Page 95 - 1931 Hartridge

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A few hundred feet away, hidden hy a circuit of paths and hy numerous clumps of trees and bushes, the woman, evidently much agitated, rushed worriedly about, searching et'erywhere with anxious eyes. Audible solilo­
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Page Ninety-one
quy showed her to be as much angered as worried. Her continued mutter- ings revealed the cause of the trouble. “ Where has that little de\'il gone? I might have expected him to sneak away like this at any possible chance. Such a repulsive, naughty, disobedient child I have never seen !— What
will his mother and father do if 1 can’t find him? But why should 1 think of that now. They ought to be glad to lose him anyway. They would, if they had to endure what I do— the stories I must tell hy the dozen to keep him quiet, the questions he asks! ‘Why does teddy bear squeak?’ ‘What
makes birdies Hy?’ And if 1 don’t answer these ridiculous ideas or do any­ thing he wants, how he can fuss and make life a torture! I have never known him to give up trying for anything until he gets it. Oil, I must find
him. Surely he can’t get far in two minutes. dTat naughty child! Life with him is worse than in a purgatory. Oh, what do I see over there by tlie pond? Relief, but wait till I get hold of him! Johnny, come here this
X instant!’’ A little streak of brown could he seen running into a thicket of
shrubs a hundred feet away and vanishing from sight.
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The recent actions of this little character have made known his most prominent trait, desire for independence and longing to see the world for X
himself without perpetual guidance hovering over him. He did not for a X moment imagine himself a hit less capable than any of the older people
who considered themselves so much superior. He possessed a very much
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how it worked. He knew of no worries or cares; he had always been loved X
and petted, and had never been impressed with any fear. To him, the
world offered nothing hut joy, happiness, and a million alluring interests. M. s., ’3I .
exaggerated idea of self-importance. He was obstinate, stubborn, and tryingly persevering when his will was not appeased, and could truly never he termed a “quitter’’ in the matter of fighting to satisfy his own determi­
nation. d'he world was new to him; he had seen very little in his short life­ time and everything with which he came in contact, whether natural or artificial, consumed him with a violent curiosity as to who made it, and