Middletown transcript., 1911-02-25

he sat down to read his evening
paper; more tired than usual, for
it had been q hard day ut the
ofice, and had to be on the jump.
as well as under severe nervous
strain, for q mistake in the
cheques he was making out
meant that it must be made up
from his own salary. SO when
he had donned house jacket aud
slippers, and with paper in hand,
drew his chair to the fire. it was
with q feeling Of relief that the
day was OYER, and he could now
rest
Will you play a game with me-
Uncle John? asked Harold his
wife's seven year old nephew.
No, Harold; l want to read my
paper now, replied Mr.. Hubbard,
without looking up from its
pages. Had he looked he might
have seen that the little fellow
also looked tired, as in fact he
was, for having q cold, he had
been kept in the house all day,
and had exhausted his stock of
self-amusements.
Harold was only temporarily
with his aunt and uncle, his
father and mother being away
from the city on trip where it
was not considered advisable to
take Harold.
The Hubbards having no
children, had only the memory
Of q little girl who for brief years
had frightened and softened
their lives and then had left
them. Naturally, or at least
easily, the Hubbards had dropped
into a way of life and habit that
had no place for childish inter
ruptions or childish needs. They
had both grown to be self sufi-
cient so far as children were
concerned. As the years had
passed, If occasionally a little
child had smiled into their faces,
no sooner was q demand made on
their time or patience, then the
smile was discouraged. Neither
of them meant to be selfish, nor
were they, except where they
had to give of themselves along
with their gifts.
Harold's parents, having grown
up with him, 80 TO speak, we're
accustomed to enter into his
little world, and in factif the full
truth be told, almost allowed it to
monopelize them, hence Harold
was not as self.relisut as be
might have been, If left t6 amuse
himself alone more often.
Leaving his Uncle John To the
enjoyment Of his paper, Harold
sought his Aunt Louise, who was
Just then coming down stairs to
make sure the dinner would be
on time, for promptness Of meals
was one Of the regulations Of the
Hubbard home, with which
nothing was allowed to interfere. |
Aunt Louise, won't you play
game with met Uncle says he
wants to read his paper. -
No, not now, Harold; must
zee il Ellen has dinner ready. 50
do something else for a while,
and Mrs. Hubbard passed on .
into the kitchen, giving no fur
ther thought to Harold. But no
sooner had she returned to the !
dining. room than she met another !
plea.
Can't ! pop corn, Aunt Louise, :
before dinner; just a little? ]
know where the pepper is and )
the corn, too, pleaded Harold.
Mrs. Hubbard had met so
many of his requests with an
refusal during the day .
that she hesitated moment, and i
ln that momept Harold pushed .
his claim, Please let me, Auutie,
for / won't muss and l can do it
just as well-you just see if ]
can't. ]
Well, If Ellen win let you, re.
piled his aunt, not feeling equal i
10 another out-and ont refusal, q
md wishing to side step the out b
right decision. When Harold ,
entered the kitchen Ellen was at
that critical moment in the prep :
Gration of the dinner, when {,
everything seemed to need at
Eentiou at once, and consequently c.
had neither the time nor patience "
10 have Harold around with his 4
popcorn, consequently she dis u
osed of him in short order, |,
Sing: 2
Shore, and isn't it enough to :.
Afther cookin' and wsshin' for !,
and pickin' mp after yes all cl
long; and now ye'd be inter. q
hin me dinner right at the q
tn pint-no indade, ye can't
,>avn nora y1nv