Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-07-12
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t Splitting Aunt LuCretia !
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A RAINY DAY."
~ "Oh, dear, dear!"

as Cne Gay. anu com pldlntS WHICH,
sounded far worse than the gentle
patter Of the rain.
mo peace in the house to-day"
It was Aunt Lucretia who had said
this last. 1t was generally understood
in the family that. she was always a
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 that it did not make
them feel more anxious to be good.
81 am sure" said mamma, looking
a little worried, that they will try to
be quiet. They will remember that
you do not feel well.'
Aunt Lucretia shook her head and
looked gloomy. Archie set his lips to-
gether with feeling which mamma
knew meant
"We'll see about that"
After the others had left the break
fast room, Ruth and Archie stood look
ing out of window.
MEAN old thing!" said Archie, below
his breath.
''Who?" asked Ruth.
''Aunt Lucretia.''
"Archie," exclaimed Ruth, in a
shocked tone, II thought you were
speaking of one of the boys"
81 wasn't" said Archie. "She is
'Don't say it again, Archie,' said
Ruth, sternly.
"Well, [ won't. But | mean it all the
same. NO peace in the house! Ruth,
she'd a great deal rather we were
naughty than good!"
''Now, Archie!"
cts so. Don't you know that when
we're real good she never takes bit
of notice, and that when we're bad she
always does? She enjoys it-just be-
cause it gives her a chance to scold.'
''I'm-afraid you are right, Archie.'
admitted Ruth, after a little considera
ton of the matter.
''Of course I'm right. Say, Ruth, -
Archie gave little jump of delight
'slet's play joke on her.
"Gh, mamma wouldn't like it,
"a good joke, I 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
Grain, and tease for things, and make
noises, and everything else that's
mean. Now let's begin and be just
as good as we can to spite her.
"Oh!" said Ruth, not able to recon
cile the goodness with the spite.
''Don't you see? She'll be watching
all 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's! Well do our Monday lessons
the first thing, without anybody tell
ing us. Then I'll cut my weeks kind
ling"
"And when 1 dust the sitting-room
I'll dust all the corners
II won't set Ponto and kitty in
fight"
''And if there's pudding for dinner
instead of pie we won't say a word.'
"We'll keep it up all day.
''We'll be-be-truly virtuous," con-
cluded Ruth, now fully in the spirit
of the days effort, and desiring to eN-
press herself strongly.
eff 1 forget or get tired, you remind
me-" said Archie. Just whisper:
.Spite,' and that'll be enough"
The mornings duties done, the two
were seated in the large sitting-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:
"Well, here's an end of the quiet!
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 DAM
Archie sprang up excitedly at the
tempting proposal.
"Hurrah! That'll be fun! Mamma,
cau't I go?"
I'm afraid not" said mamma. 'You
must choose dryer day for building
your DAM"
Archie burst into a loud remon-
STRANGE. Ruth laid her hand on his
arm, shaking her head with meaning
glance, which Archie at once under
stood. The dear, little girl did not
like to whisper the ugly word.
swell, Bert, we'll do it Monday after
school," S
Aunt Lucretia glanced at him insuch
surprise that Archie clapped his hand
to his mouth AS Herbert went out he
followed him. ,, . .-. .m..,
Dear me! He's bringing that boy
back with him!" remarked Aunt Luz
cretia. re-. ..'-.' ',.4s.a. -.,..~,-..-..
S'Bert's going to stay and play with
U.s." said Archie. ''He says he'll stay
to dinner, too. We'll go upstairs.
Con1e on, Ruth!''
There was none of the tramping and
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