The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-29
OUT OF THE MOUTHS
OF BABES
BY wINIFREp BLACK.

The little boy was wet and muddy
and mussy, and his face was dirty.
and his stockings were down. and his
hat was tern, and you could see the
marks OF the pups great. awkward
paws all over him from top to toe.
Dear me-" said the little boys
mother, twisting her face into hard
knot to keep from laughing and cry
ing at the same time. Dear me,
you are so naughty, so dirty. Why
can't you ever be good like the lit
tie boy next door,
The little boys mother was tired
very, very tired. She had had some
bad news in letter, and she had re-
ceived the grocer's bill, and she was
called on the phone to come right up
to school and see why the little girl
dent get on better in her number
work. and the plumber sent word that
he really couldn't come that day as
he had promised so faithfully in the
morning and the tooth that grunbied
all aight was iamenting almost aloud
now. And the little boy had looked
SO neat and pretty few minutes ago,
and the little boys mother was really
| When she told the little boy how
naughty he was. and told 1t In cruel,
4 hard voice that made the little boy
look up quickly to see II 1t really was
his mother speaking. the little boys
eyes filed with quick tears
! He hid his chubby face In his stub
| by, grubby hands. .'This morning, .
said the little boy brokenly. ''thf,
morning you said / was sweet" and
the little boys mother caught him in
| her arms with sudden remorse.
You are a sweet little boy" she
said. "Oh You are. you are. / think
SO now. Do you think I am sweet,
too?"
/ And the little boy, alarmed. threw
his sturdy arms around his mothers
meek and kissed her. and said: Yes
Muvver. I dol sure. sure do" And
then he laughed. and the little boys
mother took him upstairs and dressed
him all over again. and told him a
story while she brushed his hair--a
nice story that he always loved--aboui
when the little boys mother was a
little girl and the dog was stung by
the bees and every one thought he
had gone mad.
And then she gave him a red apple
land took one herself, and they were
i all very. very happy-toxether.
That was it--that's what made the
happiness-together The little boy
and the one who had been angry with
him and the puppy who never was
angry with any one. Together-and
nothing but that mattered.
Oh. little boy, little boy. hope voy
| will never have to say that again =
This morning you said was sweet ;
| IT Is such a sad thing to say and still
sadder to think and not say II.
| This morning you thought I was
! sweet" That's what turned the cor
ners down at that poor woman's
mouth. Her husband used to think
! che was sweet Everything she did
*was lovely 'sto shiru, and now--whtt.
ever she does is wrong. and she Is
/, never rfeht at all.
| "oh. II she could only throw her.
| self into his arms and say. This
morning you thought was swcet. =
/ Perhaps even bis hardened heart
would soften and he would remember
| little.
The man with the tired eyes and
| the shoulders set. TO mean whats the
ure?" tbs mcrning. when thew fist
! met this morning. when love WIS
| vounp--tfe woman the Ynan loved
! thought he was good. she thought he
was brave. she thought he was wise.
| she wea proud Of him and believed In
| hir,, and now
Flow bitterly the man speaks or love