Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1896 — At Any Cost. [ARTICLE]

At Any Cost.

In wrath and tears Edith Howlett had gone to bed. She had been tucked In once, given a drink twice, kissed good-night three times and the lamp had - been extinguished, but the spark of rebellion still burned in her childish soul. “Mamma,” she cried. “Go to sleep, Edith,” her mother said, sternly; “I shall not come in there again!” “I want a drink, mamma,” Edith pleaded. “You’ve had two drinks already. Now go to sleep.” There was a brief silence, and then Edith tried again. “Mamma, come and kiss me goodnight.” “You’ve been kissed good-night, dear, and I shall not come in again, so go to sleep at once like a good girl.” There was another pause, while the lonely child cudgeled her little brain for a new expedient. “Mamma,” she cried, a last, “please come In; I’m so hungry.” “You cannot have anything to eat tonight, and if I come in there again,” the mother said, with rising color, “it will be to give you a good spanking!” There was a longer pause, and just as it began to look as if the evening’s battle w r ere over the child’s voice was heard again. “Mamma,” she pleaded, “I’m so lonely in here. Please come in and spank me.”—Harper’s Magazine.