Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-09

OF Mrs. SHELTON. whose little bow had
been very i'll. and was now mending
slowly. As she entered the gate. a
maidservant carrying a tray with a
my covered pitcher, came out of the
house opposite. Now, the arrival OF
this dainty little tray-which never
1alled TO come over at lunch time-was
the event of Johnny Skeletons day, and
the contents of that altogether delight
full little pitcher formed his most en-
Joyabie meal. Mrs. Bolton knocked
loudly and walked in. as was her won't;
but as she turned to shut the door she
saw the servant, and stopped to take
the message.
"Wait a minute, Jane" she said, land
III give you back the pitcher"
\ matter. ma'am. Mrs. Truman
expects the tray to go up to Johnny as
it stands"
NO, I'd rather empy the pitcher;
there is always a chance of getting
things broken"
So she turned into the dining-room,
and poured the contents of the pitcher
into one of the children's thick china
breakfast-mugs, returned the pitcher
and tray to Jane, and went triumphant
~ upstairs with the mug in her hand.
Mrs. Shelton met her at the door.
"Oh, is it you. Mrs. Bolton? Excuse my
not coming down. thought / heard
James voice, and called to her to come
up"
Jane was there: but / gave her back
the pitcher. and brought the stuff up
10 save trouble. Here, Johnny, don't
you want your corn-starch?"
1t was pitiful to see how the thin lit
tie face fell. and what a piteous look
came into the big eyes as the number
and magnitude of his misfortunes
dawned upon Johnny. No peep into
the mysterious little pitcher, no fold
ing up of the edged dolly, no studying
of the wonderful japanese tray while
mamma poured the corDstarch or the
soup into his own little pink cup-but
instead this horrid old Clipped mug of
Dicky's!
Don't put in any sugar, Mrs. Boil
toni" exclaimed Mrs. Shelton. John
ny doesn't like things sweet"
"Oh, children always like sugar" re-
Joined Mrs. Bolton, calmly, dipping up
a spoonful from the little sugar-dish on
the mantel-piece and stirring it into
the cornstarch. "Come, Johnnie, drink
this now like a good boy"
Poor Johnnie took the cup in his
trembling hands; but the mouthful of
thick china and the sickening sweet
ness of the food were too much for him
he held the cup off despairingly and
burst into tears.
Never mind, son. said his mother,
taking the cup from him, I'll make
you something else"
But Johnny shook his head. He
wanted that, not something else-and
it was all spoiled!
Are you not ashamed to be such a
naughty little boy, johnny" sternly
demanded Mrs. Bolton, while his moth
er tenderly stroked the pale little face
h~alf-buried in the pillow, from the
depths of which a stified sob heaved up
now and then.
Well" said Mrs. Bolton. after wait
ing in vain for an answer, IF there is
nothing else 1 can do to help you. Mrs.
SHELTON, 1 will go on and see how Mary
C%aruthers is. Good-by. Johnny. hope
you mean to be a good boy, and not
worry your oor mother So"
Johnny's tears burst afresh as the
door closed behind her.
81 didn't mean to be bad. mammal;
but / couldn't help it,"
81 know you couldn't. darling" she
replied, and stood silently stroking his
hair and wondering how she could
make up for his disappointment. A gen.
tie tap was heard at the door, and Mrs.
Truman entered, bringing another
charming little pitcher with a butter
fly for a handle.
"Jane told me that Mrs. Bolton had
taken the tray" she remarked, smil-
ingIy, $50 I went directly nj the pam
try and made Johnny some more!"
Mrs. Bolton. meanwhile. pursued her
way; but the summer of her content
was not quite so sweet and warm as
when she had left Miss Martha's.
Johnny's ingratitude had rather upset
her. and she felt disposed to taxi
| gloomy views of the selfshness of hui
man nature
She turned into the gate of a pretty
cottage, and being admitted-not with
the best grace in the worldly the
red-armed cook. betook herself to the
nearest door, tapped at it. and entered.
Two girls were the only occupants of
the dainty girls room, as
sweet and fresh as the owner's heart.
One of the girls, evidently an invalid.
lay on a lounge, the other sat on a
low chair. sewing. Mrs. Bolton drew
a chair close to the lounge, and, after
minute inquiries into the invalid's all
ments. inquired:
where is your mother, my dear?
/ hope she has not broken down from
over-fatigue?"
"Oh, MOI" quickly replied Jessie Ca
ruthers. needless of her sisters warn
ing frown. 'she has only gone to the
picnic for an hour or two; we thought
the fresh air would do her so much
good. When she comes back to take
charge of Mary, 1 am to 60"
What picnic? I never heard any
thing of a picnic"
"Oh. it is quite an informal thing"
said Mary Caruthers; lust a few fam
lilies that have agreed to spend the
day together in the woods just out
side the village"
"Ah, that's where Lawrence Steele
was dashing to this morning, with his
road-cart full of fowersi / might have
known something was on handI What
a pity that you can't go, Mary-you
used to enjoy these things so much
And now here you are. shut up in a
sick-room, while the other young peo-
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