The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-08

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(the Coles were as much at home in
the water as on land the canoeing to
the island for ferns, the hunt for
fresh eggs in the meadow, and the
long row of sweet-peas which must
be picked every day, without fail, one
of Mary Kings responsibilities. The
hens were now cackling themselves
hoarse, having found fresh hiding
place for their deposits.
"Those peas will pod, and the hens
will sit on the eggs; and, oh, dear mel
it is so hot and mother won't let us
battle after dinnerp'
Mary King turned over and over as
though the bed had been gridiron,
redhot in the sunshine; but one of
her rotations brought her relief. She
found at that angle she could see the
lake without sitting up. She could
see the long wharf close to the house.
and the usual small children sitting
on the edge of the planks, fishing.
81 declare, that's Teddy Tompkinsl
His ma ought to keep him at home.
He's too little to be trusted so close
to the water" said Mary King, who
was very motherly to the small chill
dren in the neighborhood. "Guess
he's run away again: he's an awful
bad boy"
Presently Mary King continued
her reflections. She couldn't think
why her parents were SO particular in
little things. Why, there was Baby
Jenkins! Baby was eleven, -"just
as old as me" thought Mary King;
and she did just as she'd amind to!
Only the other day, when they were
playing house, Baby ran into the par
lor when her mother had callers, and
stood on the back rockers of her chair,
and kept saying, Mother! mother!
mother!" louder and louder until she
got what she wanted. And, when
Baby's father was talking to some
business friends who had just driven
up for an hour between trains, Baby
rushed in, jumped into his arms, put
both hands to his ear, and whispered
she wanted ten cents for pop corn.
Baby's papa had laughed as if he
thought it "real cute" Now, if she
Mary King-had behaved this way,
she really did not know what would
have happened to her. But Baby
only minded her mother if she chose
to; and she,-Mary King,-with all
her brothers and sisters, had always
known, ever since they knew any
thing at all, that their mothers word
was law. If ever they showed an in
clination to forget this, their father
was quite equal to impressing the les
son on their minds, as Mary King
was realizing at this moment. She
wondered if it would be nice to be
like Baby, and always have good
times doing "just as you'd amind to"
1t was rather pity Mary King had
not been able to read the thoughts of
those gentlemen who had come so far
to get special word with Baby's ia
Their, when the girl made her unman-
nerly entrance, pushing herself into
tie foreground, and monopolizing
her fathers attention.
Mary Kings parents never allowed
their children to chew gum. Baby's
jaws were always at work, and one
could see half down her throat as she
turned the gum round and round in
her mouth. 1t did not look pretty;
but Baby said gum was "awful goodp
Mary King thought it must be nice
to do as other little girls did.
But then her mother and father
were as different as could be from
Baby's parents.
1--WE may live on the shores of
Lake Michigan" said her mother to
a friend; "but we need not lose touch
with society" People wondered why
Mrs. Cole always wore such hand
some gowns in the evenings. Trains
seemed so unsuitable in region so
remote from the city,-meaning Chi
cago. Hereby was pertinent enough:
she wanted her children to grow up
accustomed to move quietly in the
house. Her valuable bric-a brac was
at their mercy, disposed. on small
tables and brackets in the drawing
room, and, with the long trains Mrs.
Cole wore indoors, became incessant
drill to the young people in manners.
There was no reason why they should
tread on the one or upset the other,
however difficult it might be to avoid
such clumsy movements. This was
one way, at least, of teaching the
children a valuable lesson.
Now, while Mary King revolved
these things in her mind, half in
| ol;nad 70 wish her narenta leas mar