Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-12-16


Till at the sound of the last amen,
! glide into mothers purse again.
Kate Hudson, in Christian Register.
ERIC AND THE COLONEL
Eric went slowly out into the gar
den. For three long, creeping hours
the. sunshine and the birds and the
smell of the clover had been calling,
calling, while he lay in bed and wish
ed mother would come and say the
words which would show him that
he was once more free and forgiven.
when will my little son learn lelf-
control?" mother said sorrowfully. as
she led him upstairs and began to
unfasten the shoes from a pair Of lit.
tie feet that had taken him again out
into the forbidden street and away
from home.
"What shall mother do to make him
remember not to run away?"
"How would tying him :. up dor
came Uncle Ben's merry voice from
the next room. ''I'll drive peg
for him lust as have for the old
rcoster.i He runs away, too, and gets
into the neNt-door neighbours garden,
and makes no end Of bother. But the
queer thing is that all the little
chicks love their mother so much
that they won't run. away. I'm glad;
for should hate to see the old
mother hen wandering about. worried
and anxious, looking FOR them. II
must be terrible trouble"
Mother did not smile as she often
did at what Uncle Ben said. There
was weary look in her face that
went to Eric's heart. He hung his
head in shame, and was glad when
mother went out softly and left him
alone ito think it7over."
He was really SO sorry. He had
not meant to disobey; but It was SO
bard to keep just where he belong.
ed, and such little step over the
forbidden boundary seemed to make
him forget all about his promises.
One day 1t chad been an organ
grinder and monkey, oh. the, cutest
little monkey with a, little red Jack.
ct. A dear little monkey that bowed,
and held out his cap for pennies, and
that cuddled right down IN Eric.a
arms!
Probably. Eric walked miles that
day through the hot, dusty streets,
and mother was almost sick with
anxietys
Another time 1t was an unbroken
colt that went curyeting by, escaped
from the stables; and every bound
of its light hoofs and toss OF Its
name and glance Of itsaeye was an
Irresistible call to Eric to follow.
Today it was a. man who sold
patent medicines. There was q
chime Of bells under his cart. His
horses.had red tassels on their heads,
and threw out little boxes Of tiny
bonbons at beguihng intervals.
Now any one. can see that these
were real temptations that Eric had
to battle. and Eric knew this. and
was thinking OF 1t as he went slow.
ly down into the garden and the
sunshine and the smell Of clover.
Suddenly he stopped; for there,
within few feet OF him, was old
Colonel. the rooster. tied, to a stake
and tugging to be freed at sight Of
Eric. Poor old Colonel!
Then 1t flashed acrss Eric what
Uncle Ben had said, 1.-The little chicks
lover their mother too much to run
away from her. but the old rooster
has to be tied up" ,.=sss
Eric loved mother 80! He stood
looking down at old Colonel, and
then turned and ran back to mother.
Mamma" he cried, twill you un.
tie old Colonel, and let me have
the care of him, and keep him from
running away for the rest OF the day
will take "a stick to drive him, and
some corn to coax him back when
l can; but know II / have to keep
something from running away, twill
help me remember how you. feel, and
] do want to stay by you Hike the
little chicks
There was a soft light in mother.
eyes as she united old Colonel
light which mothers know about
It is kindled in the heart. 1t shone
all that long, hot afternoon, as she
watched a little figure trudging about
after big white rooster, coaxing
driving. feeding. - s.a, rs
And glad indeed was Eric that
chickens go early to roost.
1t was tired but happy little boy
that mother folded In her arms that
night.
r'Eric," came Uncle Ben's voice
from the door, 81 have some tick
cts to the circus tomorrow, which ]
should like to use IL could find the
right sort Of little boy who would
like to go and see all the animals
For me, mamma? Does he mean
me?" and Eric sat up in bed with
sparkling eyes.
Yes, dear, am sure he meane
YOU, but go to sleep now.
The clock struck eight. as mother
bent over the flushed little face te
give another good night kiss to the
brave little boy who had said. He
stirred in his sleep and said, "The
little chickens loved their mother
-Phila Butler Bowman. In Kinder
garten Review.
THE GIRLS SECRET. ].