The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-06-12
cHUCKY's STRENUOUS PIETY.
~ JOHN n

When Chucky was 7 he went
church willingly Tor the frat time. HI
previous attendance vas not pfompfe
By pisty unless the reverence Ia Nhic
ho held his mother might be called
sort Of rioarl0us plety. he had gone 4
church because she wished Il ana b
cause she sometimes wept ia fear fha
10 was destined 70 b a trial 70 be
oeYout heart But nov be went siadiJ
almost eagerly. and Der gentle fac
nhone as Il had not sh0ne foT WhFks
Having achieved short hair for the nu
time since babyhood, Chucky had a
oyormastering desire 10 show himsell
lie yet o ths big lace collar and n
low cot shoes which IN biz mother
wistful eyes served az nifnsy but pa
pable barriers against the hardeninI
influence Of years Deep down IN III
TebeiiOus heart cbEcky longsd for Ii.
DAY when he might wear a sweater an
Ions pants lie would have served a
acoiyte n they would only lei him ap
pear behind the altar rail IN thu, q
him, gl0rihed attire Of lncipisnt man
hood.
The girls OF the town thought TIA
the boy was tough for his sire" The
did not know that he was only develop
Ing the ambition 70 repreas his weak
nesses only 70 show them ~ lie tim.
q In the manner which. 70 MS small
mind, seemed most seemly and best
But the second Sunday after his birth
day a sudden reversal Of temper puz
lied his mother. When she told hin
70 prepare for church he Eulked. %
teeted and finally howied his protests
She threatened, coaxed. lribed. II,
should have a penny for himself h
should get q holiday from school 81.
would tell Father Tearlake.
Why won't you 30. my son!" aske,
his mother.
i don't want TO-"
That was the only answer he wouit
give.
She told him be might wear hi
everyday waist with the turndogr
collar. that he might have his boots
anything IA reason. II he would 20
That vas the final argument, but 4
only served TO dry his tears. She wal
puzzled and yentured TO appeal C BIZ
father, who. unhappily Tor her hopes
set Chueky no lofty example either O
piety or unmanlike obedience.
Send him up 10 me, said the faith
er. and III End out Why the boy has
lost his sudden streak OF devotion. II
take him to church II you say SO. ma
but intendsd-that Is. I hoped TO a.
fishing"
When the child slouched into u,
ron his father, immersed ID q book
mumbled: What's the metters At
you sorry yon had your surls cut OF
ChuckyT"
mo. sir"
WIN you 30 to church with met"
"Yessir."
win you go alone2"
No &nsEer.
My boy. said the father. laying
down HIS book. you're afraid OF some
body, Has the Schneider boy sot yot
f~blutfed'l'
HE runs out at me. said the child
shifting his feet.
Why don't you get back AZ himr'
Hes bigger'n me. sir
Get a rock os-hasent you = base
ball batr"
"ISSsir Cbrightening)."
"well, take that with you. and Il b.
tries 70 run you. him"
AN right sir.
The boy stamped down into the base
meat Ike a soldier under orders Hii
father watched him go down the VAL
under the sitting spring sunlight will
bis war club over his shoulder like z
Puritan going 10 the Westinghouse II
the days when the Indians lurked
And together for 3 space the mother
and father Of the hoy waited IN the
vcrercR 20 see whether their son woult
cone home routed. weeping. perhaps
beaten. He did not come.
4 guess be ran the blockade sale
the father.
I'D as leave he stayed at home as &c
hght on Sunday. said the mother nc
fully.
But az noon he came back. his bal
proudly hoisted on his shoulder, hIt
clothes in tatters. his face xmeared
with dry mud and conKeaied blood. hif
eyes sparkling. his prayer book clutch.
cd In his dirty brown hand.
In heavens name, what happened
20 your cried his mother. holding hin
b. the shoulders. ARE you hurt
Where have you beonf"
Il been 4 church, ma, o. course" He
was breathless. but Il was with trl.
umph. not dismay.
You've been hghting. sir" said the
woman. her eyes allied with tears Of
shame and pity, and on sunday Why
I'D you DO ~"
RE run out at me Hes Rllus run.
min Qua az me-
"who1 who's been running out At
youf"
~sehneiders boy. he calls me
Clarence and said he wa Eoin' for 4
Whopp me-
"Ana what dld YOU dof asked his
father. laying a soft hand on the moth
eT'a calico gown.
4 lot'm have Il sir" qnoth re
freeklea boy, hooking up IN hssitatine
confidence
And what dld he dof@
"iie Jumped me. SIR. answered
Chueky gaininE confidence a. ne look
% into the fearless. Frightening eyes
Of his father, he jumped me. an we
kinda fell over. an Il wua muddy, an
be scratched me an I hurtsi-'
say hurt, my sou. sighcd the
woman.
4 hurt my head on the gutter. but I
had'm down. an whopped aim good-
Say we'll deArie- spake the No-
man. trying to smile
And ia Whopped him turFlhle. hut
his mammy-mother run n an said I
was q nasty somethin'. / doan no what
SO KEEP oR whoppin', an be tried q
scrouge me In N stnmmick sose I had
& Get on him. Al. you otia see him