The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-06-11
Sonny's
SfepmOfher

BY OWEN OLIVER
(copyright. By Joseph b Bowlss)


and he made mother and Sonny laugh
great deal. Sometimes they laughed
so much that they had TO run away
and cry. They did not run away to-
gether. because mother was a step
mother. and they only made out that
they were good friends to please IA
ther.
Sonny was fond Of pretty young
ladies. and mother was undoubtedly
pretty and young. He would have
been IN love with her in a boys way
II father had not loved her in the way
OF a man. AS 1t was. mother was
very, very kind to Sonny, and Sonny
was quite polite 10 mother. but tney
were furiously Jealous OF one another.
There was room enough in fathers
heart for both OF them if they had
understood, but they did not know
how big mans heart is.
OF course she would be good to Son
ny, she said. There was no need to
ask that He was a dear little boy.
and his only fault was that he loved
his father so much; and 1t wasn't easy
TO help loving father. He should come
back and find them the best OF friends.
Father said that she had cheered
him, as she always did; and really
year was only a short time, and she
said It was a very short time. and 1t
was ridiculous to make a fuss over It.
and she was going to be tfave.
She was brave the next morning
when father went away in the rail-
way bus, and so was Sonny. They
stood On the steps waving their hands.
but just before the bus turned the cor
ner Sonny made a choking sound, and
mother picked him up and kissed him;
and father saw. He did not put his
thoughts In words. but what he felt
was that they were the best wife and
son In the world. and when they hadn't
him 10 quarrel over they would learn
to love one another: and that was al
most worth going away for. | think
fathers eyes we're a little wet. too,
but he wouldn't like that put down.
At first Sonny also tried. in his way.
to be kind to mother He went to
church with her on Sunday morning.
and carried her books. He placed her
chair at the table as he had seen IA
ther do. He turned a dutiful cheek
10 be kissed before he went TO bed.
He washed the kiss OF with soap after
ward. She knew that he would.
.. 4
nothing very dreadful-only broke a
few things, and tied a tin can to the
cats tail. and put a few candles
through the wringer. Mother smiled
inwardly when she demonstrated with
him about them. They we're quite nat
ural things. she considered, for a lit
tie boy TO do. and quite natural for his
elders to object to. But Sonny took
II into his queer little head that she
only pretended to overlook them, and
would tell father about them when she
wrote So he decided that It was no
use trying to be good at home. and
that II he did well at school, father
would know that the fault at home
wasn't his. but hers.
All the next month Sonny showed a
perfect genius for getting into mis-
chief. He broke a br n on the plum
tree climbing for the unripe fruit He
smashed four windows with a sling.
he threw stones at the neighbors cats
He tore his Eton jacket climbing a
fence. He split ink over the draw
ing-room carpet He upset the milk
mans can. He was rude to mother
and 10 the servants. He tied cooks
hair to the chair while she was doz-
ing. and the hair came right on The
had wanted TO find out II II was her
own, and cook had Mysteries and gave
notice. He did nothing goou at home.
and everything right at school, where
the master could not make out what
had come to him. He wrote a letter TO
his father II ran:
Il have swotted like ennything. dada.
an hope you will be plesed. The rep
port says Conduct excellent has made
real Effort with his work. Jones
Miner said I was a sneke to swot but
licked him easy. wish you were
home because 1t is nearly sumer.
dare say she will tell you I broke some
windos but 1t was an accident but she
did not believe It but she is all rite
and does not grumbel much. should
like TO go to bording school but
don't want to be a way when you
com home. Com home soon. Your
loving son,
FIRED TAYLOR.
"P. s.-Com home soon. mis- you
dreadful"
AS a matter Of fact. mother did not
mention the windows OF any other
misdeed OF his. What she said was
this:
sonny has worked her0ically at his
lessons. and you must praise him very
much. The work has been all for your
sake. dear; and hope the memory Of
you inspires me a little, too. wish
he had a tenth Of the affection for me
that he has for you. l cannot help
thinking that II I were older and wiser