New Britain herald., 1923-12-31
When Richard second Held the

When Richard second Held the Center of the Stage.
 Harriet Braitwaite, herself was the first to recover from the bomb which Junior had just set off. Although she must have known from the child's lsping but perfectly clear utterances that her mother had referred to her as ''an anoints< idiot over Edwin she did not permit even a hint of aunoyance to cloud her eyes as she stopped and kissed my small son again
 T imagine l am dear" she said simply.
 T fought so," Junior observed gravely. but panze links you know more now. She told Auntie Lillian dat
 But what my poor mother-in-law, flushed and pcrspiring had told Lil- liam concerning her daughter was silenced in the chorus of warning exclamations which descended upon Juniors luckless head. Even Marion with perception beyond her years, joined in attempts to distract his at- tention which her mother and I promptly set in motion. Mother Graham, herself however, swiftly re- gaining her poise, lifted her head in a gallant maintenance of her position.
 Love so Disgrace
 Well, I did say it" she asseYer- ated stoutly. I'm not going to lie about if. And it's no disgrace that I ever heard of, for R woman to be devoted to her husband. But I do think you've put him too much above your own flesh and blood. Harriet. and that I'll say with my dying breath, like 1t or lump it, as you please"
 looked anywhere but at Liliiss, for as it was had my work cut out for me to control my laughter mus rles, and my embarrassed, rowing gaze caught my mother-in-law's eyes and set fire to them as might match to dry pine cones. CharacteriSticaIly she struck out blindly. as might some thing wounded. instnctively seizing upon the surest way to hurt me,
 AS for you, Richard Second" she said in a mjestic voice, you are very bad boy to repeat things you hear. I am angry at you. But, then, l suppose l can expect nothing else"
 Her tone intimated that it was use less for her to try to combat the ef- fleets of my injudieious training. But cared no whit for the slur. l did dread intensely, however, any hurt to my little lads feelings, and I knew that he had intended no harm. His propensity for repeating things with uneanny precision in season and out of season would have to be cured but I fiattered myself that I could ae- complish the task without humiliating his baby pride.
 The Laughter l. lnfertious
 l expected a tempestuous burst af sobs but instead Junior drew his 1 straight plump little body erect and ! faced his grandmother with eyes so lndicrously like her own in argument | that l bit my lips hard to keep hack | the smile twisting them.
 "Me NOT Richard second" he 1 said stoutT lapsinE into the baby 1 talk he rapidly has been shedding i Me Dooner, Dick Bird Graham 1 nooner. Richard Second, dats a name. you bet your boots" 1
 Bif nTpDENI INF ldNI WOlON nUl lH . so emphatic and realistic imitation . Of Katie that iron hands could not . have held our risibes Lillian. Harriet. . and exploded into laughter but i Mother Graham turned with awful 1 hauteur upon mc,
 T hope you arc satisfied, MafEa ret she began icily, with the re- suit Of your ridiculous training. Tine | child not only flaunts my authority. but denies the name which is the only proper one for him to have. and that chimpanzce appella- ton that my sons fool friends have given him. When I think Of how have slaved and sacrificed for my"
 knew the rest 'of the coming speech by heart. but it was not that which made me interrupt her. saw that underneath her apparent arro- gance and ill-temper she was sorely hurt and humiliated. Her adored grandson not only had embarrassed her in the eyes Of her daughter whom she had not seen for so long. but had noHted her authority publicly. This To d woman who prided herself upon her discipline was unbearable. It was
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