The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-11-11
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth.
Elisabeth's mother, for whom the
sound. familiar though It was has
never been robbed of It's terrors, ran
out OF her bedroom and half way
down the stairs to meet her waiting
offspring She sank down upon one
Of the steps and instantly a pair OF
frantic arms were locked about her
knees and Dutch cropped head and
a huge pink hair ribbon were buried
in her lap.
Elizabeth's mother gathered into
her protecting arms the head. the
pink bows and as much as possible
Of the plump. pathetically heaving
body
whats the matter with mothers
baby" she asked tenderly.
Wow, WOW. wow." answered
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's mother clasped her III.
tie daughter closer to her. Are you
hurt. darling?" she Queried. anxious,
ly. '
Wow, WOW, wow!" The pink bows
vibrated violently, but indefinitely.
elizabeth. dear" said her mother,
trying to uncover the hidden face.
you must stop crying and tell me
what's the matter, Are you hurt?'
The head merely burrowed deeper
into the friendly lap. "It's--it's my
TOOTH" gasped Elizabeth. finally.
Your tooth, sweetheart" ex-
claimed her mother. Does 1t ache?"
NO, don't guess So" The answer
came In a tone that was something
between a below and sniffie.
Then what's the matter?' Eliza
beth's mother was growing slightly
peeyish under the strain. Elizabeth,
you've got to stop bowling and tell
me-" She raised the tear-staaned face
and held 1t firmly between her two
hands.
Now, tell me-" she said. authori-
tatively. III your tooth doesn't ache.
what are you shrieking about2"
There was fresh outburst Of tears,
but with the food came tha words:
"Its--oh, it's coming Quit"
Elizabeth's mother gave little sigh
of relief. She kissed the top Of the
anguished head. That's nothing to
cry about, precious" she said. COM
fortingiy. you'll soon have nice
new one in its place"
''Oh, / don't mind the TOOTH" wall
ed Elizabeth, but Tom said-oh,
dear! Oh, dear me! We was all out
playin'--"
I'VE were out playing" corrected
Ellzabeth's mother, gently.
"Yessum. We was all out playin'
and Tom he come along"
Tom came along, baby" EliEabeth's
mother said. patiently.
"Yessum. And Tom he come along
and he said" The remainder of the
story was lost In another whoop Of
woe.
Ellzabeth's mother rose and led her
small daughter to the bathroom and
bathed her face thoroughly.
After that she took the very woe
begone infant into the mothers own
room and sat down In the big rocking
chair with Elizabeth in her lap and
rocked her until the sobs had ceased.
When the much-to-be desired result
had been gained 81 went to her
dresser and took on ,Sf u Gag Of
soft molasses candy. aheyes
glistened. HULD
Now" said Eliza thiswe
are going to have s,Lsdy,s outssul
treat, Just US two aid oven
Fairly radiating 20, &..4s;t essAnsr-
led her more or less uncertain little
tooth in the piece of candy. Then
she removed the candy hastily, gave
II one look and Immediately set up
shrek that mac the plaster nearly
start from the v alls.
Wow. WOW, wow" She took up
the cry where she had dropped 1t
short time before. Wow, WOW, wowi
My tooth's gcie. and Tom said"
The shrek eased as suddenly as It
had begun. Two large tear drops we're
arrested mid way down her fat cheeks
and a smile, beginning in very small
way. grew and grew until 1t threat
ened to bisect her face. She ran to
the mirror and regarded intently the
gap left by the departed tooth.
why, mother-Tc1n thaid, he thaid
that when my tooth came out--he
thaid that he knew a girl who looked
just like me. with little poppy eyes
and pink hair ribbonth, and when her
tooth came-that when my tooth
came out--that when her tooth wath
gone that wouldn't know how to do
anything but Just whithle! He thaid
that when that girls tooth that look
ed like me wath gone she couldn't
ever talk again. And, mother, It
walnut tho! II kind O. hitheth when
I do It. but I can talk can talk
jutht ath much ath everl"
Elizabeth's mother fed hastily into
the next room and buried her head
in thick bath robe which was hang
ing in the corner Of the closet.
THE eternal feminine!" she chok-
ed How her father would enjoy It
II | should tell him! But don't be.
lieve I'll tell him. think this is q
case In which only mother can thor
oughly sympathize." tef