The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-10-28
"Ma'am?"
"Aunt Sarah!"

Il know Sne tnlnkS LHdt, DecauS'
whenever you don't behave like {
novice she's disappointed in you. Ant
your father really believes that you're
a d%ecorous, well trained young usi
ness man, and whenever you don't live
up to that standard you get on hi,
nerves, and he thinks you need a wal
Looping. I'm sure Il day very seldom
passes without their both saying they
don't know what on earth to do will
you. Does whipping do you any good
Penrod?"
"Ma'amf"
go on and finish the lemonade
There's about n glassful left oh, take
1t, take 1t, and don't say why! Oh
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 Sit"
"Ma'amT'
It'll be your turn to struggle and
pOsterity soon enough" said Aunt Sar
ah Grim. Drink your lemonade!"
AUNT Sarah's a 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 1t to him. lie don't want 1t, and
she said herself 1t amt any good. She's
older than you or papa, isn't sheY"
About fifty years older" answered
Mrs. Schofield. 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 1t up until we get
homeT'
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"
"Whof"
Her name is Fanchon. She's Mrs.
Gelbraith's little niece"
What makes her so queer"
Il didn't say she's queer"
You said
NO: ! mean that she Is a stranger.
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 n boy must learn to bear.
When his mother meets a 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. 1t seems to
him, simultaneously, and employing a
wholly incomprehensibie system Of EN-.
phasis at other times not in ogu
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 a look Of gracious social expectan
cy. In years she was eleven, In man
ner about slxty-five. and evidently had
lived much at court. She performed a
courtesy In acknowledgment Of Mrs.
Schofeld's greeting and bestowed her
hand upon Penrod, who had entertain
ed no hope OF such an honor, showed
his surprise that 1t should come to him
and vas plainly unable to decide what
to do about 1t.
"Fanchon, dear" said Mrs. Gelbraith.
take Penrod out in the yard for awhile
and play"
LET go the little girls hand. Pen.
rod" Mrs. Schofield laughed as the
children turned toward the door.