The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-12-23
A MorHER,s INGENUITY.
Secured a Day OF Perfect Peace
Through am Qua Diplomatic
scheme.

a Well-hnOWu attorney III w dSuluelDtl
the other an eminent jurist in Chicago.
But never mind what they are now.
Cur present interest in them runs back
some 40 years or more, to the time
when they were ten and eight years
old, respectively, writes Willis Brooks.
in Brooklyn Eagle. Their mother, hav-
ing been born and reared in England,
naturally clung with affectionate mem
ories to the dear CID home after she
and her young husband had come to
live In America. Naturally, also, she
taught her first two boys to entertain
profound respect for England and
everything that England produced
Well, one morning Rob got up with
SO bad a cough that his mother re-
solved to put mustard plaster on his
chest. But she knew his obstinate ma
ture too we'll to give him a suspicion
Of her real purpose. so she called both
boys to her and showed them tin
box of mustard bearing label with
the well-known lion and unicorn and
the name of famous English manu-
facturer
Now" said she, whichever Of you
two is the better boy all day to-day
shall have a real English mustard plas-
ter tonight"
The boys looked at the box with
eager interest. They had never heard
of a mustard plaster, but 1t must be
something wondrously pleasing to
have, for there was the label with its
manifold evidence that the mustard
came from England. Each lad re-
solved to do his best to win the COW
eted prize, and. as result. the moth
er had day Of almost perfect peace.
Her troubles. began. however, when
night came and she had to make the
award Phil who had a much more
lovable nature than Rob, had undoubt-
edly been the better boy, since Rob,
the elder of the two, had, in his eager
ness to get the plaster tried In various
subtle ways to lure his brother into
wrong-doing. But Rob was the one who
had the cold, and the decision must,
therefore. be in his favor SO the little
mother said that although both had
been very good boys. she would give
the prize TO Rob this time, and to
Phil some other time.
OF course there were tears, and wall
ings on Phil's part, and much seIf-con-
graduation on Rob's. as the mother
placed the plaster on the winners chest
and tucked the brothers in their little
bed together Then she sat down with
her sewing to await developments.
UNI" said Rob to Phil. exuItingly,
you ought to feel how nice and cool
it is Don't you wish you'd been a good
boy all day?'
There. Robbie. " the mother expos
tulated. you must go right to sleep
now. or you won't get the good OF the
plaster Go to sleep. and see what nice
dreams you have"
For awhile Rob lay silent and mo-
tionless. Then he began to move rest
Iessly.
Ma" said he. presently. II don't
think Phil was such a very naughty
boy to-day, do your
There. now. go 70 sleep"
After another season OF silence Rob
said: Ma, | don't think it's hardly
fair for me TO have the mustard plas-
ter all the time. and poor little broth
er Phil not have 1t at ALL"
Robbie, want you to go to sleep
at once"
But. ma. done some things to-day
that you didn't know about"
Never mind now You 90 TO sleep"
Rob was by this time writhing un-
der the heat Of the mustard. You
didn't know that ! went in swimming
in the creek" said he.
Phil was amazed. He knew that
Rob had not been in the creek that
day.
And you didn't know that l took a
lot Of matches from the house and set
them atire in the barn. did you?" Rob
went on.
Nov. Robbie. said the mother If
you don't 80 to sleep l shall have 10
punish you"
The quietude occasioned by this
threat lasted only few moments
Then the mother heard swish and a
siam. Rob had sat up in bed. snatchcd
the plaster from his chest and slapped
It across Phirs face with the ener-
getic remark:
There's the darned old mustard
plaster. You can have it don't
want II"