The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-10-18

yard next door, who was moving
along slowly from store to stone
painting the foundation OF the mousse
of their rich neighbor a subdued sort
of red color.
Mrs. Sparks was dreamily wonder
ing why the foundation which had
been pretty in its natural hue, need
ed painting at all, when Tommy
Sparks toddled in through the door
way leading from the kitchen. Tommy
had come up from the yard the back
way. Tommy had some streaks OF
red running diagonally down from
each corner of his mouth, and his
linen dress was spotted in places with
the same color.
Tommy Sparks" demanded his
mother, what on earth have you been
eating"
Tommy climbed into a chair, swung
his legs in his infantile way and said:
Mamma, painters pies good"
Mrs. Sparks gave one hurried, hor-
rified glance through the window at
the red paint which was being daubed
on the neighbours house, and then
turned her anguished countenance
toward Tommy.
Tommy" her voice was pleading
vail, did you eat the painters stuff
out of the pail?"
Yes, out of the pail; painters pies
good" answered Tommy.
Mrs Sparks shrieked. The maid
rushed in from the kitchen. Get the
doctor, the druggist and Mr.. Sparks, !"
| screamed Mrs. Sparks. 'Tommy's eat
| en- paint and sugar of lead and every
thing. Go, girl, CO." Susan rushed
| through the door, sent the corner
druggist flying up to the house, or
dered the clerk to telephone Mr..
| Sparks and then sat out on a chase for
| the doctor
In the meantime Mrs. Sparks was
moaning over Tommy, who was TAX
ing the unusual commotion which he
| had created as blandly as would most
| four-year-olders. He insisted on occa-
sionally reiterating that painters pie
was good" and at each reiteration the
mothers heart sank.
The druggist rushed in. Tommy
has eaten paint. Heaven alone knows
how much. 1t must have had sugar
of lead in it, and that's sweet and
that's why he ate it."
The druggist grabbed up Tommy,
half threw him onto a lounge, and
then turned to the mother. Control
yourself, Mrs. Sparks; life depends on
instant action. Get me salt, potash
and softsoap" Luckily Mrs. Sparks
had all three articles in the house,
and she rushed off to the kitchen and
brought them back. Tommy as yet
showed no sign of collapse. The drug,
gist put two tablespoonful of salt In
half a glass of lukewarm water and
forced Tommy to swallow 1t sputter
ing. This dose was followed up with
a heroic one Of potash, and then
Tommy was made to swallow a large
coffee cuptul of softsoap. With the
soap down and Tommy's eyes hang
ing out OF his head and we'll dowr
over his cheek bones, the druggis
turned the youngster over on his
stomach on the couch and shook him
The only thing about Tommy tina
didn't rebel at this treatment was hi!
stomach. That held onto its unaccus
toned load with a pertinacity worth,
; Of something better. At this juncturt
the painter appeared on the scene. H,
admitted TO the fearful Mrs. Spark.
that he had left his paint pot on thu
ground where Tommy could hav,
found it for about i've minutes Will,
: he went round the corner to get
, glass of beer.
At this instant the doctor fell Il
/ at the door on the heels of the maid
| He approved the druggists treatmen
, and added to it large dose Of inecac
/ Under this last added horror Tommy
stomach and spirit both gave way
/ Like the younger hopeful in Helen
q Babies. he played whale. and while h
1 didn't cast up Jonah he cast nm prett,
: near everything else.
q While Tommy was in the tbroes NJ,
o Sparks arrived, ashy-lipped and shah
= en-. The doctor turned to hir, :.
trust, Mr.. Sparks, that If we can ice
y him at it for ten minutes noro ".
: may save his life" Tommy kept vt #
q The painter. who had retreata5 r.
a fore the stricken countenance Of A.;
:, Sharks, now reappeared. He was 80,
:, rying in one hand dinner pail, viii
- he held upside down to show uhos
!. assembled that it was absolute
" empty.
. when l came to work this NOR
ing" the painter said, Il had thr,
y pieces of berry pie in this pail.
ein't got any now, fact just di
covered. l guess maybe the youn
~ .hnr knnHs where Il went