98 ROUND ABOUT CHICAGO 



Cottage but the strangeness of the road in 

 the gathering darkness terrified her, and she 

 spoke in no uncertain terms of the danger and 

 the impropriety of being on a country road alone 

 at night. The big boy bristled with indignation. 

 She could not see what we found to enjoy in such 

 things, and all the way home she was glum as 

 a thunder cloud. So, of course, was the Only 

 Child. We should have been angry had we not 

 been amused. 



They reached home despondent and pale, 

 vowing that they hated the country. We have 

 been to Palos many times since. They have not. 

 Indeed, we notice a changed manner. They are 

 not as cordial as formerly. 



A certain church club includes both Mother 

 and our neighbor. It was the latter's turn to 

 preside at a meeting not long ago, and in her best 

 gown and sweetest millinery she spoke feelingly 

 to the ladies of their unfortunate city children, 

 pining for fresh air and having only the streets 

 to play in. (This is a figure of speech, for they 

 live in a neighborhood of large yards and vacant 

 blocks and clean lake breezes.) She urged that 

 mothers take their children to the country, where 

 they could be "alone with human nature." 



Mother was convulsed at the words and aghast 



