Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-17
When Billy and Bertha Fought
BY Annie Williams

swer The mother turned to Bertha: And
you, little daughter, should have come to
mother about it, instead Of fighting with
your brother over it, Because he was
naughty was no excuse for you to be so,
too"
But bruver spoiled the play" pouted
Bertha. He ct up our play dinner an
made an ugly face at me. I jus had to
fight, mamma"
While there was a smile lurking in the
mothers tender eyes, her voice became
very, very serious. "Wel, my dear little
son and daughter I can see but one way
to avoid future quarrels and fights be-
tween you. If l send Bertha to her great
aunt Mary and Billy to his grandmother,
in the country, to live, there will be no
chance of your falling out again. OF
course, you cannot be allowed to visit
each other again after the separation"
Berthas face grew serious and her lips
trembled as though she We're about to
break into tears. Il don't want to go to
great aunt Mary's," she whimpered. Il
want to stay wifi my mamma and -"
Here the little miss broke into sobs, unable
to complete her sentence. The mother
turned to Billy. well, son, what have
you to say in regard to going to live with
BIdllAudlllud. she dSktu.
Billy hung his head in shamed way,
batting his eyes furiously, as though some
thing were in them. "I-I-want to stay
at home" he said in tremulous tones.
But how can l allow you to remain
here If your sister stays?" asked his
mamma you don't want to be with her,
do your"
Billy nodded his head vigorously IT
-
but children who fight don't love one
another" urged his mother.
II love sister," said Billy, thinking that
he was about to lose her forever. II was
very naughty, mamma, and I think l need
a whipping" he pleaded. 1T was all my
fault for I took the play dinner and ct
some of it and put the rest in my pocket.
don't know why l was so bad-honest l
don't, mamma"
The mother folded both little ones to her
breast saying: 1T was the Naughty Voice
that whispered in your ears. II you pay
any heed to 1t It will come again and again,
each time whispering louder and holder,
urging you to do very, very naughty things,
until at last you will become very
wicked boy and bring grief to those who
love you so dearly"
Billy sat very quiet, meditatng a moment
Then he broke out with:
If the Naughty Voice whispers TO me
any more III make a face at it and tell
It TO get move on itself, l will. Ard
now, mamma, may sister and I stay at
home with you and papa?'
Bertha had dried her eyes during her
brothers and mothers conversation and
was an interested listener Without walt
ing for her mother to answer her brothers
question, she said vehemently:
THE ole Naughty Voice whispered to me,
too, mamma, dear, / dess II tole me TO
fight bruver tause l JUS fought him as
hard as l tould, but all the time l was
not mad wifi him, love bruver an don't
want him to be sent away to Granny's."
"Then my little son and daughter won t
ever, ever again listen 10 the Naughty
Voice. asked mamma. They will al
ways remember what happened today when
the wicked promptngs come TO their ears?"
Yes, indeed, mamma" promised Billy.
IN not forget that I was almost sent 70
live with Granny, away from papa, mamma
and Bertha. / would have been 50 un-
happy / would Just have died Of homesiok-
ness so l would"
An III never, never fink Of quarreling
wifi bruver again nor biting him and pull