The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-15


showed. and laughter had become so
painful an affair that joking or mer-
riment of any kind had been strictly
forbidden. In short, Norman had the
mumps.
Five year-old Carleton was waiting
his turn to share his brothers afiiic-
tion. He wished it would hurry up,
for in the meanwhile all the interest
centered about the other boy. He didn't
feel well. but didn't know how to say
so, and had been trying to scare up a
good hard ache that would challenge
attention. His mother had looked SOL
emnly at him. and reproved him FOR
untruthfuness. In short. Carleton was
in the dumps.
Dear little Dorothy felt the disturb
ance, and flew about like a distracted
but important bantam; she told Carle-
ton not to speak cross to mamma. and
'pooned' Norman's swollen cheek, and
gave him his medicine. But her zeal
had outrun her discretion, and she had
fallen with the medicine glass and
spilled all the medicine; then she tried
to wipe it up before Maggie, the nurse,
could get there with a dry CLOTH and,
being still blind with tears. had fallen
again. and bumped the other side of
her head. SO Dorothy was laid on the
big bed with brown papers over her
bumps.
Baby John was coming down" He
didn't relish the process at all, and was
quite unaware of the fact that he was
an object of envy to Carleton. The dis
ease as yet showed itself only in two
small swellings on his neck. So Baby
John was fretful with his bumps
0umps).
Maggie, the nurse, had been up many
times in the night. She had made rest
less Norman's bed a dozen times. She
had to go to the doctors for more
medicine, and she was of the opinion
that what they all needed, except the
baby, was good oldfashoned thumps.
So mamma decided to play trumps.
She picked up the baby and put him
where he always found comfort, bumps
or no bumps. She distributed some
marshmallows. one apiece, to be sucked
very slowly. She established Carleton
in his rocking chair, just at her feet,
and she sat between the two beds her
self Then she began in low voice:
when I was little girl l used to
make mistakes myself, about truth
something as Carleton has done Just
l.
by pretending things. l pretended l
was sick when / didn't want to go to
school | pretended / was tired when
my mother wanted me to do things,
and l pretended so well that | fooled
myself, even. SO then ! soon got all
mixed about truth. and when did tell
a regular story / hardly knew it. Some
how. though, L always knew when
other people told stories. ! could catch
them at it as quick as anything. and
thought then, as ] think now, that
liar Whispering) was the very worst
thing you could call anybody. Well, it
took good while for my papa and
mamma to find out that the little girl
whom they loved so dearly told stories
We'll. they tried all kinds of things
to cure me. They told me they wouldn't
punish me for anything / did wrong if
cold them the truth about it. and that
helped good deal, though it didn't
always work. For instance, one day ]
was late at school. The real reason ]
was late was because l had stopped at
store to buy some candy and had
bought caramels, and as they were very
hard to chew, l had to wait outside for
quite a while to get rid of the one in
my mouth, although the tardy bell was
ringing when / got to the schoolhouse.
When I got into my room little of
that candy was still in my mouth, and
the sticky brown juice had stained my
lips, though l didn't know it. AS |
went into the room ! hurried to my
seat, and said out loud:
Goodness! Am ! late? Our clock
must be Slow
whats that Mary said my
teacher. Come here to the desk Sc
l went up to her, not bit afraid.
"'When I started from home' said
our clock said only half-past S. l don't
see how I'm late
Ibid you not stop on the road?
asked the teacher.
Yes'm, my shoe came united and
stopped to fix it. But that Oughtnt tC
take such n lot of time
mo, it oughtn't' the teacher said
Was that all, Mary?'
We'll, / stopped to mail a letter fol
mamma, but that only took me a min.
Ute quoth l, my eyes on the clock
looking, am sure, as surprised and in.
nocent little girl as ever came late tc
school
And was that all, Mary" my
teacher insisted. You see, / had beer
late several times and had always haC
such good excuses that she was begin.
ming to think something was wrong
And so she asked again, WAS that all
Mary?
"'Yes'm,' said !. And there was the
hat lie whispered).
What's the matter with YOU,
mouth teacher went on have yo,
hurt it?'
"Yesm,' said / again, thinking VERY
fast. / knew then the juice must be
showing, and | put up my handker,
chief quick to hide it.
How did you do it?' she went on
Why, l-I-bumped against the cor
ner Of the big door, hurrying into schoo
so fast | said, and the tears rushed
into my eyes, for i really didn't like I,
tell such stories, and just last night in
my prayers l had asked the dear Coo
To help me to be truthful. The tear
quite melted my good teachers heart
and she stopped forward and kissed me
After she kissed me she looked yer,
queer. ! tasted pretty sweet expect
and smelled of chocolate.
Mary she said, quite solemnly
tell me the truth: have you been eat
ing candy this morning.
oh, no'm' i cried, very earnestly
for you see the whole rOomful was list
ening, and ] could not have them al
think had told a story.
Mary the teacher said again. arr
you sure? Think one minute before yo,
answer But, although | was quiet.
didn't think. heard the big clock ticl
off the seconds OF the longest minute
ever knew, and heard big boy giggl,
In the back seat. That settled it.