The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-06-23
GRANDPA'S FABLE.
BY MARION B. KNIGHT.

BY MARION b. KNIGHT.
She had just finished putting the
children to bed. and was tired out and
DISCOURAGED. 1t seemed to her that
they never acted so badly as when Wis
iting at her husbands old home,
where of all places, she most wished
them to shov that they had been care
fully trained. AS she passed through
the hall, on her way TO the piazza,
she heard Aunt Louise say, You new
er would have thought Marguerite
would be so poor "a diSciplinarian.
Archie used to have so sweet dispo-
sition, but she has spoiled it with bad
training" And Mother Hathaway
rejoined:
Ills father never"
But Marguerite hurried on, glad not
to know what naughty thing Archie
did of which his father was guilty.
She drew long breath us she sank
into rocking chair. She was so tired
The three tOddlerS, for the Oldest
was only five, were lively. healthy, ac-
tive children and bright enough to see
that punishment was not quite so
sure to follow their msdoings when
they were at grandmas as when they
were at home. So between the unus-
ua! indulgence and mammals desire to
make as little trouble as possible, they
managed to send mamma to bed in
tears nearly every night.
To-day's behavior was the worst yet,
and Marguerite acknowledged to her.
self that Louise must be right. The
trouble must be in her training. What
a bitter reflection after she had tried
50 hard to do her whole duty as Il
mother!
Marguerite did not notice that
grandpa was in his big red chair at the
end of the piazza, or she would have
sighed less audibly, but grandpa,
though apparently lost in his newspa-
per. had heard, and, better still. his
warm, fatherly heart had understood.
"Why, l haven't fed my biddies.
How careless. Margret, don't you
want to see me feed my biddies. Your
chicks have gone to roost 1rst to-
night"
Now, Marguerite was too tired to
care for hens or chickens, but she
would not deny grandpa, who took so
much pride in his fowls, so she took
the proffcred dish OF cracked corn and
proceeded to the hen yard.
1t was late and the chickens came
running and flying up with clamorous
hast. Grandpa was very meth0dical
in his treatment Of his ,feathered
beauties. The hens had their repast
in troughs at one end Of the large
y7rd, while the chickens scrs served
with dough spread on boards laid at
the other end.
"Margret" was intrusted with the
feeding of the hens. The more deli
cate and interesting duty OF feeding
the chicks grandpa always reserved
for himself. Marguerite had soon
completed her task and returned To
watch grandpa as lie carefully doled
out the dough.
"Now, Margret," he began, "say
what you're mind to, hen is an in.
telligcnt bird! See how knowing them
chickens look when hold out a ladle
full OF dough. Sh-0ff there, you biz
fellow. This amt your tablel' ant
grandpa waved his ladle sternly at .
half.grown chicken which was max
ing quick work OF the pr0vi
sions Of the tiny chicks. FL
is a greedy scamp, Nargret, and
have to give him a Lesson bout every
day." he continued to Marguerite
while he reached forward and gave thu
audacious rooster vicious tap on hi
back with tho ladle. "NOw you keel
to your own table. sir"
"What beauties these little darllngs
arew exclaimed Marguerite, as snt