The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-09-13
1Ehe Heart Of TEN Cent Barty''

MMN
By Carroll Watson Rankin.

srssxx*akx ARTLETT must have been
%% about four years of age
Is r. y when he first announced
&g Nc that he was too much old
kas**ekxR to be kissed.
Up to that moment no
one had given the subject of kissing
Bartlett very much thought. for he
was not one of those irresistbly at
tractive children that one instructive
ly caresses; but of course after his de-
flant declaration it became a matter
of pride with the small boys family
to see which member could beg. buy
or steal the greatest number Of kisses.
By the time Bartlett, who had
large number of feminine relatives,
was ten. he had grown so skilled in
lodging osculatory advances that it
was no longer possible to surprise him
with unwelcome endearments. If any
one wanted, or pretended to want,
kisses from Bartlett, it was necessary
TO buy them.
Bartlett's price for these favors was
ten cents apiece. For the next two
years, whenever he was desperately
in need of q dime-but the necessity
had TO be desperate indeed-he con-
sented to sell to his teasing sister
Madge, his tantalizlng cousin Eleanor
or his badgering young Aunt Emily
small, sudden. birdlike peck, followed
always by instant flight. The sight
of this performance invariably sent
the fun-loving family into laughter;
but Bartletts mother did not quite ap-
prove.
Don't tease that boy sou she would
sometimes protest, although she was
such mild little person that no one
ever thought Of needing her remon-
strances. I'm afraid you'll make him
hard hearted
surely" teased Madge, you would
MT want a mushy boy like Clarence
Mlllsw
OF course. by the time Bartlett was
twelve, no kisses could be wrung from
him for love or money but 10 his great
disgust his fame had spread abroad,
and his schoolmates had dubbed him
"Ten-Cent Barty."
His elder brother John, a young man
OF twenty, still kissed his mother good
night In comfortable, matter-of-fact
way; but when Mr. Morgan said to
Bartlett, as he sometimes did, with a
twinkle in his eye, My son, why don't
you kiss your mother good nghtg'
Bartlett would reply truthfully, if not
at all gallantly. "Td rather be shot"
It was evident that Ten-Cent Barty
had no use for kisses. It also became
evident, gradually. that the eyes of
Mrs. Morgan. a slight, not very strong
little mother, followed Bartlett wist-
fully from the room when, with a hast
fly mumbled "Good night" to nobody
in particular, the boy would bolt for
the stairs. II grew plain, even to
Bartlett, that she missed the good
night kiss that was hers by right and
that was never forthcoming; yet,
strangely enough, in spite of repeated
dsappointments, she looked for 1t ex-
pectantly night after night.
II was not the kiss alone that was
lacking. Between John, who was like
his mothers family in many ways, and
Mrs Morgan there was a strong bond
OF sympathey and good fellowship
most beautiful to see. But Bartlett
was an allen and almost an outsider
in the family circle. Apparently he
had discarded his mother and dresses
at the same moment, for, with his first
trousers, he had turned to his father
FOR sympathy and counsel.
Encircled by his mothers arm. John
oh 1..I -
knit, and had even played with dolls,
without suffering permanent injury
from any Of these girlish occupations:
but from the time that Bartlett's small
fingers had been long enough to grasp
n hammer the younger boys predl-
lections had been thoroughly mascu-
line.
or course 1t had not taken him long
10 discover how little his mother knew
about things of such vital importance
as screw bolts. steam cages, ball bear
ings and pillow blocks. Neither die
any of these things appeal to John
who was reading law. Bartlett haC
soon learned TO work out his problem;
without motherly or brotherly assist
ance. BY the time Ten-Cent Barty
was sixteen his knowledge of machiu
cry had become source OF wonder
not only to his own family, but to tn,
interested neighbors, who called hin
in 10 prescribe for ailing lawn NOW
ers and injured clothes wrlngers.
In March Mrs. Morgan had takeI
cold. All through the summer she ha(
little hacking cough that alarmed thu
family. and she seemed pale and list
less. The family doctor shook hi
head whenever he saw hei, and In Sep
tember ordered her to Arizona.
I'm not saying that there's anythin,
serious the matter with her" he ex
planned to Mr.. Morgan "but this ell
mate isn't the place for her this win
tsf. Send her out West"