Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-07-28
francesca S
Busy Morning
Observation-Disclosures.

Francesca is an American child,
with the face of blonde Dutch cher
ub, the vivacity of French infant
and an Italian front name. All this
three-andone-half years old. On one
particular morning Francesca found
life especially trying.
She had started out after breakfast
with properly smiling morning coun-
tenance and perfectly clean pink
frock. When she ran gleefully into
| the room where her mother was, that
young matron regarded her offspring
with an distracted eye. Her thoughts
were on her trunk, which she was in
the act of packing.
Run right out of here!" commanded
| Francesca's mother. 'tAnd stay out
till l finish! You'll mix everything
all up!"
| Francesca slid out Of the room and
then beamed. Across the hall inter-
esting things semed to be in progress
In her aunt's room.
francesca" was her greeting. Get
up-you're right in the middle of that
stuff and missing it dreadfully!"
"Watchudoin'?" Francesca de-
manded.
Covering a box couch--can't you
see?" inquired her exasperated aunt
Get up and run away-don't come in
here till finish. It's all tacks and
scissors and hammers and things!"
Il want the hammer! Give me the
hammer" cried Francesca delight
edly.
She felt herself propelled upward
and outward. Then she landed in the
cottage living loom before she could
gasp for breath Being there she de-
cided not to howl after all. especially
as something on the writing table at
tracted here Eyes.
francesca" called her mother "You
are so still-what are you doing?"
Muffin" said Francesca.
Her aunt pered out over F'rancesca's
shoulder. Dear mel" she said eff
she isn't sitting in the morris chair
with her hands folded like an injured
| ANGEL"
injured angel nothing:' said her
mother a few seconds later. She knew
Francesca's silences were full of sig
nif1cance and had come to investigate
She has your red leather bridge set
and has bent up all the cards! Fran
cesca!"
Put her outdoors 10 play" suggest
ed her aunt. Its Il lovely day. She
can't do more than uproot few trees
or knock out the foundations of the
housed"
Il don't know said her mother.
Those rainy days she made life a
horror by her teasing to go out and
play, but she's so contrary. Frances
ca, darling. don't you want to take
your ball and little red wagon and
go out into the yard awhile in the
nice sunshine?"
NO." said Francesca, determinedly
"Auntyll give you the kitchen spoon
to dig WITH" came from the couch
coverer.
No." said Francesca
what that child needs is diplo-
macy" said her aunt I'VE won't let
| Francesca go out OF doors, will we,
mother? She has to stay in the house
all this nice day"
81 wanna go outdoors!" walled Fran
cesca.
There!" said her aunt five min
utes later when they had bundled her
out with her toys. IF you'd handle
her the right way you could do any.
thing with her..
A few minutes later francesca
mother, who had glanced out of the
window, flew into the yard and bore
her child indoors.
Its terribly easy to manage her!'
she remarked sarcastically. This
child's pulled up three geraniums
broken most of the ferns and dug
holes down the path with her spoon
and all in ten minutes!'
Il only hope she applies the same
energy to getting on in the world
when she grows up!" walled Frances
cas- aunt. francesca, sit in that chair
and don't you dare bulge. I'm going
to keep an eye on YOU"
Where is it?" inquired Francesca
presently. She was searching up and
down her pinafore