Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-07-27

| table when his father and moth.
er were discussing his delin-
quencies. 1t was Saturday morning
and he was upstairs in wide, sunny
room at the back of the house called
the store room, though in reality it
was given over to Ted as work shop.
He had taken his bread and milk
breakfast early that morning, as he
had an electrical device in his mind
which he was developing from two tin
cans and some copper wire, combined
with a toy battery.
Ted was Mr. and Mrs Edward Full
er's only child and in him rested the
emphasis of their lives He never had
given them trouble before, and to
speak Of severe discipline in connec-
ton with Ted was a new and unpleas-
ant sensation.
HE came home from school late
again yesterday afternoon" his mother
related, almost tearfully. '',That was
the third time it has occurred this
week. The time before 1 told him it
must never happen again. He prom
ised me faithfully it should not and
the very next afternoon he was late.
l don't want to restrict him too much,
but after school closes I want him to
report at home and let me know what
he intends to do. He promised me he
would and then disobeyed me. l never
knew Ted to DE deliberately disobedi-
ent before" she lamented.
Ted's father listened with a frown
Of perpleXity marking his brow He
was astonished to learn that Ted
joyous. sweet-tempered, ten years old
Ted-should be turning unruly.
What do you think we should do?"
he asked after moments thought.
His wife's voice was tremulous
when she answered
81 told him yesterday we should
have to punish him. He would not ex-
plain what kept him and-and--'
she hesitated as if dreading to make
the revelation. "Oh, Edward, he looked
as though he had been fightingv'
She hid her face in her hands and
shuddered at the enormity of Ted's
offense
The boys father with difficulty re-
strained smile, remembering like ex-
periences Of his own boyhood.
''Oh, WELL" he said cheerfully, that
Is not such terrible thing. Boys have
to cool off With a fight once in q |
while"
Edward" his wife exclaimed in |
voice filled with reproach, that does
not excuse his disobedience. For his |
own sake he must be held in control"
NO, he should not have dIsobeyed |
you," Ted's father admitted. 81 SUD-
pose shall have to whip him, but Id
rather take beating myself. 1 be-
lieve that is what my father used to
do to me when 1 kicked clear over the
traces" he reflected.
His wife did not answer at once and
be took her silence for consent He got
up from the table slowly and walked
across the room, lingering on his steps.
Mrs. Fuller, dreading the crisis she
had precipitated, courted delay.
isn't there some other way?" she
asked, pleadingly.
Ted's father shook his head. "As 1
he said, ian interview
with a switch was particularly effect
i've. 1 was never hurt much, but it
stung my pride SO 1 was careful to
avoid doing the things forbidden. We
might as we'll have it over and think,
considering Ted's disposition. it is not
likely to occur again."
By this time Ted's mother was in
tears.
"Oh, Edward" she sobbed, don't
hurt himv'
She heard Ted come bounding down
the stairs in CHEEKY, "All right, I'm
coming" in answer to his fathers
summons.
She did not wait to hear more, but
fed to her room, where she shut and
Ocked the door. She flung herself on
The couch and buried her head in the
pillows in fear Of hearing Ted's cries.
Knowing her boy as she did, it was
foolish Of her to think he might cry
but, and knowing Ted's father as she
lid it was foolish Of her to think lie
would be too severe. After all it would
be only bit Of mild discipline which
never should be repeated
"Neverw she exclaimed fierceIy,
bringing to her feet and clenching her
hands. Never
1t seemed to her but yesterday that
Fed was a tiny, soft baby whose
ilken head fitted SO snugly into the
.urve Of her neck. And Ted was such
/ 'cuddly" baby; he never resisted her
when she nestled him In her arms. He
vas such ''cuddle doom" baby. The
memory wrung her heart; she could