The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-02-11
THAT ZERO LUNCHEON
BY CORNELIUS voIahT.

Tsneo. lnls came from Huth, a.
Wildly excited, her brown eyes al
round as saucers, she bounded into the
room
What, chiio vaere? When" en-
claimed her mother, while her little
brother stood by, breathless.
In school! Dorothy told on mel
And It's not true, didn't do IT,"
DO what. dear? What did Doroth,
telie" ..
she said I whispered. And l didn't
Honestly. truly, mother. | didnt!'
No. she didn't" chimed I'm little
brother. who knew nothing whatever
about IT.
How did she happen to say 70,
did," asked her mother.
II wouldn't let her play in the doll
house yesterday She wanted to be
the teacher and did. too And then
told her II was my yard and my doll
house and she'd better go home She
said shed get even. and when Mis-,
Marion came back into the room thii
morning and asked who whispered
And didn't, either. And all the girls'l
prove II. too-Emily and Elsie and al
OF EN-"
We'll, ! wouldn't get so excited
Ruth, dear. You can tell Miss Marion
that you didn't whisper, cant you?"
But maybe she won't believe me
And I'll have TO stay after school. And
al. ~.
shook her frame. "Ill get zero In
department. and II 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.
Come, come. children. let's have
our lunch" urged the mother In sooth
ing tones, putting her arms about
Ruth and wiping away the tears
Maybe while we're eating we can
think Of something to do about It."
Il don't want any lunch" Ruth man.
aged to say in a choking voice.
ME neither" accompanied little
brother. who then scampered to the
luncheon table as fast az 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.
TN go and see Miss Marion an
nounced the big sister.
"Or ri write her note added the
mother
We'll, let's eat" suggested the
father.
We'll, let's eat" echoed the little
brother
For a 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 moutl
stuffed full, innocently remarked
Daddy, don't you think these roun'
potatoes that Eva makes look lik'
Zeroes?'
Instantly Ruth stopped eating Tear
began coursing down her cheeks. Tit
little brother continued: Tears lool
like zeroes, too
We cont talk about Zeroes,' com
manded the mother. Come Ruth
dear. finish your lunch"
Wipng the tears on her bib, Rutl
began again to eat AS she was abou
TO put some OF her favorite vegetable
into her mouth she walled Mother
dear, don't you think peas look lik
Zeroes and spoons do little bit, too
Oh everything's just full of zeroes!"
The father burst out Laughing
"Well Ruth" he said, III we coul,
have EN- all In row with ones II
front Of them and dollar signs wouldn'
We have lots of fun? Come on, now
Let's forget all disagrecable things
because they're bad for our digestion
Mothers going to help you"
Say, dad" exclaimed the littl
brother, do you see those roun
things on the tablecloth-"
Hush, brother" commanded hi
mother
But he wouldn't be hushed "Thes
round things on the tablecloth--"
Ruth's eyes began to FIJI
"They-they-look Just like it'll
pumpkins"
by the time the meal was over tn
mother had decided what to do. Sh
would 20 to the school and give tina
teacher piece Of her mind for e,
citing little child over such trih,
If necessary, she would 20 to see tn
school principal also, The fathe
blandly suggested that she might ca
In the police force or take the case I
the supreme court.
She found the teacher pleasan
bright looking young woman, who wa
Iuch surprised to see her.
You came about Ruth" she aske,
I'm glad to see you. She's the hes
behaved child have in the room.
= But she came home crying at moo
4 today. She said she was going to b
: punished because Dorothy said sh
whispered"