Milford chronicle., 1926-08-27
Home Education
RULE THE TONGUE
Jack Wooten

AS Sammie White passed the Reed
home there came from his mouth
phrases that would make even the
most persistent swearer finch. And
Sanmie was only twelve years old.
His mother, together with Mrs.
Turner, was visiting Mrs. Reed. They
had called to knit and talk the sum-
mer afternoon away. The "damns"
and their even stronger accompani-
ments which Sammie threw to the
wind were blown discordantly to the
front porch so that the three women
could plainly hear. Mrs. White hung
her head, but said nothing. The
others were silent, too. They contin-
ued knitting.
Sammie passed on down the street
-tugging and cursing the old brind-
led cow that was his charge twice
daily. His mother slumped down in
her chair, her eyes fastened upon
her needles. Mrs. Reed and Mrs.
Turner were both conscious of the
fact that the mother was condemn
ing herself for the unbecOming out
bursts of her boy.
AS the silence hovered about the
front porch, Jimmie, Mrs. Reeds
four-year-old son, romped out on
the portico. Behind him came Don,
an old collie dog.
Tired of playing with the four
year-old, the canine dropper his
bushy tail, spoke to the visitors with
a slight switching of the same 1eX-
ible appendage, and then Topped
down by the side of Mrs. Reeds
chair.
Jimmie called to the animal to
come on out in the front yard and
play" but Don lay still. The boy
gave a grunt of disgust and present
" had the dog by the collar.
Come on, Don," he entreated, but
Don refused to bulge. Come on,
Don," Jimmie tugged at the animals
neckpiece, but to no avail. Darn old
fool!" cried the child. Come on!"
"Jimmie!" Mrs. Reeds clear voice
temporarily startled the boy, but not
for long. Insistently he reached
: down again and caught Don by the
collar. Darn old fool" he shouted.
, Come on out and play!"
Mrs. Turner stopped her knitting
! and smiled Intentionally. Mrs. White
kept her eyes on her needles. Mrs.
Reed was looking meaningly at her
/ son.
= Darn old fool, come on!"
Mrs. Reed excused herself and
: taking her little son by the hand led
him into the house. Mrs. White and
? Mrs. Turner listened intently but af-
2 ter the fading footsteps no sound
was heard from them for fully five
: minutes. Then the mother and child
returned cal mand serene.
Mrs. Reed began to talk about the
r Chautauqua, and Jimmie after gaz-
, ing thoughtfully at don said, want
} to play now, DOn?"
Don winked without interest. jim
: mie gazed at him a moment longer
' and then said, "I'll play by myself
then" He gave Don a parting pat
and went out into the yard. After
a minute, Don got up and followed
him.
The visitors were interested. "How
: did you do it?" asked Mrs. Turner
Mrs. White looked more than ever
! self-condemned.
"I had a little quiet talk with him, u
answered the mother. "He is very
fond of automobiles and he saw what
happened once when man tried TO
run machine before he knew how.
! I showed him that it was quite as
necessary to be able to rule the ton
que. He said, If you don't, does it
! , make you bump into things? and
proved to him that it did"
Mrs. Turner was voluminous in
her concentrations Mrs. White said
nothing but in her heart was a ray of
hope. "I could do something like
that" she thought.