The Prescott daily news., 1913-01-13
THAT ZERO LUNCHEON
By CORNELIUS vOIGHT.

work! Something awful has hap pened!" This came from Ruth. as wildly excited. her brown eyes al round as saucers, she bounded into tn, room.
 What, child! Where? When?" ex claimed her mother. while her little brother stood by. breathless.
 "In school! Dorothy told on me! And it's not true! I didn't do it."
 Do what, dear? What did Doroth, tell?"
 "She said I whispered And didn't! Honestly, truly. mother. didn't"
 No, she didn't" chimed In little brother, who knew nothing whatever about it.
 How did she happen to say you did?" asked her mother.
 T wouldn't let her play in the doll house yesterday. She wanted to be the teacher and did, too. And then l told her 1t was my yard and my doll. house and she'd better go home. She said she'd get even, and when Miss Marion came back into the room this morning and asked who whispered while she was out Dorothy said I did. And didn't, either. And all the girlsll prove 1t, too-Emily and Elsie and all of em"
 Well. I wouldn't get so excited, Ruth. dear. You can tell Miss Marion that you didn't whisper, can't your"
 But maybe she won't believe me, And I'll have to stay after school And, oh, m-m-mother, mother!" Great sobs shook her frame. "I1l get zero in department. and if you get three zeros you cant ever. ever go into another grade" Here she broke down com pletely. Little brother began to cry with her.
 our lunch," urged the mother in sooth- ing tones, putting her arms about Ruth and wipiDg away the tears. Maybe while we're eating we can think of something to do about it'
 II don't want any lunch" Ruth man. aged to say in choking voice.
 Me neither" accompanied little brother who then scampered to the luncheon table as fast as his legs would carry him, followed reluctantly by Ruth.
 The big sister and the father came in and took their places at the table.
 Between sobs Ruth again related her troubles.
 "Ill go and sec Miss Marion" an. nounced the big sister
 "Or I'll write her a note," added the mother.
 Well, let's eat" suggested the father.
 Well, let's eat" echoed the little brother.
 For few moments the mother was kept busy serving. Ruth was begin. ming to forget her troubles in the sol ace of introducing steak and potatoes into her hungry, growing little body. when the brother. with his mouth stuffed full, innocently remarked: Daddy, don't you think these round potatoes that Eva makes look like zeroes?'
 Instantly Ruth stopped eating. Tears began coursing down her cheeks. The little brother continued: Tears look like zeroes. too"
 We cont talk about zeroes," con- manded the mother. Come, Ruth, dear, finish your lunch
 Wiping the tears on her bib, Ruth began again to eat. AS she was about to put some of her favorite vegetable into her mouth she walled: Mother, dear. don't you think peas look like zeroes and spoons do little bit. too? Oh. everything's just full of zeroes," The father burst out laughing. Well Ruth.' he said. If we could havo em all in row with ones in front of them and dollar signs wouldn't we have lots of fun? Come on, now. Let's forget all disagreeable things, because they're bad for our digestion Mothers going to help you" Say, dad" exclaimed the little l brother, do you see those round things on the tablecloth-' Hush. brother" commanded his mother.
 But he wouldn't be hushed. These round things on the tablecloth-" Ruth's eyes began to fill "They-they-look just like little pumpkins!"
 By the time the meal was over the mother had decided what to do She would go to the school and give that teacher piece of her mind for ex. citing a little child over such trifle. If necessary, she would go to see the school principal also. The father