Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-25
A DWELLER IN
GLASS HOUSES
By ALICE LOUISE LEE.

Mrs. Drew sat at the head of her
breakfast table and pressed her lips
firmly together When Mrs. Drew
pressed her lips together things al
ways happened. Mrs. White ought
to know" Mrs. Drew looked hard
at a newspaper opposite.
'Um-hum!" came a vague assent
from behind the paper barricade.
IF our son did a thing like that,
l should thank some one to tell me"
pursued Mrs. Drew.
'M-m-m!" still more vaguely from
the opposite side of the table, while
''our son. aged ten, kept his eyes
decOrOusly on his plate, quite accus-
toned to hearing his virtues referred
%.
IAN insult to the aged ought to be
severely punished" reasoned Mrs.
Drew. Tommy White deserves a
whipping that he will remember. l,
for one, believe that to spare the rod
is to spoil the child. If Mrs. White
held more firmly to that opinion,
she'd have boys who were not dis
grace to the town"
Willie Drew, quite accustomed also
to hearing the sins of his playmates
reviewed, still fastening his eyes on
his plate, felt with his foot for the
cats tail under the table.
At the foot of the table Mr.. Drew,
present in body but absent in mind.
said, "Um-hum!" again, and began
looking up the price of flour and ker-
osene. He knew that, despite his
wife's convictions on the subject of
chiId-training, the long whip-like
branches of the weeping willow in
their back yard remained intact,
while a corresponding willow in Mrs.
Whites yard, shorn of much of its
gracefulness, suggested the ravages of
time and the misdeeds of five rugged
boys.
Whenever Willie needs a whip
ping, rest assured he will get one,
Mrs. Drew often remarked emphati-
caIly to friends-the emphasis being
especially noticeable when Mrs.
White was within hearing.
Il would tell her myself" continu.
ed Mrs. Drew, were it not for the
fact that she resented my reference
70 the mischief Tommy did on Hal
Iowe'en. 1t seems to me very strange
that any mother should resent being
told of her children's faults when
its for their interest that she should
know. I'm sure that l should be glad
TO be told if our Willie did wrong"
Willie, having succeeded in locat.
ing the cats tail, clamped it vigor-
ously with his shoes while he regard
ed his mother with large, beguiling
blue eyes.
There was momentary yawling
and scrambling under the table. fol-
lowed by a tiger-striped streak shoot
ing from beneath Willie's chair into
the sitting-room. Dear mel" cried
Mrs. Drew, in alarm. That's the
second time within three days that
Tabby has had a fit. She's such a
pretty cat l hate to lose her, too.
But as / was saying" she continu
ed. Il made up my mind then that
1t was the last time l would try to
dAu ME. w DllG Will IAOOC DOgS VI
hers. Still she ought to be told OF
this. Therefore l shall send for Anne
Upper" Her lips frightened on the
resolve
Anne Tupper?" inquired Mr.
Drew's lips, while his eyes roved
over the political reports.
There was a slight change In the
expression of Willie's blue eyes as
they followed Tabby.
''Yes. think l can prevail on Anne
to tell her. Every one likes Anne
especially Mrs. White. She'll take
il from Anne"
Consequently Anne was sent for by
way of Willie. Willie went reluctant
w. He whimpered and whined. He
dug a fist into one eye-keeping tn,
other innocent blue orb fixed on Mrs
Drew-and pleaded a stomachache.