The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1913-04-10
A CURE FOR CROSSNESS.
BY II. Woodruff.

Bob was in disgrace. His father
had reprimanded him at the break
fast-table for hardness; his teacher
at school for idleness and the cap
tain OF the baseball nine 70 rinttten-
ton at the most critical point of the
game. Poor boy! the world looked
dark to him. No one understood
him-no one cared. And just be-
cause Bob was not given to sniveling,
he took refuge in crossness Not all
the beauty OF the lovely garden, In
Its most glorious summer garb of
brilliant color, could drive away
from his boyish brow the gloomy
cloud. He sulked in the hammock
and would not be comforted
Hello. Bob! Where are you hid
ing YOURSELF"
Two jolly chums of the moping
boy-Tom Seaton and Jim Borden
came prancing into the yard in a
state OF high glee.
Bob scowled at them without a
word IN reply.
Are you coming out to play af-
ter sapper?" asked Jim, eagerly.
Nick expects the whole Nine
without fail-and no skulking
You'll come, won't you, Bob?"
mo. 1 WON'T" snapped Bob
Nick Nelson can get any one he
likes to take my place. He's going
to find out he can't bully me-"
The boys exchanged dismayed
giances. Well they knew that Bob's
place would not be easy to fill They
sat down on the grass to watch Bob's
brother and sister amusing them
selves with ball and bat.
you let that bat alonei" Bob yell
ed at Arthur, who was two years
younger than he "Who said you
could use it,"
We're not hurting your old bat"
said Arthur, holding it in position for
Molly to throw the ball.
'It's mine! Give it here!" and
Bob darted at Arthur and grabbed
the bat from his hands, not noticing
that he had upset toddling Tommy
the pet Of the family-on the way.
Bobby" called his mother from
the parlor window, I'm ashamed of
you. l can hardly believe that this
is my big-my biggest boy. What
is wrong, my son? Tell mother"
This was the limit! To have moth
er, too, down on him. Bob flung
away into the deepest shade of the
shrubbery at the end of the long gar
den, and threw himself down on the
grass under the lilac bushes. For a
long time it seemed to him he lay
there-althOugh not many minutes
had passed unhappy and ashamed
He was fond of his two chums, and
loved to be in their company. Why,
then, had he treated them so ungra-
ciously?
Bob was not a selfish boy He
did not begrudge to his brother and
sister the use of any of his belong
ings. Why, then, had he made such
fuss over the ball and bat? He
dearly loved his parents. Why, then,
had he SO resented their rebuke?
Why had he acted so to all of them?
1t was nothing but the ill-temper,
which he would not try to control.
Now, of course, they were all down
on him, and he could not blame
them. He felt very wretched indeed.
He wanted to go back and be friends
with them again, but could not make
up his mind to face them. They
would not understand. Tom and Jim
were touchy fellows. They would
not be likely to forget the snub he
had given them in a hurry.
They were going. He could hear
the street, d-yes!-Arthur and
Molly were with them. They were
laughing merrily, as if at some huge
joke. They had forgotten all about
him. It was a bitter thought
Presently he heard them all COM
ing back. What did it mean? Tom
voice, raised for his benefit, penetrat-
ed into Bob's hiding-place.
Where has His Highness betak-
en- himself" in high, mincing fal.
setto, which could not disguise the
speakers identity.
"Will not Your Lordship design to
come forth and shed the light Of
your countenance upon your humble
vassals?" from Jim, in an amazing
and husky bass.
Where in the mischief are you
anyway, Bob?" demanded Arthur, il
his own natural voice, while Moll!
chanted in her sweet girls treble
punctuated with giggles:
Come forth, prithee, Sir Sulki
ness, and partake with US of tn
feast"
Bob stared in establishment as the.
bore down upon him with hands full
of goodies, procured in haste at tn
nearest store-all the dainties the.
knew Bob especially liked.
I'VE all Clipped in out of GU
hard-earned savings" explained Tom
with a grin. What with this stuff
and the cake your lady-mother con
tributed from her goodly stores, yo
can call this fairly decent spread,