Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-08-19

IL suppose Penrod is regarded as the
neighborhOod CURSE"
"Oh, nor' cried Mrs. Schofeld.
He
Il daresay the neighbors are right"
continued the old lady placidly. Hes
had to repeat the history of the race
and go through all the stages from the
primordial to barbarism. You don't
expect boys to be civilized, do your
''Well, p
You might as well expect eggs to
crow. No; you've got to take boys as
they are and learn to know them as
they are"
Naturally, Aunt Sarah," said Mrs.
Schofeld, Il know Penrod."
Aunt Sarah laughed heartily. DO
you think his father knows him toOY
"Of course men are different" Mrs.
Schofeld returned alphabetically. But
a mother Knows
"Penrod," said Aunt Sarah solemnly,
docs your father understand you?"
"Ma'am?
About as much as he'd understand
Sitting Bull.' she laughed. And I'll
tell you what your mother thinks you
are, Penrod Her real belief is that
you're a novice in a convent"
"Ma'am?"
Aunt Sarahr'
Il know she thinks that, because
whenever you don't behave like a
novice she's disappointed in you. And
your father really believes that you're
a decorous, we'll trained young bust
ness man, and whenever you don't live
up to that standard you get on his
nerves, and he thinks you need a wal
Looping. Pm sure a day very seldom
passes without their both saying they
don't know what on earth to do with
you. Does whipping do you any good.
PenrOd?'
"Ma'am?"
go on and finish the lemonade.
There's about a glassful left. Oh, take
it, take it, and don't say why! OF
course you're a little pig
Penrod laughed gratefully, his eyes
fixed upon her over the rim Of his up
tilted glass.
Fill yourself up uncomfortably,"
said the old lady. You're twelve years
old, and you ought to be happy-if you
aren't anything else. It's taken over
1900 years of Christianity and some
hundreds of thousands of years Of
other things to produce you, and there
you sitw
"Ma'am?"
It'll be your turn to struggle and
muss things up for the betterment of
posterity soon enough" said Aunt Sar-
alb Grim. Drink your lemonade!"
"Aunt Sarah's funny old lady," Pen
rod observed on the way back to the
town. whats she want me to give
papa this old sling for? Last thing she
said was to be sure not to forget to
give it to him. He don't want it, and
she said herself it amt any good She's
older than you or papa, isn't she?'
About fifty years older" answered
Mrs. Schotield, turning upon him a
stare of perpleXity. Don't cut into
the leather with your new knife. dear,
The liveryman might ask us to pay
if No, wouldn't scrape the paint
off either-nor white your shoe with
it. Couldn't you put it up until we get
homer
1--WE goin straight homer"
mo. We're going to stop at Mrs.
Gelbraith's and ask Il strange little girl
to come to your party this afternoon"
"Who?"
''Her name is Fanchon. She's Mrs.
Gelbraith's little niece"
what makes her SO QueerW
1 didn't say she's queer"
You said
mo; | mean that she is stranger
She lives in New York and has come
to visit here"
whats she live in New York fOr?'
Because her parents live there. You
must be very nice to her, Penrod. She
has been very carefully brought up.
Besides, she doesn't know the children
here. and you must help to keep her
from feeling lonely at your party"
"Yes'm."
When they reached Mrs. Gelbraith's
Penrod sat patiently bumped upon a
gilt chair during the lengthy exchange
of greetings between his mother and
Mrs. Gelbraith. That is one Of the
things boy must learn to bear
When his mother meets compeer
there is always a long and dreary wait
for him. while the two appear to be
using strange symbols Of speech. talk,
ing for the greater part. it seems to
him, simultaneously, and employing a
wholly incomprehensibie system of EN-
phaSiS at other times not in vogue.
Penrod twisted his legs. his cap and
his nose.
Here she is!' Mrs Gelbraith cried
unexpectedly, and a dark haired. de
mure person entered the room wear
ing look of gracious social expectan
cy. In years she was eleven. In man
ner about siXty-five. and evidently had
lived much at court. She performed II
courtesy in acknowledgment Of Mrs
Schofields greeting and bestowed her