Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-11-10
Francesca
Busy Morning

Win tuo AdC0 " y bAOhu0 OuSoh SAOA'
ub, the vivacity Of 4 French infant
and an Italian front name. All this
is hard to live up to when one Is but
three-and-one-hal years old. On one
particular morning Francesca found
life especially trying.
She had started out after breakfast
with o properly smiling morning coun'
tenance and q perfectly clean pink
Irock. 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 che was In
the act Of packing.
Run right out Of here!" commanded
Francesca's mother. "And stay out
till ] finish! You'll mix everything
all up!"
Francesca slid out OF the room and
then beamed. Across the hall inter
Asting things seemed to be IN progress
In her aunt's room.
francesca" was her greeting. Get
up-you're right in the middle Of that
stun and mussing 1t dreadfully!"
"Watchudoin'?" Francesca de-
manded.
Covering a box couch--can't you
sect" inquired her exasperated aunt
Get up and run away-dont 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't
shoulder. Dear mel" she said. III
she isn't sitting in the norris chair
with her hands folded like an injured
angel"
Injured angel nothing said her
mother a few seconds later. She knew
Fran eesca's silences were full of sig
niflcance and had come to investigate
She has your red leather bridge sci
and has bent up all the cards! Fran
cesca!"
Put her outdoors 10 play" suggest
ed her aunt. Its lovely day. She
can't do more than uproot few trees
or knock out the foundations Of the
house,"
IT don't know" said her mother
Those rainy days she made life
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
60 out into the yard awhile in the
nice sunshine?"
NO." said Francesca, determinedly
"Auntyll give you the kitchen spOor
to dig with" came from the couch
coverer.
NO." said Francesca.
"Wnat that child needs Is diplo
macy" said her aunt. 1--WE won't LEI
Francesca go out Of doors. will we
mother? She has to stay IN the house
all this nice day"
II vienna go outdoors!" walled Fran
cesca.
''There!" said her aunt Ave min
utes later when they had bundled hel
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 thu
window, few into the yard and bor'
her child indoors.
Its terribly easy to manage herr
she remarked sarcastically. "Thi
child's pulled up three geraniums
broken most Of the ferns and ~.
holes down the path with her spool
and all in ten minutes!"
II only hope she applies the SAM
energy to getting on in the worlI
when she grows up!" walled Frances
cas- aunt. francesca. sit IN that chat
and dor't you dare bulge! I'm goinl
to keep an eye on you"
where Is TT" inquired Francesca
presently. She was searching up AM
down her pinatore.
'What?"
"Your eye," said Francesca. "Cal
Il have sumpin' to eat?"
"Yes!" said her aunt. Run out int
the pantry and Lift the cover from tn
big tin breadbox on the floor and tax
a slice Of bread. There's butter Of
the top slice, which was left from tn
other time you were hungry this morn
ing"
Francesca battered away. Present
" they both went to look for her. o.
the floor sat Francesca, both hand
full Of chocolateiced cake, stumng
away as one famished. Much Of tn
chocolate smeared her countenGnc
and her dress.
"Oh." cried her mother. II forge
that put the cake in the breadbO1
And / thought she could wear tbs
dress on the train and all her other