Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-05-09
THE BOY WHO WOULDN'T.

The first eight years of his life
Tommy was a delightful little fell
low. Full of boyish pranks and fla
ne always was, but never cross nor
ugly nor surly and, above all, never
insolent until he was years old
After that it was as II wicked
fairy had woven e spell about him.
But perhaps it was only because two
Very bad boys moved into the house
next door and Tommy spent great
deal of time with them. He grew
disagreeable in many ways. but mis-
worst faur, was habit of saying, Il
won't" whenever he was told to do
anything.
When he first said 1t to his mother,
she looked so surprised and hurt that
he felt sure he would never say il
again But he heard the words Sd
often from his companions that they
lost their ugly sound, and one day he
said them TO his father who had just
told him to bring in some wood. Then
he met with something more than
hurt and surprised looks and again
that night, when he was tenderly nur-
sing mis- poor little smarting legs, he
was perfectly certain that he would
never speak the impudent, disrespect-
full words. But bad habits are hard
to break and reproaches and punish
ment seemed to have but little effect.
Although Tommy grew to be
very disagreeable boy and made a
great many persons dislike him, ali
his animal friends remained true 10
him, for he never mistreated them.
All Of them, from the dog Towser, TO
the pigeons, saw the change in their
little master and were grieved by it,
and seeing that all remedies failed,
determined to cure him.
They had conference at which il
was decided to ask the advice and
help Of ground troll who lived In
the yard. The troll listened sympa-
theticaily to their story and promised
to be ready with plan the next mid
night Promptly at ~ o'clock they
called, anxious to hear what he had
to offer. Although they expected
something very unusual, the plan
proposed fairly took their breath
away Had they felt less confidence
In the troll they would never have
had the courage to try 1t.
The next day Tommy was more in
solent than ever and was sent supper
less to bed The poor little fellow
cried himself to sleep for he reahy
wanted to be a good boy. but that
bad habit had such control over him
that It made him forget more and
more often.
suddenly he was awakened by q
shaking of the bed. He put up his
hand and 1t touched something soft
and silky. Then he opened his
eyes and by the moonlight saw Tow
ser looking into his face. '"rowser,
he gasped, how did you" Meow
meay," GOO COO" "cluck, clucIx
cluck." ''cocn-a-doodle-do."
Tommy sat up straight Was he
dreaming; II he really heard those
voices what did they mean. Goo
co., called a pigeon, and flying Into
Tommys face placed tiny seed ir
his mouth which was wide open Will
the establishment he felt. And soor
as he swallowed the magic seed 8
change came over him.
Bow, WOW, wow" that was Ger
tainly Towser's voice but the bari
was suddenly filled with meaning fol-
Tommy and he understood perfectl,
that rowser said. Get up and pu
on your clothes"
Chuck, cluck, chuck said the hen
But Tommy understood as YES
hurry mp and dress or we will take
you In your nightgown"
Tommy obeyed and while he wa,
putting on his clothes. he was con
stantly urged to hurry by bow. WOW
a meow. a chuck, coo. or a cock a
doodle do.
When he mad finished. he was com
manded to follow and the strange pro
cession filed noiselessly down the
stairs and out of the back door
There they found the pony waiting
Tor them. Down the path and through
the gate they went and on into the
grove till they came to an open place
among the trees.
There they stopped and the curs
was administered. The little troll was
present, and with a wave OF his mag
lie wand, wove such spell about
Tommy that all he could say was tht
hateful little sentence. II won't"
lITTlE kNIHLr