The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-27

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81 wish | could always be lille :" | ex-
claimed the next morning, standing at the top
of the forbidden "slide," down which the boys
and the Younger, though scarcely smaller, girls
were capering. a" | don't want to be young
| lady at all"
Lizzie! Mary take passage on the I'll
ger Lily p" shouted her brother Martin, drag
ging forward his new, tiger-spotted, orange
sled--the gayest of all the gay ones on the
play ground
We shook our heads sorrowfully.
"She's the heetest craft ever launched, tell
you! Come onW
1--WE can't! Mother says we are too big
girls to Slide" answered Lizzie.
"Whew." he whistled, measuring us both,
with his eve. from head to foot. I" Too big
I wouldn't be a girl, anyhow" And with
this gallant and highly gratifying (to HIMSELF
exclamation, he whirled about on his heel, and
slid away.
"Come, Mary" said Lizzie, with a sigh,
let us go and look up the Jumping rope"
And we tried to find some consolation IN
discovering which of us could jump fifty times
1--WE were not allowed to skip longer without
stopping) in the least number of seconds.
Winter, with its sliding days, was nearly
over, when one evening Lizzie and myself
came around there, in one of our Sociable ram
bles. The new moon had just arisen, with
sort of dim veil over her face, and rainbow
halo around it,
1t will rain--or snow-in three days" SAID
Lizzie, decisively.
How do you know 2"
Because, don't you see, there are three
stars inside of the rainbow"
We looked down on the hill. II was smooth,
still, and beautiful the scholars had all gone
home an hour before; Martin was in the vii
lage, half mile off. You can guess what
temptation Jumped into both our heads at once.
"If we had the Tiger Lily y" whispered
Lizzie, glancing around, as though she scarce
w knew whether or no the wish were guilty
one.
81 know where it is" answered, eagerly
"behind the rose-bushes, under the ell window
shed. But-can We? Didn't your mother
forbid us 7"
"N-no, not exactly" answered Lizzie,
rather doubtfully. "She only meant that we
should not slide with the school-boys, nor be
fore people; and am sure no mortal eye, not
even hers, can look upon US now, for she was
in the west wing five minutes ago"
Here was diemma-what should we have
done, children2 Why, have gone and asked
her, to be sure-then we could have gone down
hill with perfectly clear consciences! But
children are not always ready enough to think
Of what is just eractly right; so we satisfied
ourselves by resolving that we would tell hei
afterwards, and that she would not blame US
as we had not broken any positive or implied
command.
"Just one slide!" urged Lizzie, in reply tc
my objections. III answer for it she won'
be angry with u"
We took the "Tger Lily" from its nesting
place 1t looked so beautiful, so feet, and SO
tempting We drew it to the hilltop, both
seated ourselves, and down-away we went
with the swiftness almost of lightning Il
was short pleasure, to be sure but we fell
half afraid of transgressing, should we contin-
ue it,
We drew back the sled, and bounded to the
door-steps to stand watching the CLEANS o.
sunset which the snow still held.
"Well girls! !" said gentle voice.
We looked around, and saw Mrs. Lees kind
eyes smiling upon us, as she came from the
doorway, wrapped in large, warm shawl.
"Will it slump?" she inquired, carefully
putting her foot upon snow-bank.
"Oh, no! il would bear Goliath himselfp
cried Lizzie, with jump upon it.
"Suppose you bring sled and draw me
along upon it little way" said her mother
very good
The idea almost lifted us off the snowbant
with surprise! Mamma upon a hard sled
that grave, sober woman! what icas the worlC
coming to-
We lost no time in seating her upon oul
favorite sled and then, joining hands over the
| handle, we played the part of her two obeden
steeds to our hearts content.
Take one slide, mammal" we both plead
ed, as she was about to arise.
"WellW she acquiesced, after a moments
hesitation.
Pushed with all the strength of our fou
young arms, the "Tiger Lily" darted from
its moorings and swept a swift, graceful curve
downward, while we clapped our hands ant
shouted in glee from our high place of pros
pect. Then, planting our feet firmly on thu
ice, we half slid, half ran to meet her.
Mamma, I'll tell you something" sale
Lizzie, coaxngly, putting her mittened hanC
into her mothers. We have been sliding
too-only oncc-Mary and |. We though
you would be willing; there was nobody tt
look ont"
"Well!" replied Mrs. Lee, quietly, with
rather puzzling smile.
| Did you see US, mammaW urged Lizzie
peeping up in her face.
mo matter, my dear; did you do jus
right?
| Lizzie was silent.
81 don't intend to blame you especially fol
what have just been doing myself" she add
ed, very kindly. "There was nothing wrong
in The slide, only wish you not to be hoydens
and you would have done perfectly right, if
had been aray from home; because then you
would have been left to the exercise of you
own judgments. If | understand it, you in
tended to obey the spirit of my request, while
violating the letter of it,"
Yes, mamma, certainly, that was just ii.
| Now, as | was almost within hearing
would it not have been better to have come il
and let me make the decision, instead of takin.
the responsibility of it upon yourselves %
| Yes, indeed, mamma; for we didn't hal
enjoy our slide, after all! Mayn't we TAX
another ?"
Sc Not tonight, my girls; it is growing dark
and the south wind comes up chill we"wi
90 in to our reading"
| LiZzie's astronomical calculations were nc
perfectly correct; for the storm of rain cam
on that night, melting all our snow banks, an
ushering in the spring
That was I" my last slide" But it ever tn
winter comes that does not tie me with dutie
within doors, and if such merry voices as thes
now ringing in my ears are there 10 ennce m
to ride on such sled, down such a hill,
hardly think the one have told you OF will b
finally my last slide J.!
THE DIS0BLlGING BOY.
aware of it. Now there was Sam Hobbs, a