Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1881 — The Society Boy. [ARTICLE]

The Society Boy.

There was a little company np on Dayton street, and daring the entertainment the hostess dragged ner hopeful to the front to “speaka piece.” “Come, Johnny, like a good boy, and speak ‘ Mary’s little lamb ’ for the ladies and gentlemen.” Johnny knew that there was remuneration in the background, and, the preliminaries having been arranged in an undertone, slicked hi* hair and started in : “ Mary had a little fleece. Its snow was white as wool, And every time that Mary lambed That fleece would go to school.” “ Now, now, Johnny,” said his mother, “you know that isn’t right. Bay it just as you did this afternoon and I’U—here she broke into a maternal whisper, and the inevitable nuisance turned up again : “ Mary had a little lamb, Whose white was snow as fleece, And everywhere that Mary went That lamb would go apiece.” « Johnny, Johnny, ” chided the mother. “ That isn’t quite right. Speak it right this time. The ladies and gentlemen never heard it. Now go on. ” Once more the common and inextinguishable fraud went at it: “ Mary had a little snow, Its fleeca was Uncd with white, And everywhere the lamb would ge Mary was sure to bite.” “What a haughty boy I” exclaimed the proud mother, who had been training the oub all the afternoon for this display. “ Now speak it right or mamma won’t Idas you when you go to bed. ” Thus prepared, the insect perpetrated himself once more: “ Mary had a little wool, Its fleece was lined with snow. And everyone that Mary fleeced, The white was sure to show.” • “I’m ashamed of you, Johnny, that yon don’t speak it right. You must do it this time or mamma will have to punish you.” “ I won’t!” bawled the urchin. But his mother promised him some additional candies, or buns, or clams, or something that had the great social advantage of lying heavily on his stomach, and the wretch began to bawl: 11 Mary had a little school, Its snow was fleece as lamb, And everywhere that Mary went, You’d surely find that ram.” Then the guests very properly interfered, and said it was a shame to torment the sweet child. He had done nobly, and should have his pay right off. And his mother packed him off to bed while the company found solace ia the reflection that he would probably burst his head before morning bawling with the stomachache and writhing under the nightmare.— Brooklyn Eagle.