The Fort Sumner review., 1911-07-08
Their Baths

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| home and in charge of affairs Hilda
had not loomed up SO portentous.
Hilda had the best heart in the world,
but she had likewise most compre,
hensive deficiency of English words
and her conversation was restricted to
constant smile and the fluent use of
Yes" and No" This, in view of her
superlative cooking and her passion
for scruhbing. was easily overlooked.
Maltby had been quite content
| When sudden illness removed Mrs
Maltby to the hospital he faced brand
new troubles, which he solved by
throwing up his hands and letting
HilGa run things without any orders
from him. He managed TO keep an
eye on John, aged eight Edna, aged
six, and the baby, somewhere about
two and one-half. He knew the chill,
dren were quite safe with Hilda, who
was fond of them.
The Maltbys' close Deighbors were
much concerned over the desolated
household and both Mrs. Corcoran and
Mrs. Wilcox ran in frequently to see
that affairs We're progressing as they
should under Hilda's management
The first Saturday of Mrs. Maltby's
absence Mrs. Wilcox paused in her
busting with an inspiration.
MY goodness" she said. 81 be-
lieve I'd better attend to 1t! Hilda
viii be busy with her baking and she
has plenty to do. anyhow-it really
will be kindly act!"
Thereupon Mrs. Wilcox put up the
custer, tied on large apron and went
over TO the Maltbys' house
She encountered the children in the
side yard. Come" she said beguil.
ingly. "I'll give all of you nice, hot
BATH Think how pleased your father
will be"
There was concerted shrek from
all three. The baby threw down the
kitchen spoon, with which he was dig.
ging in the sand pile, and stared with
indignant eyes as he howled John
regarded her fiercely.
mol" he protested. I'VE don't want
no baths! We want to play! We had
baths"
Now, John" said Mrs. Wilcox with
severe firmness as she clasped his re,
bellious hand, "it is wicked to fb,
You come right along and the Others
will follow"
Mrs. Wilcox had always felt that
Mrs, Maltby had never used enough
firmness to have perfect discipline
over her children and she rejoiced in
this opportunity to show them real
1irmness. First, John, then Edna and
then the baby were put into the tub,
scrubbed within an inch of their lives
and, still yelling. garbed in fresh
clothes. Mrs. Wilcox, disheveled, pant
ing and flushed, regarded her =. d.
faced. angry charges with satisfaction.
You will feel so much better" she
told them. soothIngly. Now, keep
yourselves clean!"
About two O'Clock that afternoon
Mr. Corcoran, who lived on the other
side of the Maltbys from Mrs. Wilcox,
rang the bell.
"Hilda, she said, mechanically,
knowing quite well that individual
couldn't understand word, but go,
ing through the form, Il thought I'd
help you out and give the children
their baths"
Yes beamed Hilda and departed
for her kitchen.
The three Maltby children drew to-
gether in compact bunch and glared
at the visitor defantly Mrs. Corcoran
realized that the youthful human be-
ings, as well as pet dogs and puppies,
always act that way when bath is
at hand They hated water and it
couldn't be helped. She put on an in
gratiating smile.
I'm going to make you all nice and
clean" she purred, shooing them up
stairs. From the mingled walls and
shrieks that assailed her ears she de.
tached the remark that they had been
bathed
Mrs. Corcoran always did things
thoroughly and the Maltby children
had the baths Of their lives.