Fair play., 1921-09-03
MAS SLANG CURE
BY EDNA M. FoApG.

way!" shrieked freckle faced Freddie
to his sister.
"Sittin' on stone WALL" she re
torted nonchalantly, "an' don't you get
too fresh or I'll spill the beans to ma
that you gave the cat our gold fish !"
"Aw, whadda l care! II you squeal
about the gold fish I'll tell teacher
where you hide your chewing gun
Sec?"
"Well, awrlght. If you won't tell,
then ] won't. Huhf'
But Freddie's answer was lost us
they disappeared through the hole In
the back yard fence.
Now all the while there had been
an eavesdropper who had heard this
slangy conversation. Mrs. Hapgood
mother OF these two scallywags, stood
listening behind pile of wood which
Freddie should have chopped long
ago.
"it's problcm,' she sighed, as she
emerged and trudged her way through
the deep snow to the chicken coop.
It's a problem to know how to man.
age children nowadays"
Sarah and Freddie, II and ID re
Spectively, We're at the age when they
should have been help and a JOY
to their mother.
While Mrs. liapgoud was In the act
of collecting eggs, brilliant thought
occurred to her! She sat down right
ihen and there and wondered II her
idea, carried out, would cure those
little impS of their slang and lazy
habits He who hesltatcs is lost"
I she quoted. So putting the eggs back
in the nests, she trudged the short
space from the chicken coop to the
house.
"So harm in trying. anyway she
musod.
"lo" hoo. OH. ma-a-a-a-a.' shouted
voices from the buck yard. rs sup
per ready? Gee, were staryin!' Ana
then followed n general slamGnins Ot
doors, kicking on ruhbers, sniffans
from the cold and plenty Of impn-
tience.
How do you get that way greeted
voice from the next rOoIn--and they
entered to find Mrs. HGpgood seated
Snugly before the fireplace with
magazine. why don't you two have
II hearti' she continued. Il don't feel
like getting SUPPER 1t can so hant
for all cure! :"
Freddie and Sarah, round-e!ed ana
I Sprrchless. stood staring at her from
/ the doorway.
The voice continued: The eggs
/ aren't In, the store Is closed. the woods
not In, and there's no fire In the
range. How do you expect me to get
! supperf
| At this point Freddie ventured ("
! din; we're awful hungry, h0nest~
/ And Sarah, encouraged, ran to her
! mother, threw her arms around her
| neck and pleaded: please hurry, ma.
we're goin slidin' tonight up To-
Browns hill. and it's nearly time We
were leavin'. Isn't 1t, FreddieT turn
ing TO her brother, who burst forth
with torrent of pleadings.
Right here Mrs. Hapgood's courage
nearly failed her. hut she pulled her
J self together and forcing n laugh ex
claimed: "Well, II it's time to leave
| lets 60"
but ma--the supper"
"Never mind the supper. Slldin's
more important than eatin' anyway
let's go.'
"Oh whatever Is the matter with
ma:" walled Sarah. "Shc talks Ike
that bold woman on Alden street. who
never cleans her home"
| I'm Waitin'!" called voice like
| The woman'S on Alden street. aren't
you ready YETI
, Freddie ambled into the kitchen.
and with pentent eye and drooping llp
he toed the mat and mumbled: Jaw.
! guess | won't 90 slidin' tonight. AMI
wish you wouldn't go either, ma
I Yes, LET'S stay home and well all
cook supper together" chimed III
Sarah.
| "And Wen play dominoes," suggested
| Fred.
| NO" declared ma, firmly. I'm sick
! Of stayin home, doin' all the work an
cooliin meals. an talkin like nice
mother, From now on I'm goin' to
talk slang and do no work, Get mef'
Mother dear, please" begged Sa-
rah. Il don't know what has hap
pened To you, nor how you got that
| ! mean how you changed. hut some
how feel II Is my fault and Freddie's.
and il you Will only say YOU are fool
ing, ana promise you will be our own
darling sweet mother once again, I'll
do anything you want and we wont
talk slang or be lazy any more, will
we, Frcddiet'
"lleaSr. ma-a-a-a, We've been too
fresh. | guess. and anyway | was just
! lhlnkin' | could chop half that wood
! on such II nice moonlight night as 10
night pause you'll cook US somr
scrambled eggs first"
Then Mrs. Hapgood knew she had
! "a, Ennnph Suil nphnIv