The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-08
By Imitation


looked quite worn out. and very near
ly distracted But what can you ex.
pect when person without previous
experience steps in and tries to take
care Of four healthy children for six
weeks? The aunt had been there only
two weeks. but such weeks.
What is the reason said the aunt
almost tearfully. that yours are so
good, and mine are so bad? Why. do
You know. tie twins We're actually
lighting this morning. and Edith is so
horrid and selfish. She won't let Ed
ma touch thing, and Edna cries when
nothing at all is the matter"
Cant you give them something to
dO?" asked Mrs. Marsh
but what::" said the maiden aunt.
oh! anything If ley suggest any
thing, let them do il If you possibly
can. II not, you suggest something
Ii your invention runs out, you might
look out of the window, and see what
mine are doing"
She beckOned the aunt to a window
A hum Of busy voices arose from the
lawn below.
why. they're washing"
Eyes, it's the doll clothes, and the
boys. not to be behindhand, are wash
ing their baseball suits"
But they will get their clothes soil.
ed"
Eyes, they're bound to do that in
any case. They have on their rom.
pers and bingham aprons, so 1t won't
matter. After the washing is dry.
there will be the ironing, SO you see
they will be busy all day"
I'm going right home. and ask
mine II they want to wash things"
They will want to. And then to-
morrow II you can't think Of anything.
you might telephone over, and find
out what We are doing"
The aunt departed with hope in her
bearing Her young charges agreed
to the wash-day program with the en-
thusiasm Of children who have been
repressed for two weeks. She took
on the pretty clothes In which she
had been keeping them, and searched
out tho despised rompers. Then the
children, with arms full OF doll clothes,
went out to the back lawn and wash
cd themselves into state of quiet
good nature. The dinner hour was
absolutely peaceful The aunt took
them upstairs afterward and told
them stories. Then 1t was time for
the bath and bed.
The next day a cautions inquiry
went over the telephone. What to-
day."
They're working in their gardens, y
| WAS the answer.
children. have you any gardens
said the aunt.
They had had some, but investga.
ton showed that they had disappeared
under the onslaught Of the weeds. The
aunt, who was really clever person.
|
guise of a battle against insidiOus dra.
CONS that wanted {" eat up the lovely
flower maidens. With their little tools
and watering pots the children worked
with a will. When plot was nicely
cleaned the aunt transplanted some
blooming petunius from the mothers
garden. The petunias stood the trans
planting nicely They We're too thick
In the garden anyway, ard besides tn,
children now had immediate results
to show for their work.
The next days inquiry showed tha;
Mrs. Marsh's children were playing
milkman with a tub of water and AL
the measuring cups in the house
You'll find that children will play
anything that allows them TO splash in
the water said Mrs Marsh Fo,
this you'd better put on their hathing
SUITS
This can be lesson in malhemat
les, too" said the aunt as she CAV,
them gill. pint. quart. and gallon meas
ures.
On the succeeding days there wer,
trips TO the woods. playing in bathing
, suits under the garden hose. Il day q
Indian camp in the back yard, rain,
days when they rearranced their post
card albums. strung beads. AID use,
water color paints. they gathered u,
their despised blocks and laid ~; n
artistic village on the sand pile. the,
organized 4 telephone system in Ii,
back yard, and gave a cirs@s N:.h Ill,
aid of the dogs ana tafs ~ The re III
/ borhooi.
The remaining ieur Wt,ls if,,
away quickly and happily. and III,
children's parents returned. Grea
was their wonder. and rIany we~e III,
compliments the amt received upoI
her management.
Why" said the mother, theyr,
heartbroken to have you so. ard the-
do nothing but talk of the delightful
times you had together reye
thought you could manage children $,
well. was really afraid that yoi
would fairly hate each other by III,
time l got back"
The aunt visited Mrs Marsh befor
she went away. She thanked he
quite extravaganty. 1T was you VII,