The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-08-15
g~ss-ps'l N-Os.~s'aNe.4---QN-sGsI
Training The J
Children !
By RENE BoUcHELLE.


UedL SdIdu IdlblHB lHOSS ChllulCA VI ,
hers, and now my time has come to
prove It, even If month is mighty
short time to show what body can
do"
Janet Burton's remark was called
forth by the receipt of letter from
her sister, asking II she would keep
house and care for her five children,
ranging in age from one to IA, while
she went away for a month. In reply
ing, Janet not only acceded to her Sis
ters request, but intimated she would
be glad to relieve her Of her house
hold cares for two months instead OF
one.
1t was with the spirit and zeal of
true missionary that Janet took charge
OF her small nieces and nephews, as
she was sure their faults were those
Of training and not inherent, and would
soon be corrected by her wise manage
ment.
Their parents left Monday morning
on an early train, and her enlighten-
ment and their education began at the
breakfast table, where fried chicken
occupied the place of honor.
First the twins quarreled over who
was to get the pulley-bone. Janet cut
the pulley-bone in two, and gave each
one half but instead of causing salts
faction, the twins were as sulky dur
ing the balance of the meal as only
eight-year-old youngsters can be, and
paid no attention whatever to their
Aunt's explanation that she had done
the only wise and reasonable thing
under the circumstances.
Aunt Janet, mother isn't here, so
can't | have coffee for breakfast
piped up six-yearold Margaret.
mo, my dear, you can't do anything
while your mother is away that she
would not allow, for that would be
disobedience"
Il don't care, and papa always let
me have it when mammals gone"
Good Heavens! was 1t possible
that Sarah had no more control over
her children than this" thought Janet,
IS she hurriedly gulped down cup
of coffee, so as to be ready for the
next outbreak
But the balance of the meal passed
off quietly, and after seeing that the
baby was properly fed she set about
getting the Oldest boy off to school.
bod paochnd fho
age when the grub is transformed. into
butterfly, and Solomon himself
couldn't have been more particular
about his raiment.
Aunt Janet, want a clean collar
and handkerchief" These wants were
supplied, and Janet returned to the
lunch she was preparing.
Aunt Janet, these stockings have
got hole in them; please get me
another pair" Back she went anC
searched until she found whole pair
and again returned to the unfinished
luncheon.
After several other stops to hunt fol-
missing articles the lunch was FINAL!
prepared, and the young man started
off to school, fully 30 minutes late.
Her troubles broke out afresh mex
morning when she found that thu
twins and Margaret had gone off be
fore breakfast, no one knew where
The place was searched high and low
and failing to find trace of them any
where, she alarmed the neighborhood
and started out parties in every direc
ton looking for them. Breakfast wa
forgotten entirely, and only bah,
Louise, serenely unconscious of tn
state of affairs, cared for any. He
demands for sustenance for the inne
man were so loud and insistent, how
ever, that her distracted aunt wa
finally compelled to heed them, as tn
nurse had gone off with the others i
their search for the children.
About nine o'clock the truant
slipped in the back gate and made
Decline for the kitchen. The cook
shout of:
GLORY, Hallelujah, here dey is!
brought Janet promptly on the scene
and In the excess Of her gratitude q
their safe return, she would hav
fallen on the culprits' necks and wei
tears of joy-only each pair of arm
encircled three or four huge bull
frogs, and the twins were 80 mudd
and dirty from head to foot that
was difficult to distinguish one frol
the other while Margaret was scare
~ any better. Eugene explained tht
early that morning they had becon
possessed Of sudden desire for SON
bullfrogs' legs for breakfast, and hs
gone to the pond for them, carryiu
Margaret along to hold the bait. u
fortunately they had both tumbled 4
and the reason they were so late ge
ting home was that so many peop
were prowllng around, and they ha
had such a time lodging them.
Corporal punishment was again
her principles, SO Janet marched the
to the bathroom and, after thorous
scrubbingr put them both to bed
mediate over the way of the tran
gressor.
It was out OF the question to ser
William Henry to school at this la
hour. and that young gentleman spe
the balance Of the morning in front
the mirror primping.
When evening finally arrived Jan
was too weary ana dispirited to wri
her sister the daily bulletin she hi
promised. In addition she was trouble
with very tender conscience, and
she couldn't truthfully say that mi
ters had gone well, she thought it b,