t
truth Pa basted me, and yanked me around until I had to have my arm in a
sling, but what's the use of making such a fuss about a few cats. Ma said
she never wanted to have my company again, 'cause I spoiled everything.
But I got even with Pa for basting me, this morning, and I dassent go
home. You see Ma has got a great big bath sponge as big as a chair
cushion, and this morning I took the sponge and filled it with warm water,
and took the feather cushion out of the chair Pa sits in at the table, and
put the sponge in its place, and covered it over with the cushion cover,
and when we all got set down to the table Pa came in and sat down on it to
ask a blessing. He started in by closing his eyes and placing his hands up
in front of him like the letter V, and then he began to ask that the food
we were about to partake off be blessed, and then he was going on to ask
that all of us be made to see the error of our ways, when he began to
hitch around, and he opened one eye and looked at me, and I looked as
pious as a boy can look when he knows the pancakes are getting cold, and
Pa he kind of sighed and said 'Amen' sort of snappish, and he got up and
told Ma he didn't feel well, and she would have to take his place and pass
around the sassidge and potatoes, and he looked kind of scart and went out
with his hand on his pistol pocket, as though he would like to shoot, and
Ma she got up and went around and sat in Pa's chair. The sponge didn't
hold more than half a pail full of water, and I didn't want to play no
joke on Ma, cause the cats nearly broke her up, but she sat down and was
just going to help me, when she rung the bell and called the hired girl,
and said she felt as though her neuralgia was coming on, and she would go
to her room, and told the girl to sit down and help Hennery. The girl sat
down and poured me out some coffee, and then she said, 'Howly Saint
Patrick, but I blave those pancakes are burning,' and she went out in the
kitchen. I drank my coffee, and then took the big sponge out of the chair
and put the cushion in the place of it, and then I put the sponge in the
bath room, and I went up to Pa and Ma's room, and asked them if I should
go after the doctor, and Pa had changed his clothes and got on his Sunday
pants, and he said, 'never mind the doctor, I guess we will pull through,'
and for me to get out and go to the devil, and I came over here. Say,
there is no harm in a little warm water, is there? Well, I'd