Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-05
I Splitting Aunt LuCretia !
A RAINY DAYi"
a ..Oh. dear. dear!"

y "Oh, dear, dear!"
Now we can't 60 into the woods"
$50 mean to have it rain on Satur
7ay!"
Ruth and Archie appeared at the
breakfast table with faces as cloudy
as the day, and complaints which
sounded far worse than the gentle
patter of the rain.
\ peace in the house to-day"
1t was Aunt Lucretia who had said
this last. 1t was generally understood
in the family that she was always
little better pleased when the children
were out of the house than in it. The
children especially understood this
and anyone who knows young people
will easily guess hat it did not make
them feel more anxious to be good.
II am sure" said mamma, looking
a little worried, that they will try tc
be quiet. They viii remember that
you do not feel Well"
Aunt Lucretia shook her head and
looked gloomy. Archie set his lips to.
gether with a feeling which mamma
knew meant
Well see about that
After the others had left the break
fast room, Ruth and Archie stood look
ing out of a window.
Mean old thing." saidArchie, below
his breath.
"Who?" asked Ruth.
Aunt Lucretia."
"Archie," exclaimed Ruth, in a
shocked tone, Il thought you were
speaking OF one of the boys"
II wasn't" said Archie. "She is"
Don't say it again, Archie" said
Ruth, sternly.
We'll, L won't. But L mean it all the
same. No peace in the housed Ruth.
she'd a great deal rather We were
naughty than good!"
Now. Archie!"
Its so. Don't you know that when
we're real good she never takes a bit
of notice. and that when we're bad she
always does? She enjoys it-just be-
cause it gives her a nance to scold."
"rm-afraid you are right, Archie"
admitted Ruth. after a little considera-
ton of the matter.
"Of course I'm right. Say, Ruth
Archie gave a little jump of delight
'let's play a joke on her.
"Oh. mamma wouldn't like it."
"A good joke, l mean. There are
good jokes and bad jokes, you know.
See here, now; Aunt Lucretia thinks
we'll be troublesome all day. She
thinks we'll growl and grumble at the
rain, and tease for things, and make
noises, and everything else that's
near. Now let's begin and be just
as good as we car to spite her"
"Ohl" said Ruth, not able to recon
Gle the goodness with the spite.
Don't you see? She'll be watching
ali day TO see us behaving like tor
ments. and We'll disappoint her."
Ruth began to smile. There was
something pleasing in the idea. Ger
tainly, there could be nothing wrong
in trying to do their best.
"Let'si Well do our Monday lessons
the first thing, without anybody tell
ing us. Then I'll cut my weeks kind
ling"
"And when I dust the sitting-room
I'll dust all the corners"
ST won't set Ponto and kitty in a
fight"
land if there's pudding for dinner
instead of pie we won't say a word"
"We1l keep it up all day"
'WeFu be-be-truly virtuous," con-
cluded Ruth, now fuzzy in the spirit
of the days effort, and desiring to ex-
press herself strongly.
eff I forget or get tired. you remind
me-" said Archie. Just whisper:
Spite and that'n be enough"
The mornings dptses done, the two
were seated in the large s~itting-room,
Ruth with some fancy work and Archie
reading aloud, mamma looking pleased
and tranquil. Presently Aunt Lucre-
tia. looking out of the window, re-
marked:
.sWen, here's an end Of the quieti
I knew it couldn't last long"
Arches best friend, Herbert, was
coming in.
Say, Archie, come down and play
In the creek, can't you? You can put
ON rubbers and your old coat. 'Tisn't
raining much. The waters rushing
along like sixty. and we can have a
great time building a DAM"
Archie sprang up excitedly at the
tempting proposal.
..Hurrah. That'H be funi Mamma,
can't 1 go?"
srm afraid not" said mamma You
must choose a dryer day for building
your DAM"
Archie burst into a loud remon-
STRANGE Ruth laid her hand On his
arm. shaking her head with a meaning
glance, which 1rchie at once under
stood. The dear little girl did not
IKE to whisper the ugly word.