The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-06-06
livious to my fathers prejudices.
4 q q e f


had given that iend in the form Of a
COW three or four sounding whacks,
when some impulse caused me to turn
and look up. There was my excel
lent parent gazing upon me, indig-
nant, awful. He was on horseback,
dressed for his ride to the nearest
town. He looked every inch the
scholar and the gentleman he was.
Young man." he remarked in
deep voice which / respected, but
otherwise objected to, "I can't stop
to arrange things with you just
now. You've been getting ready for
thrashing for some time. I'll see
that you have it before sleep. Re-
mind me of the promise when I come
home"
He rode away, glancing back to see
whether I was going on with my job.
But l wasn't. The spirit had gone
out of me, and only wondered if he
would come home early.
I went slowly towards the house,
my empty bucket dangling and my
wet clothes clinging to my skin. My
stepmother (bless her sweet heart)
stood in the doorway as came to the
kitchen porch.
''You poor child |" she cried in her
soft, slow way. "Has that wicked
cow been at her tricks again1"
"Yes," I answered in rather tin-
even voice, "and 1 whaled her with
rail-"
She caught her breath a little.
"Well," she said comfortingly, "I'm
sure she deserved it, Jim, dear ! 1
hope it doesn't show where you hit.
If it doesn't wouldn't feel so bad
about it."
"Oh, but Pop saw me; he was
just riding by" I explained.
She took in the situation, but she
was my friend every time, SO with
her blue eyes very wide open she half
whispered, ''What did he do 7"
"Said he'd take the strap to me
before bed time" / wouldn't cry.
but the tears back of my eyes made
'em smart.
"Well, now, Jimme, )" said the dear
soul, "go and slip on some dry things
and then come and have your sup
per, so you can get to bed little
early. You look dead tired, poor
boy p
1 felt that I was tagged. Even
supper was a burden. such a longing
for my cozy bed. It was plain my
stepmother felt, with me, that no
really humane person would rouse a
growing boy of his peaceful slunbers
on purpose to wallup him. Accord
ingly I made haste to retire, and
when Pop came in I was snoring.
He had had profitable little busi
ness deal, and delightful ride In the |
cool of the day, and brought home
his pockets full of new magazines.
My dear stepmother had griddle |
cakes and honey for supper. No
Bsagh BsQagahfF 70 bseusf alsgiSe SesSjII Dlans aqd
tj,fc Monkhly, chatting pleasantly the
while.
All at once he remembered, and |
could feel him stiffen up, as he asked
shortly, "Where's that boyl'
"Jim, poor fellow?' queried the
voice of my stepmother. "He's gone
to bed he seemed clear tired out"
eyes" said my father, mo won
der. 1t takes muscle to pound big
cow with a hard wood rail. Did he
tell you how he came to be so wearyF
She admitted reluctantly that
did, but added excusingly: "She is
such an exasperating creature I'm
sure Jimmie has tried his best to be
patient with her."
''Rather repulsory patience"
grunted my father. II suppose the
animal is annoying, but I can't have
the boy grow up brute. You should
have seen the fury of the little beg
gar can believe he is tired. But
| promised him a strapping. You
coaxed me out of it the last time it
was due, you know"
"But father - the soft voice plead
ed. you'll wait till morning, won't
YOU? You wouldn't wake the dear
boy out of sound sleepF"
"That's what / would II declared
nv irate parent, beginning to work
himself into a passion. "You know
very well he won't get his deserts at
all if 1 sleep on it. He must under
stand that mean what | say" and
he strobe towards my room.
snored deeply.
elm ~ he thundere6.
I snored loudly and even moaned a
little in my sleep.
Look here, sonny p and his hand
came down on my shoulder.
1 sat up, rubbing my eyes.
"You know what I promised you
Jump out here p and he took
small trunk strap from nail on the
wall.
.sTd Just as soon wait till morn
ing: I'm so sleepy" ventured.
"Well, I'll wake you! Try your
superior strength on detenseless
COW again, will your" and the strap
came down.
A boys sense of justice is keen,
and each stroke of that strap aroused
every little demon I was acquainted
with in my heart. I simply would
not cry, so stood still as possible and
let him relieve his mind. He had
never whipped me so hard before,
and when he went back to the sitting
room, where his wife sat dropping
tears on her knitting work, l have
doubted since if he felt much braver
a man than he did before he trounced
me.
| AS for me, I forgot how much 1
really admired my big, handsome
father, my teacher and friend as well,
generally speaking and I quite re-
yelled In nnfllial reflections until