The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-21

conversation; and I noticed that Aunt Matilda
didn't ask Uncle Scion anything about lunch and
in some ways my aunt is a very tactful woman.
Instead she turned the children's attention away
from their father by saying:
You make me ashamed of you. Rob. Look at
your little sister Nelly She makes no complaint
She eats her food and says nothing. and she's the
youngest OF you all. She's glad to help her father
along"
YES, look at Nelly" said Rob. ''she looks sick.
We all looked at Nelly. She very queer
color.
tilda Don't you Nelly. dear?"
At this Nelly rushed from the room Aunt Ma
tilda followed her anxiousy In momen.
heard her calling for me. l went in. and so did
Pauline Nelly very sick little girl indeed.
Matilda looked down on her youngest cniid'
TITS one of her gastric attacks. But how. on
the healthy diet we've been having, she could get
a gastric attack, / don't know. Have you oeen
eating anything between meals, Nelly, dear!
Nelly is usually a placid child, as have tod
you and a good one but this question OF her moth
er's stung her spirit into rebellion. Between
gasps and groans she cried:
between meals. Between meals! When have
we had any meals? / couldn't e2t anything De-
tween meals. There amt any meals 10 eat any
thing between!
anything the matter with any of the children.
II think I'll telephone for the doctor. mother
cit isn't in the least necessary father, repned
Aunt Matilda Its just of Mellys gastric
attacks, which can perfectly handle myself
took down the receiver and pretty soon the doctor
there. I notice that when he does come, Aunt
Matilda is as glad to see him as anybody
What food" he wanted to know. has this child
been eating?"
That's the queer part of It. Doctor said Aunt
Matilda. 81 don't understand it at all She's been
eating nothing but the most healthful food"
Mot been having any cures around iately? the
doctor asked with suspicious look. NO mo break
fast fad. cereal craze? notice Mr. Shoemaker
looks pretty we'll. and 1 thought you might have
j pasn k ssa,s hm from eating ting so mach
Here Rob laughed bitter laugh
fOr
life pa hits the grub when he's downtown"
Robert" cried Aunt Matilda. seandalized
Raw eggs an cheese is what we've been eating.
doctor, and apples!" said Rob.
mo wonder!' the doctor exclaimed. that that
growing child! It's all very well for you, Mrs.
Shoemaker, and your husband, to eat. because You
everything whole I've always told you that diet
ing what your husband needed He probably
gets one good meal downtown-
At this point Uncle Scion walked with dignity
down the corridor. Nor was Aunt Matilda anxious
to press the point
.And you really think doctor she quavered.
that this is what ails Melly?"
What would you WANT" the doctor in
quired. Its enough to give any child indiges-
Uncle Scion. his dignity unimpaired. walked
back
1--WE decided. Matilda" he said. Ito give
the cure. However good 1t is for me. won't have
the childrens stomachs impaired I'd rather suffer
than have them suffer-"
AS Aunt Matilda would have spoken he held up
NO" he said I'VE won't argue the point. I
don't often interfere in the running of the family.
back to our ordinary diet tomorrow"
I suppose 1t was on account Of Melly's being
kept waking and falling asleep again Nelly was
restless 1t must have been at two In the night
that was awakened by her crying l sprang to
What is it. Nelly" asked. Are you sick
'Tisn't that" she sobbed -'tisn't that
it's that I'm SO bad-but can't tell them oh.
can't tell them!''
"Iii tell you Daisy. but don't you tell them: but
I've got to tell some one."
what do you mean MeIiy7" asked again.
"oh. I've done something dreadful" she walled.
lifting up her pale little face to me. I'm hypo-
critic Oh, you don't know how bad I ann"
What have you done?" asked her, as gently
as I could.
Go look in my lower bureau drawer, under my
clothes, in the right-hand corner, and then you'll
did as she told There. wrapped in precise,
neat little packages part of a mince pie. in
another package some doughnuts, and in paper
bag some bananas.
made sick because he's angry with me. 1 got
SC hungry couldn't stand it. Oh. Daisy. it's
wasn't anything to eat, And / broke open by bank
full of my Easter Offering and now I'm sick!
Oh, I'm awful sick. Perhaps III die.
Nonsense. Nelly" said You're not going ia
die"
She laid herself down on the bed again.
Il feel better for having told" she sighed
I put my arms around her and kissed her.
cit wouldn't have been bad" she sobbed, III
I hadn't done it with my Easter Offering"
1 soothed her, and kissed her. and when I
thought had got her all right she burst out cry
ing again.
Don't feel so bad about it." said. when you
get well, You can tell your mother and I'm SURE
she'll forgive you"
'Tisn't that I'm crying for, Daisy" she sobbed-
Its because-oh. I'm going to be so hungry when
I'm well-and the Easter offerings all gone,'
THAT doesn't make any difference" 1 said.
Uncle Solon's given up the cure"
At this look of perfect peace spread itself over
Me1ly's face. You're certain they're going have
cooked things again." she asked.
Yes" I assured her
With the look of a cherub folded her little
hands. closed her eyes. and went to sleep.
sat there a long time to make that every
thing was all quiet. Then / sat down and ate what
was left Of the pie, and all the doughnuts and
bananas. and took quarter out of my purse and
put 1t in Melly's bank.