The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-30
The Mischievous
Darlings
By ROSE BAKALAR

-:.-:..:,.s
'S oy Mecin"- Newspaper synd,eate)
1t started all wrong in tn. morning.
"is. Merey awoke late with head
aehe. got out OF bed ON the left side,
ana put her stockings ON wrong side
out.
Her husband had left, brsakfustless.
she heari the twins scrappiug in their
pedrooms. Suddenly II was supple
hehted by blows, thuds, and walls I'm
ehorus. Mrs. Mercy FASTENED to the
oatue scene. On the bed, nightgown-
Siao. were seated the three -yeur-olds--
iimmy, audibly nursing rapidly ris-
Ing, discolored lump OH his forehead.
ana Pat, catching slowly dripping rose
coiored drops from her nostrils. Two
mangled tin engines revealed a mar
tial short story.
MY angels soOthed the mother
Didn't l tell you never to tght?" she
reminded. as she pr ssed the flat side
OF silver knife blade to Timmy's
painful acquisition. "Never to fight"
she repeated, automaticnliy, as she
washed Pats sensitive little nose.
NOW come and eat your breakfast"
During the meal they squirted or
ange juice at each other, forked the
outtered mashed potatoes into fancy
Shapes, which they overturned ON the
clean tablecloth. In sky-high glee they
i'i'ariousiy stirred their cocoa. splatter-
Ing wide areas.
stop that, or mother won't give YOU
any cookies" at which threat they
suDsided somewhat until the end of the
meal
lhen the twins took possession Of
the den. next to the kitchen. In spite
or the fact that n china closet, full OF
fragile porcelain, n movable family al.
ouin ana the clean wall paper were In
tue same room with the twins. Mrs.
Mercy let them stay there because she
thought she could keep an eye on
them
ohe was showing water-flled brown
pot or soaked pea beans into the oven
when Jimmy ordered 81 wantn
dwinka wata." She catered to his
needs.
That reminded Pat. "I'm hungwy,
too"
But you just had your breakfast.
DEAR Nevertheless, Pat stood pat.
She had made up her mind that she
was 'hungwy"
What do you want? Granger" Mrs.
Mercy was beating eggs for the cnke.
Pat shook her golden curls in denial
Apple? Bread and butter? Baked
potato? Well, what do you want?"
II wanta dwinka wata."
Again Mrs. Mercy went to the sink.
There, now. Don't bother mother
any more"
The innOcents trotted away.
Iaklng advantage of this brief re-
spite. Mrs. Mercy swept the kitchen
floor. washed the dishes, put the nan
of sponge cake mixture into the oven
and began to knead the dough for tn,
cookies. Absorbed In her work, with
her back to the twins, she untimely
rejoiced In this welcome quiet.
Immediately an awful crash. accom-
panied by heart-rending howl Issued
from the den. Her heart jumped. Roll
ing pin In Toured hands, she ran to-
ward that distressed yell. In the midst
OF shattered chlnaware heap sprawled
bawling Tommy. An overturned chair
minus leg, lay near the open closet
door. Anxiously she flew to her pre.
cious. Having assured herself that
her jewel sustained no injuries, she
whipped him so soundly that the -four
flew from her hands.
Then she became aware that Par
was far from idle. AS the full meon.
Ing Of Pats activities penetrated her
senses, she frOze stiff. 1t seemed that
al of the white-flowered wall Daper
border was covered with pltchblack,
meaningless scrawis and hieroglyphics
Blissfully Pat continued hiding any
white spaces left.
"Stop that" the excited woman nj.
most shrieked. Give mother that
GTayG5;."
With seraphic smile, Pat deposited
the waterproof crayon into her moth.
er's outstretched hand
"Why did you do that?"
Tommy do pitcher book" pointing
to the cherished family album on the
floor
The shocked woman hastily picked
1t up. Mad-stark. staring mad-she
surely was going. Her venerable
grandfather's stern countenance
fiaunted midnight nose and earrings.
Her dear grandmother's frank gaze
was hidden by pair of powerful black
eyes. A swarthy beard hung from an
aunts dimpled chin. Uncles. cousins
friends. all displayed Timmy's hideous
jet seals Of approval. TIE frantic
woman clutched her throbbing temples,
dropped into q nearby "hail md cried
long and bitterly
After satisfying deluge she looked
up and sniffed-tearfully and suspl-
ciously. A strange Odor pervaded the
room. With sickening realization
she rushed into the kitchen and threw