The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-15

Peril

and pain penetrated 10 Tue upper 1e-
gions and heralded the coming OF
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's mother, for whom The
sound, familiar though it was. has
never been robbed of its 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 we're locked about her
knees and a 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 heaV1ng
body.
whats the matter with mothers
baby?" she asked tenderly.
Wow. WOW. wow!" answered
Elizabeth.
E%lizabeth's mother clasped her lit
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,
f"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 it ache?"
mo. 1 don't guess So" The answer
came in a tone that was something
between a below and a snifle.
Then what's the matter?" Eliza
!beth's mother vas growing slightly
Ipeevish under the strain. Elizabeth,
you've got to stop bowling and tell
me-" She raised the tear-stained face
and held it firmly between her two
hands.
Now, tell me-" she said, authori-
ltatively. If your tooth doesn't ache.
what are you shrieking about?"
There IA a fresh ontburst of tears.
but with the food came the words:
''It's-oh, it's coming Quit"
Elizabeth's mother gave a li:tle sigh.
Iof relief. She kissed the top of the,
janguished head. That's nothing to-
cry about. precious" she said. COM
;fortingly.' You'll soon have a nice
new one in its place."
"Oh, l don't mind the TOOTH" vail
ed Elizabeth, but Tom said-oh.I
dear! Oh, dear me! We was all out
playin'-"
I'VE out playing" corrected
Elizabeth's mother, gently.
'Yessum. We was all out playinl
and Tom he come along"
TON came along, baby" Elizabeth'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.
Elizabeth's mother rose and led herr
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 she went to her
dresser and took out a paper bag Of
soft molasses candy. Elizabeth's eyes,
glistened.
"Now," said Elizabeth's mother. we
are going to have a perfectly beautiful
treat, just US two" /:
Fairly radiating Joy, Elizabeth burr
led her more or less uncertain little
tooth in the piece Of candy. Them
she removed the candy hastily. gave
It n look and Immediately set up q
shrek that made the plaster nearly
start from the walls. .
.sWow. vow, wow!" She took up
the CRY where she had dropped 1t a
short time before. Wow. WOW. wow!l
Nv tooth's gone. and Tom said"
The shrek ceased as suddenly as IT
had begun. Two large tear drops were
arrested midway down her fat cheeks
and a smile, beginning in a very small
way. grew and grew until 1t threat
ened to bisect her face. She ran td
the mirror and regarded intently the
gap left by the departed tooth. !
"Why. mother-Tom thaid. he thaidj
that when my tooth came out-hd
:+h.,d that he knew a girl who looked
Just like me. with little poppy eyed
and pink hair ribbonth. and when her
tooth came-that when my tooth
came out-that when her tooth wathl
gone-that l wouldn't know how to do
Anything but just whithle! He thaid
that when that girls tooth that look1
led like me wath gone she couldn'd
ever talk again. And. mother. ID
walnut tho! It kind O hitheth when,
II do It. but / can talk! can talh
|tutht ath much ath ever!"
Elixaheth's mother Aed hastily into