Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-02
SEVENTH STORY
Truth Crushed to Earth.

The champion, sword i'm hand was
defending his lady love from the muir
derous attack Of the dragon.
Tho group of nurses iounging Oh the
park bench saw only fvc-ycar-old
Tommy Blake and ycarold Mar
jorie Lampson. PLAYING with a very
big and very friendly collie. But Tom
my. tho champion. knew better. He
know the dragon would surely swaI
low Marjorie or drag her away to us
lair. unless her defender could fright
en- away the monster with his sword
So while Marjorie squcaicd with de
light, Tommy welded the wooden
sword right doughtilv. shaking 1t IN
front of the barking cOllic's nose and
assuring his little playmate he would
save her.
II was "A wonderful game. But pres
emily the collie tired OF it and trotted
away. Tommy thrilled at the tn
umphant thought that he had van
quishcd the dragon gave chase lie
had not run three steps before his
foot slipped and he tumbIcd face
downward I'm a very large and very
sloppy mudpuddle.
At once even before the scream OF
his Mortified nurse reached his ears
he ceased to be a victorious warrior
and became a very badly scared little
boy.
He realized that his new silk suit
was ruined by the mud that his
mother had warned him to be careful
to keep out Of the dirt-and that he
was probably in for a whipping.
Wherefore he howlcd dismally.
The nurse swOoped down upon him,
snatChed him mp from his miry rest
ing place. shook him. and, amid loud
volleys of threats as to what Mrs.
Blake would do when she should see
his spoiled new suit, dragged the
squallinC child hOmcward.
Mrs Blake was a thoroughly well |
meaning woman. In fact. she meant ,
so well that she did not confne her |
wcll-meaning to her own home. but .
tried TO disseminate it among less |
lucky families.
That was why, at this moment, she
was engaged in preparing an address
which she expected to read two nights
ater before the Parents club. In her
,i ts-Ses'7sseaAhe sat placidly scribbling
he preepU e of her speech:
81 did not come prepared to speak
his evening" she wrote, labOriously,
but the training of children is a sub
ect to which | have given"
A shutting door. a sound of weep |
ng, the hurry of footsteps checked |
her flow of inspiration. She laid down
her pen and turned with a frown
toward the library doorway.
On the threshold appeared the |
nurse half leading. half dragging the
fearful and muddy child. At sight of
the havoc wrought on Tommys new |
suit Mrs. Blake called in sudden loss
of temper:
You bad. bad boy, See what you've |
done! You ought to he whipped and !
sent to bed! How did this happen?" |
Why. you see. maam.' began the /
nurse, "he was"
81 asked Master Tommy not you,
nurse" interrupted the vexed mother
Tommy, tell me how this happened!
Tell me the truth. mind you. or III"
Tit was this way" faltered Tom
my, manfully choking back his sobs.
Il was playing Saint George and the
Dragon. And Marj'rie was being the
Maiden i'm Distress-like-like the
way you read to me. And Laddie was
the dragon. And | made him run
away And | chased him. And | fell
down and got all muddied up. And
I'm awful sorry, mamma. didn't
mean to fall down. And"
so you dlsobeyed me and got dirty
after ] warned you not to-" broke in
his mother. You wicked boy, -"
But" stammered Tommy, II told
the truth. The way you said | al
ways must. And"
Mrs. Blake interrupted his pitiful
defense by catching his shoulder in
her strong hand and jerking him
along in her wake as she marched
across to the library book closet and
flung open its door.
Tommy understood now the terrible
punishment that was to be his Like
many nervous and high-strung chill
dren, he had an unreasoning horror
of the dark. For only his very worst
offenses was he ever locked in this
black closet. Such imprisonment was
anguish to him. II was torture as
acute as for hysterical "grownup'
to be locked for the night in a burial
vault.
please. Mammal" he walled. cling
ing to the hand that pinched his ten
der little arm so cruelty. Please!
Please don't put me there. II told
the truth"
The slam Of the door and the in
rush OF ghost-like darkness broke il
on his plea for mercy. He was a
prisoner, in the most awful prison
ever devised by mantle prison OF
fear. Hrs. Blake returned to her desl
and began work once more on her
speech for the Parents clrb.
Tom Blake had reached the mature
age OF eleven. Marjorie Lampson anC
her brother. Harry. had come one at
ternoon to the Blake house to tall
over a matter Of tremendous import
20 all three OF them-no less an event