Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-29
BOYS ARE THE LIMIT
BY CLARA STACY.


eringly, staring at the fashionable in
vitation card with despairing eyes.
Yes" said Jimmy's father, with
understanding. Then he added,
Boys certainly are the limit"
'Jimmy's nearly fifteen" pursued
Jimmy's mother. 81 don't see why
he isn't old enough not to act like
young savage. Whenever l make him
go to party you would think l was
casting him into den of man eating
tigers, to hear him protest. He says
girls are ninnies and he'd rather play
football"
Seems to me-" said Jimmy's IA
ther, that used to like to go to par
ties when was fifteen. can't under
stand him!"
"If l didn't stand over him." said
Jimmy's mother, every single minute,
he'd get in his old clothes, with ten
mis- shoes and negligee shirt, and
wouldn't care! It's just awful! I'm
sure 1 don't know what my friends
think Of me. They must have the idea
that don't care anything about jim
my's social progress and it's just as
important to boys future as it is to
a girls! The friends that he is max
ing now"
Make him go to this" advised jim
my's father 1.-The Miklesons will be
offended if you don't, and it's the right
sort of a crowd for him. It's what he
needs"
Il won't say anything about 1t to
him." decided Jimmy's mother, diplo-
matically, until the day before. Then
he won't have SO long a time to OBJ
ject and make life miserable for
mel"
Jimmy's mother had occasion many
times in the ten days that followed to
be thankful for this decision, for jim
my proved suddenly very difficult to
deal with, in spite of his ignorance
of the fate that was impending.
The boy stared gloomily out of the
window and he poured as gloomily
over the contents of his desk.
Once, to her great alarm, his moth
er found his sorting out his necktie
drawer.
AW, AOInlu . iA0 SIOW1COy WHICH, oAC
demanded to know the reason for
this unheard-of interest in his attire.
Cant a fellow do anything without
the whole family buzzing about his
ears? Wish't l had the money dad
put in that dress suit of mine!
don't get any use out of it! l could
buy two or three dandy football
suits!"
Jimmy did not ask for second
| piece of chocolate pie when it came
on for dessert that night, which in it.
self was serious symptom of some
thing wrong. He scorned griddle cakes
the next morning and he said he did
not want any lunch.
| His mother felt his pulse, and in
sisted on looking at his tongue.
| Il hope" said Jimmy's mother to
Jimmy's father, that he won't do any
thing rash when tell him about the
Mikleson party. He's in such a
dreadful humor these days that
don't know in the least how to ham
die him. He's likely to say he won't
| go. And he's SO big that / suppose he
won't-he just won't, that's all! Oh
dear, wish ne was girl!"
| When Jimmy caught his mother sew
ing loose button on his dress coat
she quailed. He eyed the work sus-
| piciously, but asked no questions.
Rather, he retired to a chair in cor
ner and moped.
Finally, the night before the party.
| MI fI,a,s hnr
age and told him, very fast, SO he
could not interrupt. Then she waited
to hear the worst.
Her son was staring at her disbe-
lievingly. "The Mikleson party!" he
repeated. me going to the Mike
sons!"
That was all before he abruptly
bolted from the room. She heard him
presently whistling in his bedroom
and held her head wildly. Jimmy was
| young to go insane, but she had heard
of cases
i "Motheri" Jimmy called down.
Don't my dress trousers need press
ing?"
He's going to be I'LL" declared his
mother to his father later. Il
know he's coming down with some
thing awful"
All the next day Jimmy whistled and
sang and beamed and shed sunshine.
He went like lamb to get dressed
for the party, and he threw away four
ties before he got ono to suit him.
Il He asked his mothers advice as to
the part in his hair, and surreptitious-
ly used her manicure set. By that time
Jimmy's father, too, was impressed
and worried His family followed
Jimmy's glittering progress to the
front door at exactly eight o'clock with
breathless anxiety.
Never had seen anything like it.
: "Geel" said Jimmy, as he folded his
neck scarf with painful precision and
carefully got into his overcoat. Il was
: awfully sore all week! l thought /
wasn't asked to the Miklesons party,
and everyone else was talking about
going! I'm going to take Ethel" he
added hastily and somewhat defiantly.
Sam was going to, but when found
could go, too, she ditched him. She'd
rather go with mel
He dashed out of the door triumph
antly.
"Ah!" said Jimmy's father, looking
meaningly at Jimmys mother.
"O-o-o-o-oh!" breathed Jimmy's
mother, gazing wide eyed at Jimmy's
! father.
} Il believe your troubles are over"
| said Jjmmv'c fathnr "IiTnmv has seon
girl on the horizon!"