The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-08-31
WAR AND
PEACE

oo 900.
With yells like wild Indians the
three boys swept around the Morg IN
house in their game of tag, but just
at the border of the next lot they
halted abruptly in their mad career
drawing together instinctively In the
face of danger
1t certainly looked like danger The
woman who stood there with a has
tily caught up shawl about her shout.
ders had pinched blue nose and q
pinched blue face with an exasperated
mouth. She wagged her head at them
once or twice before she spoke.
Now, see here!" she said, eve
moved into this house next door to
yours and l want you tc understand
that I'm not going to have you racing
through my yard trampling things
down just because there isn't any
fence and the lawns run ce.hnr! Wv
know as we'll as do where your lot
ends, and you keep on it.! I'd like
to know what kind Of grass you think
Ia have II you tramped all over it with
your great shoes!"
But there amt NO grass!" Teddy
Morgan explained in wonder. Its
winter! An we always have run on
the lot when we played tag, but we
get right OIL"
We'll, you stay of now!" the won
an said. sharply. You've got a yard
Of your own to play in! Bothering the
neighbors like that"
I'VE didn't want to bc..er!" John.
ME Morgan said. holly.
Mean old thing!". Walter Morgan
shrieked, being the youngest.
"You ought to be thraEhed!" cried
the woman who had moved into the
next house.
Thus was inaugurated tie great war
The Morgan boys stopped punctilious
ly in their races when they reached the
lot line, each merely lifting one foot
across and gouging holes in the turf
with his heel. Also ON their way to
the street they formed the habit OF
cutting across about three feet of the
corner of their neighbor's yard. wear.
ing disreputable path. When they
folt 1t necessary to yell loudest they
congregated on the side nearest the
house to exercise their lungs. And
they caught her dog and painted 1t
when she made her furious call on
Mrs. Morgan.
The idea of their plaguing a per.
fectly inoffensive woman who never
did one thing against them!" she told
their mother. 1T shows depravity!
I'm sorry for you when those boys
grow up! They are perfect savages.
II you'll excuse my saying sol"
Don't mention It," sad Mrs Nor
gan. Then she had speech with the
boys,
But she's SO meant" they told her
in vindictive chorus. Hateful old
thing"
What did she ever do to your in
sisted their mother.
Teddy Morgan made circles with
his toe. Il dunno" he said She's
just meant"
Yes, she Isl" agreed Johnnie
We'll, l want you to behave" their
mother ordered.
Thereupon the war was renewed.
more insidiously, but just as force
fully
There would appear handfuls of
sharp little pebbles and glass In the
neighbours front walk and q window
was smashed one day In short at
| thu of kA kn
the exasperated mouth moved out and
she took pains to let every one know
why. She explained her troubles to
the woman moving in.
mo human being could stand those
young savages next door!" she said.
They will make life burden to you!
They'll trample your lawn and steal
your flowers and lombard the house!
pity you! They have no more breed.
ing than a tribe OF Apaches!"
my goodness" said the new ten.
ant. She did not seem alarmed.
She was shaking rug when she OBJ.
served the Morgan boys taking stock
OF her at a safe distance She smiled
at them.
I'D give rs cents to get these rugs
shaken" she said distinctly in their
direction.
After the rugs were attended to the
Morgan boys found themselves on the
new neighbours back steps eating
cookies.
It's going to be handy having you
boys near in case ! want help!" said
the new neighbor, sitting down with
them. Pm going to have q garden
out there. Do you like flowers? I'll
give you some seeds. Why don't you
run clear around both houses when
you play tag instead of just your?
l notice that you always stop at the
line!"
"Oh, we have plenty Of room." said
Teddy Morgan, hastily. An We
might forget and run into your gar