Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-08-05
MAS SLANG CURE
BY EDNA NJ. FoROE.

I to his sister.
"Sittin' on a stone wall" she re-
+ torted nOnchalantly, IAN don't you get
too fresh or III spill the beans to ma
that you gave the cat our gold fish %
~Aw, whadda l care. If you squeal
about the gold fish III tell teacher
where you hide your chewing gum.
Seer
"WeH, awright If you won't tell,
then I won't Huh?"
But Freddle's answer was lost as
they disappeared through the hole In
the back yard fence.
Now all the while there had been
an eayesdropper who had heard this
sIangy conversation. Mrs. HapgOOd,
mother Of these two scallywags, stood
listening behind pile Of wood which
Freddie should have chopped long
ago.
-It's a problem" she sighed, as she
emerged and trudged her way through
the deep snow to the chicken coop.
ITS a problem to know how to man
age children nowadays"
Sarah and Freddie, IS and Il re-
spective;y. were at the age when they
should have been q help and a JOY
to their mother.
While Mrs. HapgOod vas in the act
Of collecting eggs, a brilliant thought
occurred TO herr She sat down right
then and there and wondered If her
idea. carried out. would cure those
little imps Of their slang and lazy
habits. He who hesitates is lost"
she quoted. So putting the eggs back
in the nests. she trudged the short
space from the chicken coop TO the
house.
No harm in trying anyway" she
unused.
~Yoo-hool Oh. ma-a-a-a-ar' shouted
voices from the back yard. Is sup
per ready? Gee, we're starvin'l" And
then followed q general slamming OF
doors. kicking OF rubbers, shifting
from the cold and plenty Of impa-
thence.
How do you get that ways" greeted
g voice from the next rOom-and they
entered to find Mrs. HapgoOd seated
snggly before the fireplace with a
magazine. why don't you two have
q hearth" she continued. Z don't feel
Ike getting supper. It can go hang
for ali I care,"
Freddie and Sarah, round-eyed and
speeches.. stood staring al 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 ne 10 get
support"
At this point Freddie ventured to
sey timidly: Now. ma. quit yer kid
din: we're awful hungry, honest :"
And Sarah. encouraged. ran 10 her
mother, threw her arms around her
neck and pleaded: please hurry. ma !
we're goin' slidin' tonight up TO I
Browns hill. and ITS nearly time We
were leavin'i Isn't il Freddief' turn !
ing 10 her brother. who burst forth 4
with q torrent OF pleadings.
Right here Mrs. Hapgood's courage
nearly failed her but she pulled her
self together and forcing a laugh ex-
claimed: well. il its time to leave,
let's 60"
But ma-the supper
Never mind the supper. Slidin's
more important than eatin' anyway
let's gor'
"Oh. whatever IS the matter with
map walled Sarah. she talks Ike
that bold woman on Alden street. who
never cleans her home"
I'm waitin'," called voice Ike
the woman's on Alden street aren't
you ready YETI"
Freddie ambled into the kitchen,
and with penitent eye and dropping lip
he toed the mat and mumbIed: Jaw.
I guess I won't go slidin' tonight, and
[ wish you wouldn't go either. ma"
Eyes, let's stay home and We'll sll
,ook supper together" chimed In
Sarah.
and we'll play dominoes." suggested
fred.
NO" declared ma. firmly. I'm sick
II stayin' home, doin' all the work an
ookin' meals. an talkin' like nice
mother, From now on I'm gOin' 10
ak slang and do no work. Get mel"
Mother dear. pleasel' begged Sa-
ali. Il don't know what has hap
ened to you. nor how you got that
mean how you changed. but some
ow I feel It IS my fault and Freddie's.
nd il you will only say you are fool
u. and promise you viii be our own
airing sweet mother once again. I'll !
o anything you want. and we won't
Tx slang or be lazy any more, viii ,
e. Freddie?' :
please. ma-a-a-a, We've been 100
esh. I guess. and anyway was just !
linkin' could chop half that wood r
J such a nice moonlight night as to- ;
ght'-pause-''i you'll cook Us some
rambled eggs first"
Then Mrs. Hapgood knew she had :,
i 4 -