The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-11

I allow her to have her way in this in
stance each succeeding conflict of author-
ity will be made more difficult. | must
conquer now
''You must" agreed Mr. Pettison, equal
~ solemn equally aghast.
So to Johanna Ernestine was offered
bottle at her next feeding, which upon
being hailed as .bilie- boggin," was
promptly removed. Ping went empty-and
kicked and screamed. After another three
hours-hungry, rebellious hours-the bot
tie was hailed still more violently as a
billie-boggin. Again it was removed. Be-
ing emptier, Ping kicked and screamed
more furiously. When the time came for
the fourth feeding, what with hunger and
passion the baby had worked herself into
a fever and was raving for her billie
boggin in real delirium.
Not being monster, the heartbroken II
fad-ridden mother gave in.
Here is your bottle, dear she whis-
pered.
.'Oh billie boggin'' muttered the baby,
clutching it ravenously.
Outsiders who heard the Pettisons re-
guessing the nurse TO prepare "Pink's
billie boggin" never dreamed of the
frightful struggles the words inferred.
There wasn't nurse after a few years.
Poverty was another factor which aided
In Pink's liberation. The Pettisons came
down in the world. Not every body knew
it. Because Mrs. Pettison believed in put
ting her best foot foremost-as she ex-
pressed it, and that foot was much in
evidence even after the crash came that
neighbors .contented themselves by mere
ly wondering how in the world the Pet
tisons got along as they did, and Mr..
pettison out of his job, too.
For a fact, they did not get along; but,
Jus. as stars apparently shine for thois,
sands of years after they have died in
heaven, so can a family, though socially
.t..1I. fNtrfr.
along for quite time on the reserves of
the attic trunks and the contents of the
kitchen cupboard and the root cellar.
Mrs. Pettison being obliged to look after
her house, had very little time for per-
sonal encounter with her young est--whch
kept Pinks disposition in a pleasant and
unruffled condition. The childs insldes
profited too. There was money to buy
thrice cooked cereals and predigested
foods; consequently Pink had to do her
own digesting something none of the 9TH
ers could The third Pettison was especial
ly weak in this regard. being semi-in-
valid Constantia referred to herself sigh
ingly so often as a perfect wreck" that
Pink heartlessly dubbed her 1.-The P. w."
but evened up by giving her a world of
affectionate care.
1t was when Pink was thirteen years old
that the final crash came, and the last
savings OF the family were swept away in
a bank failure.
No one seemed to appreciate the gravity
of their need except the youngest. The
others were stupidity hopeful over moth
ing Mrs. Pettison was to rent rooms;
Rex was to enter the ministry; Regina,
his twin sister, was TO sing in the choir,
while Constantia was to attend to the
housekeeping. Mr.. Pettison would nave
to get something to do soon- But-the
pride of none of them could stand adj
vertising their rooms; Rex loathed the
ministry; Regina was too miserably shy
TO ever open her mouth in a public place;
Constantia was always too busy mas
saying her liver to have any time or
inclination left for housekeeping; and,
saddest of all, Mr.. Pettison, in his weary
middle age, was merely the clerk that
he was when a youth. and to every posi-
ton open to him there were hundreds of
It at few dollars a week. The mental
worry of all this slid from the others
like water from ducks back, and set
tied in lines of anxious care on the
small, pale face of the youngest. When
she could stand it no longer, she wrote
this letter:
Dear Cousin Johr-I am the one who is
10 ger hundred dollars when you die
! hope you won't uie. but will send my
mother the money right away. III call
1t square. Dads in hole all right. The
dinky cid wolf is Rowling at our door to
beat,the and Don't tell ma I wrote this.
] get iawed at enough as it is Yours
very kindly. PINK PETTISON.