The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-08


When She told him TO prepare for church
he sulked. objected and finally hcwlec
: his protests. She threatened. eoaxed
! bribed tie should have q penny for him
self. he should get q holiday from
school. She would tell Father Teariakes
Why won't you go, my son?'' asked his
mother
That was the only answer he woule
give.
She told him he might wear his every
day waist with the rundown collar
I that he might have his boots-anythsne
! ia reason If he would 60 That was thf
final argument, but it only served TO dry
his tears. She was puzzled and ventIret
[ to appeal 10 mis- father. who, unhappily
for her hopes. set Chucly no lofty ex-
ample either of piety or unmanlike ODE
dience.
Send him up to me-" said the father
! and I'll ind out why the boy has lost
/ his sudden streak of devotion. III take
/ him TO church if you say 50. ma, but
intended-that is, / hoped 10 go fish
! ing"
When the child slouched into the room
/ his father. immersed in a book, mumbied
/ Whats the matter? Are you sorry you
/ had your curls cut off, Chucfoy?'
No, sir
'eWin you go to church with me?'
yes SIR
/ ''Win you go alone?"
No answer.
MY boy" said the father. laying down
/ his book your afraid of somebody.
I Has the Schneider boy got you 'bluffed? ? =
He runs out at me-" said the child,
shifting his feet.
why don't you get back at him?"
Hes biggern'n me, sir"
Get a rock or-havent you base
ball bat?"
Yes. sir Cbrightening)'
We'll. take that with you, and if he
tries to run you, scare him"
"All right, sir
The boy stamped down into the base
ment like a soldier under orders. His
father watched him go down the walk
under the sitting spring sunlight with his
war. club over his shoulder like a Puritan
going to the meeting house in the days
when the Indians lurked. And together
for q space the mother and father of the
boy waited in the Veranda 10 see whether
their son would come home routed,
weeping, perhaps beaten. He did not
come.
I guess he ran the blockade said the
aTd as lief he stayed at home as to
fight on Sunday" said the mother rue
fully.
But at noon he came back. his bat
proudly hoisted on his shoulder, his
clothes in tatters. his face smeared with
dry mud and CONCEALED blood.
In heavens name, what happened 70
vou?" cried mis- mother. holding him by
the shoulders, ARE you hurt? Where
Shave you been?"
i been t church, ma. o course" He
was GREATNESS, but it was with triumph
and not dismay.
You've been fighting, sir said the
woman. her eyes flling with tears OF
shame and pity, and on Sunday? Why
did you do it?'
ne run out at me. He's allus runnin'
out at mep
@schneider's boy. He calls me 'Clar-
ence, and said he wuz goin' for { whoop
and what did you do?e asked his
father laying a soft hand on the moth
er's calico gown.
4 let m have it, sir, quoth the
freckled boy, looking UP in hesitating
confidence.
And what did he DOR
He jumped on me, sir answered
Chucky, gaining confidence as he looked
into the fearless. Frightening eyes of his
father. he jumped me. an We kinda fell
over, an il WIZ muddy, an he scratched
me an / hurted-"
Say hurt my son. sighed the wo-
man.
Z hurt my head on the gutter, but I
had i'm down, an 1 wbopped i'm
good"
Say well dearie.g spake the woman.
trying to smile.
And I'd a whopped i'm turrible. but
his mammy-mother run out an said I
was a nasty somethin'. doan no what
so l kept on phoppip, and he tried to
scroug me in tn stumT1ick SOS I had TO
set on him. An. you otta see him. He's
worser lookin'-
Say worse not 'worser," child" ex-
planned his mother.
But how did it-whst happened?" in
terrUpted the man.
All. Mrs. Schneider seen he WIZ gettin
the worstest-worst, an she pulled me or
an started in for I give him a more
worse lickin' You ever saw. an"
'What?'' chorUsed the man and his
wife
An nen I went 10 church" concluded
the GREATNESS Chucly.
Did you go way down 20 our pew.
SOM gssped his mother.
Yes m
But what did you do with the bat?"
cross-qUestioned the father
4 tux II with me. sir. an pat II unRer
IN kneelin board
''Di6at ANYBODY say anything TO you2
NO. sir. Them Higgins chu'ren that
sets behind Us. ] could hear en- IAN. huE
I shuk my fist IT Choiiey, an he quot
say quit dear" said ChucsY's moth
CT. leading him to the bathroom. holding
his hand tenderly and shaking her head
in assumed deprecation - bis wildness.
And for week thereafter Chucky had
50 uaauy pennies u squander that his
gentle mother. warning his careless
father skid.
I'm afraid you're sp7iling him, Dex-
ter John Il. Eaftery.