The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-11-03

arpIac. She has done that same thing,
John, until she has worn my patience
to q nervous frazzle. I don't know
why people never appreciate the value
OF other peoples things. They let
their youngsters roam about like mad,
and If you reprove them or attempt
to check their impetuous destructive
ness, you get a frosty cough, and
Come, Jack, 1 think it is time for us
to go, with the emphasis on the us
Now, Mrs. Merrills boy has marred
and broken all of my property I in
tend he shall, so when she came this
afternoon was all on edge to tell her
a few truths"
First act?"
''She said she couldn't stay a min
ute and proceeded to take off all of
her things and Jacks, and set him
down right in front of that mahogany
cabinet with the vases on it. Then
she forgot all about him, and united
her bundle of gossip for me to look at
the patchwork. In the meantime
Jack pulled down a Sevres vase that
mamma gave me, and broke it into a
thousand pieces" {"
"Theu you said it didn't matter,
that it was a cheap little thing, and
you didn't care for it in the least 7"
suggested John.
"Did I? Well, don't recall 1t if
did. I said: Mrs. Merrill, that
is about the tenth time that ill-reared
child of yours has broken some one of
my priced possessions. It isn't acci-
dental. it's simon pure, inexcusable;
inquisitiveness, and ill-behavior. 1
am always glad to have you come
here, but / don't like that boy of
yours. and I don't think his bringing
up reflects much credit on you as a
mother. Unless you can teach him
to keep his hands off my things, I
shall ask you to leave him at home +"
"About how high did the balloon
go upr"
"She was torrid, I tell you. She
snatched Jack up and kissed him
imagine kissing child who has done
trick like that land said if would
get their things for them it would
probably be the last time I would
have that pleasure, with the shading
on the pleasure Oh, but she was
sour She set my teeth all on edge
with glance and the air tasted like
acid. And she hounced out like an
offended goddess, carrying that un-
ruly child as if he were rare china"
"Any more pages in the book of
truth 7" asked John.
"Mrs. Buzzell came in about S
o'clock to ask me about music lessons
for Jane. John, I was honest as
could be with her. 1 told her that
Jane had no talent for music, but that
she did have some for dress-making
and millinery, and that she would
better make good milliner or dress
maker of her than poor pianist.
There WASN'T anything so awfully bad
about that, was there r.
Mrs. Buzzell struck the ceiling
there, near the chandelier" he in
quired.
"Whew! John, was frightened.
Did you ever see quiet old hen
ruffle up her feathers and attack a
dog that was nosing about among her
chickens? Well, John, she was Mrs.
Quiet Hen. She few at me all sprad-
died out, and said I didn't know
nocturine from a soup ladle. Yes,
she did say nocturine, John, and you
needn't laugh, for it wasn't funny
bit, wish it had been you instead of
me. Why, John, she would have
scratched me, 1 do believe, she was
so angry. After fifteen years of
friendship she said, to have jeal-
ousy creep in and destroy it all, and
you an old married woman, too
She shot out like a gasoline explo-
sion, and talked back at me for half an
hour while I was trying to explain"
"That's about three tries and a
goal for the home team" observed
John, thoughtfully. "Is that all 7"
II think that's all, John. There
hasn't been anybody in since din
ner."
eve will pray together that no
one comes" suggested John dryly.
"And tomorrow Does the CAM
paign of truth go on? Will the red
f1ag of honesty wave in the public
facet"
IT don't know, John" doubt
fully.
''Did you ever hear of Alexander
Selkirk, Mollie?" asked John, after
a short pause.
"Why, yes. He was all alone
somewhere, wasn't hel''
Exactly. He was all alone some
where. Do you pine for solitude,
and to be known as the female Alex
ande- Selkirk 7"
"Why, no. Certainly not. ("
"Then this night we will call off
the dogs of truth, and tomorrow
morning, bright and early, the Social
Fib will be restored to its former first
place among the Lares and Penates,
will it not?
well, if you think it best. But
there are few other persons would
like to meet before"
"There, there" said John, putting
his arm about her lovingly.
0
INSTINCT IN A YOUNG BEAVER.
Every animal inherits the power of