Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-01-24
GOING TO SLEEP.

SAASSho anu NSly SlSSpy eyes. 11o was
trying desperately to keep his sleepy
eyes open in the hope that his mother
would forget it was his hated bedtime.
No, mol" he cried, mechanically,
when he caught her regarding him
with fell intention. Then he blinked
very fast to prove that it was a ridicu-
lous idea and that no one was so wide
awake as himself
ooh, dear me, no!' agreed his
mother, with elaborate diplomacy.
You don't have to go to slep; of
course not! But don't you want to put
Bill and Beulah to sleep?"
He frowned. as he looked with dis
like at Bill, the tiny brown horse, who
lay, boots stiffly in the air, beside him
On the other side lay Beulah in a
tumbled heap, one arm twisted in de-
f1ance Of all human structural laws,
the beaming smile on her black cloth
face being in no wise dist1rSed. he
sighed as he considered.
The cares of family certainly In
terfered with ones personal desires to
marked degree. Meditatively he
kicked Beulah over. She still smiled
"See!" cried his mother, with light
some gayety. after side glance at
the clock, which warned her that
within half an hour her guests for the
informal evening at cards would ar
rive See! You can take Bill under
one arm-so! And Beulah under the
other-so! And now we will CO.
NO, MOI" shrieked the small boy,
Historically, as he wriggled and
writhed out of her grasp. mo, no!
No, no."
The little brown horse and patient
Beulah fell to the floor with a thump
Beulah continued to smile. The small
boys mother sighed
"Ill tell you story" she said,
stealthily unbutton1ng one shoe, as
she carried him upstairs. "One day
Kent and his mamma went for a walk
and Beulah and Bill stayed at home.
They walked and they walked till they
walked right into the grocery. And
the groceryman walked up to them
both shoes and his dress were off by
this-"and he said, 'What-do-you-
want?' Just like that! And"
81 want Bill broke out the small
boy suddenly, sitting up very straight
and yawning.
Downstairs flew his mother and re-
turned with the small boys abandoned
family.
Wont you lie down in your nice
little bed now like this?" she asked,
ingratiatingly, as she slipped on his
night gown and tried to put him under
the covers.
Instantly he resolved himself into a
whirlwind of arms and legs and CALI
ope shrieks, which augured i'll for the
card party. 1t was not a night for
scientific discipline
Rock mel" he cried, waving his
mother toward the rocker. "And
walk"
She took him in her arms, sat down
and began again in monotonous sing
song the tale of the outing.
And they walked right into the
grocery and the groceryman walked
up and said 'What-do-you-w
Just like that! And they said they
wanted some soap and celery and"
Walk" ordered the small tyrant,
with eyes wide open.
The mother rocked on hopefully and
returned to the beginning of her story
which she repeated three times His
eyes were closed. Carefully she got
on her feet and moved toward his bed
Open flew the eyes and he regarded
her sternly. Walk" he said, pleas
antly. And l want Beulah!"
Beulah was under the bed His mo-
ther had on a tight-fitting gown, but
she managed to fish out the doll,
which he tucked under one arm
Please go to sleep, Kent" she
begged, as she began rocking him
again. Aren't you tired of the walk
story? Once there was little dog"
Walk, walk" he whimpered.
Hastily she resumed the inspiring
tale of their peregrinations. He GER
tainly was fast asleep and breathing
quietly. Then he stirred and open
flew his eyes. Drink" he demanded.
you lie down and mamma will
bring you water" she said, in relief.
When she came back with the glass
he was still awake. She was listening
for the door-bell. mo, no." he threat
ened. when she tried to slip out of the
room.
ooh. I'm not going!" she assured
him in haste and his face smoothed
out, though he watched her narrowly.
He was grasping Beulah upside down
and he held Bill in choking grasp
about the neck.
Once Kent and his mamma went
for walk-went for walk" she
droned under her breath And they
walked and they walked"
His eyelids. which had fallen of
their own weight, struggled open de-
family.
and they walked and they walked
till they walked right into the grocery
into-the-grocery-
Her voice trailed off into nothing.
The eyelidS We're still closed Sba