Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-02-25
The Tribulations
Of Don
.By nINNA THOMAS ANTRIM

= Copyright by j. b. Llppihcotl WI
Fleet-footed Joy had been Don's
constant companion up to his fifth
year, when knowledge came, and, as
usual, added Sorrow. Chidings, hush
ings and the uplifted-fnger he knew
not. His laughter was echoed; his
questionings were answered. When
his Well-Beloved realized her respon-
siye limitations, always there was
Keith, Don's ever-ready hearer, to ac-
quaint him with data concerning those
things that began increasingly to In
terest and perplex him. To set forth
in its rich entirety Don's joyous life
would be impossible; this chronicle
deals merely with sundry episodes in
the love-sheltered existence of
courtier of five.
In each eye Don thrust chubby
knuckle. He slipped slowly down the
stairs, tiptoing lest his enemy, that
white-aproned, thin-lipped "kwoss-
patch lady," who guarded his NAM
mas door, should not know he had
been standing without, meditating an
other prayer for admittance. His pride
rose up in arms. He would neber ask
to 20 in, neber! He was not wanted.
With a gesture of despair he looked
upward toward his mothers door;
then, as if pursued by legion OF imps,
ran across the wide hall, out on the
front piazza, then down the steps and
away toward the woods. He was 60
ing away, that's what he was going
to do-he was going to go far Off
where nobody wouldn't never see him
no more A big sob of self-pity half
choked him, but manfully he swal-
lowed it and ran on. His itinerary he
planned as he went. He would never
stop until he reached those distant
hills, way far kwoss de ribber; 'cept
his feet wasn't so little, and be was
only ''fve," he could run faster, he
told himself breathlessly; but never
mind! it was only "dis mOrnin'," the
day was. long, and suddenly, as if
galvanized, Don stopped. A curious
shudder ran through him. Night
dark night! What would he do way
off among the hills-alone, 'thout no
one there? A CHASTITY pallor spread
over his chubby face. With whim-
per of terror he threw himself face
down, among the falling leaves. He
was afraid, for away over there. where
he had been going, the Bogie man
lived. Ellen, his nurse, had told him
so; ''only the Bogie Man lives there, !"
Ellen had assured Don, one day when
he begged to go there, and he "eats up
bad little boys" To be eaten up!
With gasp of horror the child rose,
and with winged feet ran back again
to. the house of safety.
For hours Don would sit beside the
bassinet watching the tiny morsel of
his alteration.
To sit or stand and wait was suf-
ficient bliss for him, for upon the Sec
ond day of baby's advent, Don had not
only been admitted, but carried in
upon Keith's shoulder. Since Keith,
his chum, erstwhile neighbOr, and
hero, had married his beautiful nam
, ma, Don's life had been one CONTINUE
GUS festival of good times. Hence the
shock of not being admitted to his
mothers presence when strange isis
ter" was, worked like madness upon
his brain. AS usual, it was Keith who
turned his woe into gladness, and it
was his beloved step-father-chum who
gathered the forlorn little chap into
his loving arms that night, and hushed
him to sleep with the promise of an
entree to his mothers domains the
following day.
The event transpired. When Don's
eyes first rested upon the tiny crea
ture beside his mother, his first awed
query was:
''Is at my baby sister,
His fat forefnger pointed to a bun
die. Being assured, he looked long
and earnestly at his new relative
then, without word, disposed his
small self, cross legged, upon the floor
beside the crib, his fascinating gaze
never wavering.
Suddenly the baby made a wholly
unexpected yet vigorous cry. There
upon up sprang Don, his small face
a picture of terror. Being told that
the little one could not hurt him, he
resumed his humble seat, and day
after day came back to offer up mute
alteration.
at don't hurt, mamma, 'cept when
you touch it," said Don, winking very
hard. His mother lifted him up onto
her lap. His infinitesimal kilt was
1 mud-stained and torn, his left eye
blackened, and bloody scratch meas
j ured the full length of one of his
1 cheeks. Ellen had just fetched him
from the kindergarten, where she had
arrived in time to see her charge and
his enemy conducting a battle royal.
i In answer to maternal inquiries
Don explained. This, however, after
his mother had silently bathed his
bruises and plastered his wounds.
i "He said that his-baby-si sister was
I as nice as-our's an"
"You struck him." said his mother
4 reproachfully.
"No, not then, 1 didn't; not It'll he
said at baby wasn't my really truly
/ sister, an at Keith wasn't my really
truly farver," sobbed Don, his sore
heart swelling within him all ovel
again recalling the unbearable taunts
of his foe.
"Then," repeated his mother, dor