The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-02-28

Inc scrap wondered why MUM
never came 10 him now. lie had not
been specially naughty lately. OF
course, he had done many things he
ought not TO have done, but that was
nothing unusual; he always had done
them, ever since he could remem-
Der, and Mum" had reproached and
forGiyen him. That was the usual
routine, and everything seemed
changed now. He had tried being
good-sO good that nurse thought
he must be sIckenng for something
without result; and then in des-
peration he had INDUCED i'm all the
mischief he could think of, vainly
clinging TO the hope that his mis-
deeds would be brought to the no
tice OF Mum"
All OF no use. Nurse used TO chide
him herself, but Il was in a very half
hearted way More often she kissed
and petted him. and called him her
poor lamb" which was all very well
I'm its way, but nurse wasn't "Mum, ="
and it was NUNS" attention that
"The Scrap" Crayed for. No one
could take her place; II had been so
different before daddy went away.
They had always come to say good
night to their little boy then, and
what n joyous sight It was TO see
Mum" all dressed up in some beau
tiful shiny stuff, with lovely things
twinkling in her hair and on her
neck and arms, and she never seemed
AFRAID OF her finery being tumbled
by the baby hands which clung so
lovingly about her, and daddy had
always looked so proud and happy.
What glorious times those had been,
and what an awful day ii was when
daddy went away. He-"The Scrap"
wanted so much to cry, Il seemed
no cruel for daddy to have to go
% seTay. But daddy was a soldier, and
his country was IN need OF him. and
of course, a soldiers first duty was
TO obey his cOuntry's call, however
hard It might be to leave those dear
to him, and The Scrap" had blinked
hard to keep back the tears when
he said good-by. because he would
be a soldier, and wear medal, too,
some day, and daddy had told him to
be brave and take care OF mummy
until he came back, and mummy used
TO cry a lot at first, so IL took "The
Scrap" all his time to carry out his
daddy's charge, and comfort her.
But that all seemed such a long
time ago, There was no need for
him TO comfort mummy now, for she
never cried, and she went about to
balls and parties just the same as
ever, the only difference being that
she forgot to come and say good
night to The Scrap" when he was
snugly tucked up in his little cot. OF
course. she forgot; she could not
do such a thing willfully. The
Scrap" never for a moment doubted
that. only he did so wish she would
try and remember again; It was such
dreary work lying awake hour after
hour hoping desperately to hear the
soft swish OF her dress against the
door OF his little room, as he used
to in the old days which seemed so
far, SO very far away now.
IL only daddy would come back
perhaps everything would be all
right again. but The Scrap" heard
vague rumors OF skirmishes. and his
baby mind managed to grasp the fact
that daddy would not be home for a
long time yet.
But why should Mum" change?
He puzzled his three -year-old brain
over this in vain. Why was it Mum"
never told nurse to bring him down
TO see her as she used to? IL was
not that she did not care so much.
his loyal heart stoutly rejected such
q preposterous idea. IL he yentured
TO ask nurse why he was not taken
down TO the drawing-room as In the
old days, her only reply was TO take
him on her lap and kiss him, and
tell him not to worry himself. But
that was no use. 10 was n kiss from
Mum" he wanted. not nurse. and
the eyer-present question I'm the
child's mind was. how TO make
Mum" remember him again.
Sometimes from the nursery win
dow he would catch a glimpse OF her
as she swept into the carriage watt
ing 10 take her TO garden parties or
dinners. but she never looked up to
wave her hand 10 the httle face
pressed so eagerly against the win
dow; she never saw the loving kisses
thrown 10 her, and no one but "The
Scrap" knew what an effort &c was
20 keep back the tears which strug-
gled so hard to escape from the big
blue eyes when the carriage disap-
peared from sight.
.
All. but "The Scrap" was not the
only one who suffered. Mum" had
not forgotten; she was only trying
60 forget. II only daddy had not
been obliged to go. She was so happy
before. but now--now she did not
know herself, she never dared &c
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