous
establishment.
So profound was her contempt for
such weak method of enforcing obed-
fence that speech failed her and she
strobe out Of the shop an incarnation
of disgust.
The widow was about to retire into
the little back room off the shop when
the door was dashed unceremoniously
open again and a black browed, frouzy-
headed, very different style c. woman
appeared, pale with passion and with
eyes blazing fiercely. Instinctively the
mother pushed the little lad under the