Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-15
MSS LlNALQE
~dme SoopbonB Babe,
by r1ARlE THOMPSON DMlESS
so b IL mG ssGsss, S 81 KfEa 1d;1asry
Il(adtTofieor>s b. f1oE>Ns u. K$sIINsv.

all men folks, a.trying to make light
Of the sufferings of women which they
can't none Of you know nothing about.
Men always look at women troubles
outen the little end of the horn. There
was Dobbs standing there accusing
me cause my stomick turns at the
sight OF blood, and him the one to un-
sew his own children II 50 comes they
need it." Mrs. Dobbs was still white
about the mouth. and the tears were
still undried on her red, round, shiny
cheeks. She stopped the water over
Miss Selma Lue's shoulder and soused
one of Ethel Maud's little pigtail plaits
as she handed over the bowl with u
sniffle.
There, there. Mis- Dobbs, you know
they amt mite OF harm in Mr..
Dobbs; and as fer cussin', looks like
that sinful habit is all the let-off man
have got. while q woman can break
up dishes, slam the stove lids, spank
the children, and make herself cup
of tea to ease her nerves. and no
body even knows she's upset"
That's all very we'll for woman
that's as free as you Is, Miss Seliny
Lue; but married woman has feel
ings you can't never understand, and
one of 'em 10 cussing husband"
That's so. and l reckon can't
hardly sense your feelings in that
case, but If had a-married. and he had
a-felt a cause fer cussing-There now,
"a Nu{th hn
ing of the hot water! Open my bag
there and git me that old linen hand
kerchief tored into strips. Don't take
of this rag tonight. and III fix 1t again
in the morning." Miss Selma Lue laid
the relaxed little figure on the bed
without causing . tremor of the white
eyelids.
Law. Miss Seliny Lue, 1t do seem
q shame you amt got ten Of your own.
you are that kinder lowering like with
them. l shore am sorry for you."
said the grateful mother as she jabbed
in the dart OF her sympathy with .
smile.
well. l don't know but it's best as
1t is" answered Miss Selma Lue with
spirit, "fer you all are so good about
letting me help with yours. People
kinder grow along towards what they
think about: and as think baby tend
ing good part of the day, come night
l feel like was the mother of twen-
ty. Mind not to take Off that rag until
l see 1t again."
In a few minutes Miss Selma Lue
departed and attempted to hasten
down the street, but was interrupted
at every turn, it seemed. On the cor
ner she met Mr.. Dobbs. whose steps
were faltering towards home.
Miss Seliny Lue." he said sheep
ishly. with his face turned away from
her. 1T 1t had a-been Ben. now, could
-er-done it: but the little 'un-I-I
"Mr. Dobbs. l respect you fer your
feelings fer l seen the thought ter
help were in your mind. but Ethel
Maud is q slimsy little thing as would
be hard for a man to handle. She is
asleep. and l expect Mis- Dobbs have
got your dinner ready by now"
Il thank you, Miss Selling Lue.
ma'am. and do say as how you be the
master hand with the young 'uns. l
was Jest a-telling Miss Cynthie. who Is
awaiting to see you, that 1t do seem
q pity"
Miss Selma Lue's progress down the
street was resumed before Mr.. Dobbs
had exactly formulated the regrets he
wished to express. but whose nature
Miss Selma Lue inferred from expe-
rience.
But her hurried return to her own
affairs was not to be permitted by the
anxious neighbors along the path Of
duty which she had trod so excitedly
with Bonnie Dobbs an hour before.
Mrs. Kinney had been sitting on the
hot stove Of curiosity, and her face
was determined and her voice was
compelling as she hailed from her
stoop.
"Wait a minute. Miss Seliny Lue.
can't you? Whatever was the matter
with the Dobbses?" she said. draping
herself over the picket-fence az II she
had come to hear the news II It took
all morning and all the backbone she
possessed to extract 1t.
ut was a bad accident, but it might
or been worse II she had a-run 1t in
her eye. though that woulder been
hard for her to do unless 1t had been
something like knittinEneedle. A
thumb amt so much use except in
peeling potatoes and SIGH, as sortsr
balance wheel for the rest of the
hand" answered Miss Selma Lue. com.
mencing In the dramatic part Of the
tale without any unnecessary pream.
BILE
Now, amt that like Mary Ellen
Dobbs7 never seen SIGH person fer
keerlessness. It's a wonder she amt
did 1t before! 1t will be powerful awk.
ward to be without a thumb when it
comes to going to meeting In gekteel
way with gloves
1T was Ethel Maud, Mis- Kinney
"Ethel Maud? Who ever heard Of
a child injuring her mother? Miss
Seliny Lue. she must have the rabies.
Maybe she was bit by q mad dog when
her mother didn't know it. reckon
I better call my children on this side
of the street till see what happens"
Mis- Kinney, ma'am. please wait till
tell you the straight of 1t. Ethel
Maud sewed her thumb in the sewing
machine, and she amt hurted bad at
all. In q day or two"
We'll, Miss Seliny Lue, I take 1t
hard indeed that you let me get so up
sot over the troubles of one Of my |