American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-15

"T forget what you told me to say"
whispered Prudence wretchedly,
what was III The soup is ready, and
piping hot-but what is 1t you want
me TO say?"
Fairy screamed with laughter. you
goosel" she cried. "Say anything you
like. It doesn't make any difference
what you say"
ooh. / am determined to do my part
just right" vowed Prudence fervent-
~, according to etiquette and all.
What was 1t you said?"
Fairy stifed her laughter with diff
Guilty. and said in a low voice,
Wouldn't you like a nice, hot oyster
stew?" Prudence repeated ii after
her breathlessly.
SO Fairy returned once more, and
o on after Prudence tapped on the
door. Then she opened it. and thrust
her curly head inside. wouldn't you
like a little nice, hot oyster stew2'
she chirped methodically. And Fairy
said, 'Oh. yes. indeed, Prudence-this
Is SO nice Of you"
The three gathered sociably about
the table. Babbie was first to taste
the steaming stew. He gasped, and
gulped, and swallowed some water
with more haste than grace. Then he
toyed idly with spoon and wafer until
Prudence tasted also. Prudence did
not gasp. She did not cry out. She
looked up at her sister with wide eyes
IA world of pathos in the glance.
But Fairy did not notice.
Nov, please do not ask me to talk
until l have finished my SOUP" she
was saying brightly.
Then she tasted It'll She dropped
her spoon with a great %clatter, and
jumped up from the table. "Mercyl'
she shrieked. ut is %poisonedr'
Babbie leaned back in his chair and
laughed until his eyes were wet. Pru-
dence's eyes were wet, too. but not
from laughter! What would etiquette
think of her, after this?
what did you do to this soup, Pru-
dence?" demanded Fairy.
Il made it-nOthing else" filtered
spoor Prudence. quite crushed by this
blow. And oysters forty cents a pint
ITS pepper, I think" gasped Bah
bic. MY insides bear startling testi-
mony to the presence of pepper"
And he roared again, while Prudence
began a critical examination of the
oysters. She found them literally
stuffed with pepper; there was no
doubt of it. The twins had lone dead
ly work
Revenge, We gods, how sweet"
chanted Fairy. 1.-THE twins are get
ting even with "A vengeance-the same
twins you said were adorable, Babbie.'
1t must be said for Fairy that her
good nature could stand almost any
thing. Even this did not seriously
disturb her. DO you suppose you can
find us some milk, Rue? And crack
ersl I'm so fond of crackers and
milk, aren't you, Babbie?"
"Oh, adore it. But serve a micro
scope with it, please. l want to ex-
anime 1t for microbes before l taste
But Prudence did better than that.
She made some delicious cocoa, and
opened a can of pear preserves, donat-
ed to the parsonage by the amiable
Mrs. Adams. The twins were very
fond of pear preserves, and had been
looking forward to eating these on
their approaching birthday. They
we're doomed to disappointment! The
three had a merry little feast. after
all, and their laughter rang out so
often and so unrestralnedly that the
twins shook in their beds with rage
and disappointment.
1t speaks well for the courage of
Babbie, and the attractions of Fairy,
that he came to the parsonage again
and again. In time he became the
best of friends with the twins them
selves, but he always called them the
~ldorables," and they never asked him
why. The punishment inflicted upon
them by Prudence ranked in their
memories for many months.
"The oifense was against Fairy"
said Prudence. with a solemnity she
lid not feel. "and the PREPARATION must
be done to her. For three weeks you
must do all of her bedroom work, and
run every errand she requires. More
over, you must keep her shoes well
cleaned and nicely polished, and must
do every bit of her darningr :"
The twins would have preferred
whipping a thousand times. They felt
they had got a whipping's worth of
pleasure out of their mischief, But "A
punishment like this sat heavily upon
their proud young shoulders, and from
that time on they held Fairy practi-
cally immune from their pranks.
Prudence did not bother her head
about etiquette after that experience.
I'm strong for comfort she declared.
and since the two cannot live together
In one family. l say we do without ETH
luette."
And Fairy nodded in agreement,