The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-12-02
THEORY AND
PRACTICE

1t was land bounded by the universe,
being absolutely inclusive.
Toward not one of the innumerable
( bewildering and elluring objects hs
was daily discovering could he stretch
out his fat, pudgy hands without tbs
voice of fate-otherwise mother or
nurse girl or father-singing out that
pestlferous refrain, Don't touch it.
! The worst of IT was that whoever
sung 1t out always meant II. II the
temptation was stronger than his CON
mon sense he grabbed the object TneL
his hands were slapped as a reward
for his spirit OF investigation At frs
he had resented the slappings becausr
he had not learned to correlate caus,
and effect. but now he was three year
and a month old and he had grow
philosophical. Some things weT'
worth being slapped for and other
were not So he continued to invest!
gate with a charming Indifference 1,
the painful results.
Il cannot understand It," Benny
mother declared, tragically and Otter
He is a child OF even more than az
erage intelligence don't care If
is mine, he is awfully smart-and b
can say little sentences and he unGei
stands every remark made to him. fe
after have shrieked Don't touch!
him till am weak from lack of breat
he calmly goes ahead and handle,
everything and breaks it. think
must be natural depravity. Maybe he
turn out criminal"
Natural fiddlesticks!" snapped Ben
ny's youngest aunt, who knew nor,
about golf than she did about babe
and therefore felt qualified to pose
an authority. It's all your own fau'
and that poor abused little angel l.
simply oppressed and browbeaten. VIII
do you leave things around? Why con'
you fix the house so 1t is real hon
for your son instead of a regular Ia
talus chamber of forbidden sweets"
Il refuse to upset my whole life an
the lives of all my family for the whin
Of three-year-old baby" said Benny
mother, grandly. That would be &C
ing on the wrong principle"
POOH" said Benny's aunt.
When chance gave into her hand
for one whole day the house and he
nephew she rose to the occasion with
CLEAN Of heroism in her eyes.
Cheer up, Benjamin" she sale
soothingly to that parsonage, who wa:
watching her gravely as she moved
about the rooms putting the painted
jardiniere on top of the piano, making
a wall Of fragile vases, books and ink
stands on the high mantel and other
wise putting Satan behind the small
sinner. Cheer up! This is red-let
ter day! Not once shall you hear the
slogan, Don't touch!' Your intelligent
aunt has removed all the untoucha
bles. Frolic and enjoy yourself and re
joice that you have one relative with :
spark of justice in her makeup. &C
ahead and see how you like 1t! kiss
me, angel. for being good to you'll"
But BENJAMIN drew the line at thai
For long while he sat and eyed the
admirable things far beyond his reach
and then he started on his usual prowl
Aglow with satisfaction, his aunt bur
led herself in a book.
The unusual silence aroused hel
finally. Search revealed BENJAMIN. seat
ed happily In the middle OF the bed
Foo1 rug swaIlswing the last drop frol
= bottle Of hair tonic. His frantic aunl
Wildly sEULg him By his heels unit
she remembered that was the remedy
!oE choking Instead Of poisoning. Their
sas few TO the telephone TO consult the
Cocto-. Rushing from that instrument
ID SEE II Benjamin was already curleC
p II conyulsions, she found him In
The kitchen with all the burners Of the
Gas stove turned on and himself fai,
EIsmpIe Of incipient asphyxiation. II
ears Of fright she grabbed him and
carried him out on the porch.
Please walk. Benny. dear!" sh,
legged Its for your own good"
But Benny saw no object in walking
% he sat down fat She carried hin
lack and forth 10 provide him with a.
much fresh air as possible. In tn.
. midst OF It be pulled sharp pin from
Ter hair and stabbed himself within :
fraction OF an inch Of his eye.
Don't you dare move and don't 20.
care touch thing till come back,
i, ne warned him, Historically, as shr
eli him and went to hunt the cour
plaster.
. When she returned Benny had pulle,
! e whole row Of books of their shelf
, + ON some Of them and cut a hole in
ice curtain with her embroidery scis
Il oFs. With It all he still maintaine,
unTuhed. cheerful demeanor an,
-emed in his usual state Of health
4 .e was still looking for more things 4
: vesrigate and she had no doubt tina
= would find them. She gave It I'D a
Jpeless and sat down to guard he
, .soneT.
Benny's mother coming in oujetl
ard a pathetic Don't touchi" II wa
:, ,llowed by peremptory Don