Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-12-30

ominous quiyer Of her lips, Is stand
ing with her hands behind her in front
Of Ruby, vainly seeking in her passive
little brain for the answer to the oft
repeated question
Now, Meg-wake up, and tell me
like a good little child, what is three
| times four"
Tree times four-tree times four, -
repeats Meg drearily-so often has the
same question heen put in the same
words that it conveys no meaning to
her childish reason. Ruby has a way
Of scanning the morning news whilst
she carries on her monctonous string
of questions, so that her face is COM
pletely hidden from her poor little vic
tim.
'Yes-three times four. You will
stand there until you tell me, you know
very Well" persists Ruby in tones of
stern reproach.
This seems such an exceedingly
dreary prospect to poor Meg that her
two little fat fists are thrust suddenly
into her eyes, and she breaks into a
dismal howl
Il say-you Miss Wilden-you just
stop bullying our Meg" cries Bob, sud-
denly turning round on his high perch,
from which he cannot descend unaided,
and regarding Ruby with angry eyes
and a very red face.
'sYou rude little boy" says Ruby,
throwing down her paper in surprise.
and regarding the young rebel with
naughty stare; Ego to your copy at
once, or I will put you in the cornerl
Meg is naughty, naughty girl, and
if she does not tell me at once what
three times four is 1 will make her
ounces cap"
Meg throws herself upon the carpet
in a paroxysm of fright; the disgrace
to her mind sounds SO terrible that her
howl changes into convulsive sobs, on
ly stopped when Bob shouts at the top
of his voice
Three times four are twelve, Meg"
''Tree times four are twelve" sobs
Meg from her crouching position; and
then she goes on with her crying more
TRANQUILITY.
This open rebellion on Bob's part
causes Ruby to rise from her chair
and advance ominously towards the
culprit.
81 don't care-I don'tl" cries Bob In
a frightened voice. you can put me
on three ounces caps if you like
Ruby makes no answer, but, having
reached his side, administers a sharp
box on each ear
Il don't care" repeats Bob, whose
poor little face is crimson at the indig-
nifty.
Then you are wicked little boy"
says Ruby angrily; 'and as punish
ment you shall do another whole copy
Of pot-hooks."
don't care" reiterates Bob dog
gedly, as Ruby roughly drags him
from his perch.
Now watch me whilst I set your
copy, and if you make blot on this
page 1 shall punish you, remember"
II wouldn't be as cross as you for de
whole world" remarks Meg's chirping
Toice at this moment with great decis-
on. She has risen from the carpet,
md is regarding Ruby with a mixture
# dislike and fear
Then there was silence in the apart
nent whilst Ruby labors through a
Whole line Of stately pot-hooks-she is
lways very carefGl about setting the
opy well, because the copy is occasion
lily shown to Mr. Champley.
She makes a graceful picture, seated
n a low chair, and with her well
oised head bent eagerly over her task;
Bob and Meg are not
( an age to appreciate beauty as q
iere study. Yet, notwithstanding this
act, Bob's keen eyes are fixed upon
er closely, though with no friendly
ook. Presently his keen gaze lights :
pom a hair-pin standing loosely out z
ON Ruby's heavy plaits. Cautiously {
very cautiously he first touches 1t,
legs approval That little damsel
niles and dimples with delight. {
Much pleased with his success, he !
uietly withdraws anothar pin and b
len another; but suddenly his exul- t
Ition changes into fright, for with a a
ow movement the big shining plait a
,mes gliding down and falls at his h
ct. [,
ooh, 1 didn't mean it," he says in a
me Of apology, "but your hair has q
me off," q
Even now he does not understand b
e enormity of his offense, nor can he b.
why Ruby becomes so e
red as she stoops to pick d
, her lost property. D.