The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-12-06
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ask my duNlCt! lHelc 10 Nhioo Dl''Oi
sweet my old friend. She is not an
immature child. Although she never
could dance as well as your mother, she
always had fine eye for faults in 9th
ers, the painting of which might
have done you good.
Freddy muttered something which
sounded like grandmother, so l SAID
nothing more, but l resolved to do my
duty
cat eight Freddy left the house, all
logged up in his Sunday best, going af-
ter that baby girl. Then | sat down
and cried. But Mr.. Editor, l am one OF
those mothers who would face an Afrlc-
an lion to save her boy. | am past all
vanity, but put on my lavender silk
dress, and crimped my hair, merely to
look as we'll as other mothers who ex-
pected I should meet in the hall,-and
just enough powder to take off the shire.
"At quarter past eight l entered the
hall, expecting to find all the children
present, but there was not even door
keeper. A man who was placing chairs
told me the dance would probably not
begin until o'clock That is Freddys
usual bedtime! | sat down and waited.
That floor seemed very slippery and L
worried lest Freddy might slip and
break an arm. asked the janitor if he
did not think the floor dangerous, and
the hateful fellow laughed audihly.
think the builder of such floor should
be fined for criminal carelessness. We
danced on rough boards at McFadden S
granary, and even there dancers have
been known to fall and get hurt
''At last the high school children be
gan to arrive, couple by couple, and II
half an hour nearly all the seats were
filled, but as yet no Freddy. AT last he
arrived with sweet little chic but a
few years out of her cradle. Freddy is
a bashful boy whenever we have com.
pany at home, but you should have seen
that boy laughing and talking with tina
sprig of a girl, Can that be my Fred
erick? thought l.
When they had taken off their wraps
and were walking to seat Freddy
spied me- | hope l am mistaken, but
thought ne looked disappointed Fred
dy, said walking towards them, the
floor is MS slippery as grease, be careful
lest you fail, But before l could say
more the music began, and Mr.. Editor
l was shocked. l thought Bedlam had
broken loose Instead of circling round
and round, couple after couple in an or
derby manner as we did of old, eacl
couple danced independent of the others.
Turning to the right, to the left for
ward and backward, shooting this wa!
and that W .y-and in the midst Of then
was my Freddy AMI that half grown
girl. Where did that boy learn to dance
in that outlandsh fashion. And We
spent five dollars last year for dancing
lessons Henceforth | shall take him il
hand. Those children land | must say
some grown persons) cavorted like that
all evening, No Money-musk, no Vir
ginia reel, no Quadrilles- What is this
world coming to!
AT last near midnight supper was
announced. Freddy has a weak stom-
ach and | always exercise a iudicious
supervision over his food; so when | saw
him and the little miss going down, ]
followed them and took seat between
the two. Freddy looked provoked but
l know my 1uty. | made the girl who
brought the coffee take it back,-it was
too strong, and had her bring Freddy
and that little gosling milk Then |
saw to it that neither of them ate more
than half sandwich Late suppers
are not good for children. | thought
that girl baby unmannerly for she pout
ed most of the time, but perhaps that
was due to neglected home training.
But as her mother was not present Il
might mention many other mothers) /
considered it part of my duty to take
care eff that kid 1t was rather slim
supper for grown person. l took two
cups of coffee, two rye ham sandwiches,
and piece of each of three or four kinds
of cake. After two more dances | told
Freddy it was time to go home. When
all were ready to go I tied pas heavy
muller about Freddy's neck-he is apt
to take cold-and taking each of the
children by the arm we left the hall
OF course Freddy and had to take that
little chic home, and she lives quite a
ways out. The poor children seemed
tired, for they were not very talkative,
so entertained them with sound advice
as an older person should, and in my
delicate, tactful way | think / made
that little papoose understand that her
mother was derelct in her duty in al
lowing such babe to go to dance I'M
accompanied by a parent.
Now Mr.. Editor, az you have observ-