The daily Alaskan., 1915-06-01
A Mother s Mistake
By MARGARET C. DEVEREAUX

Farmer Perks called bis son Thomas to him one bright spring morning and said to him, 'Thomas, wish you to go 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 well He was a handsome youth, and his mother dreaded that some girl on the way might fancy hlm and get away with him. It 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 think you had better take some other farm produce"
 Tom expressed a willingness to do as his mother said, and when he had taken the calf from the barn he led 1t 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 sort of turban of towel for his head and balanced the basket of eggs on 1t Then she placed the turkey under the arm not In use for leading the calf.
 Mother" said Tom, Il fear that If l stumble the eggs will fall and be broken"
 'grhe 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 bis 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 fest he drop the eggs. He had made but half the journey when Annle Plxley came out of wood and, seeing Tom trying to balance the eggs on bis head while hampered by the calf and the turkey, began to laugh at him. Annie was just fifteen years old, very attractive age with girls, and had 1.-the figure that showed to advantage In her scant costume. More over, her eyes were full Of mischief, and her lips were rosy red Tom cast a reprOachful glance at her, where upon her heart softened to him. end 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 nie the reason for his refusal.
 And why did your mother do that?" asked Annie. who jumped at the true cause at once.
 q don't know" replied Tom. She simply warned me. Then she kissed me goodby and sent me off"
 And did you not kiss her goodbyT asked the girl
 How could l, loaded as I am"
 "I see" said Annie. You can't kiss any one. If there is any kissing be tween you and a girl she must do 1t all"
 "Certainly" said Tom.
 But you might set down a part of your load If you won't let me carry It"
 What can l set down2 If release the turkey he will not come back to me; If 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 l have shown you that Is impossible without losing either the turkey or the calf"
 T might take the eggs off 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"
 "I see. You can't kiss any one. If you are kissed one must kiss you. Your mother has arranged that she Is the only one to kiss you"
 How is that?'
 Tt would not be modest for a girl to kiss you"
 Tom stood still in order that he might do some thinking. Something was denied him. Had he been at lib ertv to take n he would not have