The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20
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HIS AOCiCA SO'ts
 You ought to have got inside, Johnny, if you wanted to hide from me- he said. What's the matter7 Did you think l wanted to borrow from you?"
 "No, sir" replied the little boy, banging his head.
 Did I ever tell you long stories ex- cept at your earnest and insistent so- licitation?r
 No, sir"
 Then why avoid me?" asked the old gentleman, responsibility. T didn't think it of you, Johnny. I never thought you would run and hide from your fond old grandfather unless you had been doing something that you ought not to do and were ashamed to look me in the face. It couldn't be that, could it?"
 No, sir" answered the little boy.
 You're too well behaved for that aren't you? If you ever feel tempted to do wrong you would say to your self, oh, no, l mustn't do that, as shall be unable to look my kind grandpapa in the face without the blush of shame mantling my cheek, wouldn't you?"
 Yes, sir"
 q think I hear you saying 1t" said the nice old gentleman. Whats all this on your coat?"
 q got in the mud" stammered the little boy.
 "I inferred as much. reasoned that either you got in the mud or the mud got on you. What did you get in the mud for? Been reading a health mag azine article? We'll well. A nice pickle you're in. What made your liT swell, eh? Mosquito bit it? No' We'll, I thought it was a little late ir the season for mosquitoes. Maybe fl was humble bee. I know when was little boy and got stung by 2 humble bee I'd put mud on the swell ing. expect that was what you were 6oing and made a mistake and daubed up the back of your coat instead oi your lip. People make funny mis
 
 Still, I don't quite understand, John ny, why you tried to hide from me"
 Tt wasn't humble bee" volun teered the little boy.
 '1t wasn't? Bless me, Well if Il wasn't humble bee and you werent chopping kindling and you didn't fal down and step on your lip or run ints lamp post or the edge of door ol go to baseball game and stop ho fly, I can't imagine how you did it Eh? Whats that you said?" "Nothin'," replied the little boy. Perhaps that would be your wises course under certain circumstances, remarked the old gentleman. If yo, were grown up and had nice flowins whiskers and a trunk railway hanging out of your vest pocket and news paper reporter asked you how yo, | got it I wouldn't blame you for sayinl nothing. Of course you might have offended another little boy and h. | might have hit you in the mouth ant rolled you in the mud. You did figh | WttI duOtHti ltlit VOy Ontts IL yOu I remember, but then you promised your mother that you wouldn't do i again. Of course if you just let hin hit you and roll you in the mud 1 wasn't, strictly speaking, fighting" You bet I didn't" said the littl' boy. You ought to see him." The nice old gentleman made a pc culiar noise ending in clearing O the throat Then you broke you promise" he said. That's very sad Johnny. I supposed that you woulC | go through life meek and unresistin, after making that promise. Your dea mother will be grieyed I shouldn' wonder if you got what
 q couldn't help it." protested tn, little boy. with just suspicion of ; whimper. He called me names an, pushed me n then just pushed hin little an"
 And you didn't think about you | promise. eh?'
 q thought about it at first"
 'Tll tell you one thing. Johnny. said the nice old gentleman. T neve break promise. never. You neve | should, eithes You want to be care ful how you make 'em. l always say I'll do thus and so, if I don't chang my mind, or I won't do this or tha unless l feel different about it late | on That's the best way 10 mak, promises. You remember that th, next time your mother wants you t' promise her anything. Now, I thinl 1 if we go into this barber shop I cal get the kind colored gentleman t, take most of that mud off and we Cal wash your face and perhaps mothe | won't notice it.
 e guess I'll tell her." said the littl, boy, pfayely. "Tll tell her that broke my promise an I'm sorry, bu won't do it again unless I chang, my mind"
 Johnny" said the old gentleman you're all right"
 If I don't, Georgie's mother vii tell her, so it's all the same" said th, little boy.--Chicago Daily News. There are Few