Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-17

"I.I.Y was years old and his sis
n ter was two years younger. They
" had always played in the greatest
HHURfd good humor together each giving
SNHrhy up toys or bonbons to the other
in the most loving and generous manner
But one day a Naughty Voice whispered
into Bnly's ear; Take all the apple and
candy from Bertha You are big and
strong and can do it."
They were playing in the warm sitting
room when the Naughty Voice whispered
in Bnly's ear They had a little table
spread for make-beleve dinner, an apple
cut in halves and two blocks of taffy
Bertha was playing at being hostess and
Billy was her company" Billy reached
across the table and took both blocks Of
taffy, putting one in his mouth and the
other into his little trousers pocket.
"Oh-o-o-ohl You took all e can'y," said
little Bertha, looking shocked at her
guests very uncivil conduct. You mustn't
do at way, bruver. You mus play nice"
The Naughty Voice again whispered and
Billy obeyed it's promptings He reached
over and took the two pieces Of apple
jumped up from the table and ran out Of
the room, looking back through a crack in
the door to make a wry face at Bertha and
laugh at her tears.
on ne a Dau-b-a-u DOy, 50 YOU are,
cried Bertha. IN not pay wifi you any
more. 1 don't like you-so I don't. Give
me back my can'y an apple or I'll go tell
mamma"
you'd better not tell mamma" said
Billy, threateningly. "Tn smack your ears
II you do"
Bertha began to weep loudly and declared
he was bad, bad bruver. Billy, fearing
that their mother-who was in the sewing
room upstalrs-mlght hear, ran into the
sitting room and clapped his hands over
Bertha's mouth. The Naughty Voice had
prompted him how to act. shut up this
minute" he commanded, his fat fist
crushed against Berthas mouth.
Now the owner Of the Naughty Voice was
IN his glory. All he had TO do was to
whisper into Bertha's ear to have fight
started. The situation was prime for just
such a thing. Bertha, being now very
angry with her bad brother. listened in
turn TO the Naughty Voice and needed
what II said. Fight" It whispered in her
ear. Scratch, bite and pull hair"
Bertha, a strong little pudge OF a girl,
thrust her hands into her brothers curly
hair before that fellow knew she had any
intention of retaliptiDn. She pulled and
scratched, hurting Billy till he began to
NAL, scratching his sisters wrists and pull
ing her faxen hair nearly on her head.
How long the fight might have lasted
there is no way OF knowing, hut IL probably
would have kept going TIN one or the other
had cried enough" for the Naughty Voice
was whispering first IN Billys ear and
then in Bertha's ear, urging them to "hght
like soldiers and never give in" But the
noise of the conhict-the cryand and shut
fling OF feet-caught the caro- OF their
mother away upstairs and, hurrying down
20 the sitting room. she beheld a sight that
at FIRST tok away her breath.
After she had separated the children she
led them TO her room. where she placed
them on chairs in front OF her and sat
down 10 question the cause OF such an un,
usual and shocking sight as she had just
witnessed I'm the sitting room After the
drying OF tears. the adjustment OF collars
and shoe laces and smoothing Of hair
BILLY and Bertha told their stories.
'Rut why did you take all the candy ant
apple from your sister," asked thei
mamma. addressing billy Didn't yol
know that was seIashness and that selfish
ness is wickedness?"
Billy hung his head, but made no an