The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-06-25
A Mother S
Mistake
B, MARGARET c. DEVEREAUx1

said to him. Thomas. l wish you TO
90 to town and sell the calf" Thomas
got himself ready to go to town. put
ting on his store clothes and brushing
himself up so that he looked very we'll
He was a handsome youth, and his
mother dreaded that some girl on the
way might fancy him and get away
with him. 1t occurred to her to so
handicap him that he would be in no
condition to respond to such advances
So she said to him:
"Tom. dear. since you are going to
the city to sell the calf l think you had
better take some other farm produce"
Tom expressed u willingness to do
as his mother said, and when he had
taken the calf from the barn he led it
by the rope about Its neck to the
house, where she was waiting for him
She gave him a basketful Of eggs and
a live turkey Since he must use one
hand to lead the calf and could not
carry the turkey and the eggs in the
other his mother made q sort of turban
OF n towel for his head and balanced
the basket of eggs on it. Then she
placed the turkey under the arm not
In use for leading the calf.
Mother" said Tom, II fear that If
/ stumble the eggs will fall and be
broken"
"The distance to the city Is short"
was the reply. You may walk slowly
and carefully and yet reach the mar
ket in half an hour. And. Tom," she
added. IF a girl offers to relieve you
Of a part Of your burden refuse her"
Tom, who was a very obliging youth.
suffered his mother to kiss him good
by, for he could not kiss her loaded
as he was. and set forth on his jour-
ney. The calf did not lead easily. and
the turkey tried to get away. SO that
between the two difficulties he was in
constant dread lest be drop the eggs.
He had made but half the journey
when Annie Fixley came out Of a wood
and. seeing Tom trying to balance the
eggs OF his head while hampered by
the calf and the turkey. began to laugh
at him. Annie was just fifteen years
old, a very attractive age with girls.
and had a 1.-THE figure that showed to
advantage In her scant costume. More
over, her eyes were full Of mischief.
and her lips were q rosy red. Tom
cast a ~reproachful glance at her, where
upon her heart softened to him. and
she said:
Poor fellow! You are surely having
a hard time Of 1t with so much to at
tend to. Let me carry some portion of
your burden"
Tom remembered his mothers warn
Ing and declined the offer. telling An
ME the reason for his refusal.
And why did your mother do thatY"
asked Annie. who jumped at the true
cause at once.
II don't know" replied Tom. ''She
simply warned me-. Then she kissed
me goodby and sent me off,"
And did you not kiss her goodbyY"
asked the girl
How could l. loaded as l ann"
II see," said Annie. You can't kiss
any one. If there is any kissing be
tween you and a girl she must do it
all"
~"CertainlyT" said Tom.
But you might set down a part OF
your load If you won't let me carry it,
What can l set down? If l release
the turkey he will not come back to
me; II the calf he will scamper back
to the farm. AS for the eggs. | must
use one hand or the other to remove
them from my head, and | have shown
you that is impossible without losing
either the turkey or the calf"
y might take the eggs of your head
and set them on the ground. That
would not be carrying them for you"
THAT would not help matters. !
would still have my hands full"
Il see. You can't kiss any one. II
you are kissed one must kiss you.
Your mother has arranged that she is
the only one to kiss you"
How Is that?'
1T would not be modest for q girl
to kiss you"
Tom stood still in order that BE-
might do some thinking. Something
was denied him. Had he been at lib
erty to take 1t be would not have
thought Of doing so. But now that be
was prevented he pinned for it. Annie
stood before him. looking up into his
eyes with hers. and her red lips were
very tantalizing. The longer he thought
the nearer she drew to him. Present
~ her lips were so close to his that he
bent his head and kissed her. Down
came the basket Of eggs and every one
was broken. Tom let go the calf and
the turkey to catch it. and the calf ran
back to the farm. while the turkey
scurried of into the woods
There" said Tom. See what you
have done!"
II have done! l have done nothing
1 offered to carry a part Of your load.
and you would not let me do so. You
attempted to take a kiss without my
consent 1t seems to me that you are
alone to blame"
Later Tom appeared at home with
out any of his load. but with Annie
PiX1pV When his mother oSkod him