Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-08-21
Mistel1anu.
Scenes of my Household-A
Day Lost.

was sewing away one morning, fo.
dear life, as the saying is, intending t.
make. a good day of it, and put my
work ahead, when Hetty, m y little
daughter, five years old, gave pull tt
my elbow, and said:
"Mamma.'
"Well, dear, what is wanted?" I die
not look aside from my work, into hel
sweet little face, nor speak in as loving
tones as usual, for the interruption was
not wholly agreeable.
"Can't [ have my wax doll, Mammal
Now this wax doll was a treasured
present from grandmother, highly
priced and carefully treated by Hetty
and after being tenderly nursed by he1
dressed and undressed, on rare occasions
laid away under lock and key in one Of
my bureau drawers.
"Not to-day" was my answer.
"Why not to-day, Mammal
Sure enough, why not to-day? That
was just the question. Was it because
Hetty might injure the doll? No, that
was not the reason; for she was care
full little girl. The true reason was, ]
did not wish to leave my work and lose
five minutes time in going up stairs to
the bureau. Just this, and no more
But, what reply was made to Hetty?-
A very unreasonable and unsatisfactory
one; and such as no mother should ever
make.
"Because you can't have Dolly to-
day."
Because-how many shortcomings
and sins Of omission are covered by this
convenient vaguely meaning, little word,
II won't hurt her, mother, I'll be oh
so careful. Do, mother, let me have
Dolly"
Didn't say that you couldn't have
Dolly?" |
I knit my brows and spoke with some
severity. Having said no, I mnst be
firm. Right or wrong, I must be con-
sistent; that is, have my own will in the
case And as 1 was the stronger of the
two, of course my will decided the ques-
tion between US.
Poor Hetty! She knew something OF
my hard decision of character, and re
tired from the contest As [ turned
my eyes from her face to my work, l
carried in my mind the image of hel
grieving lips, and tear=flled eyes. Was
I rebuked? Yes. Did I repent? Yes.
And go for the doll at once? No I
was busy at my work and could not
spare minute. Sewing seams was OF
more consequence than sowing seeds OF
happiness in the heart Of my child
And then, had I not said that Dolly
was not to make her appearance to-day!
Was [ to break my word? No. I must
be consistent mother, if [ expected to
govern my children Alright.
It was very still in the room for the
next ten minutes Only a sob or two
broke the silence, at first, as Hetty
choked down her disappointment. She
had crept into the great armchair, and
was sitting there idle and silent. After
a while | turned partly around, and
glanced toward her stealthily. Hel
brow was contracted, her lips pursed out
slightly, and over her whole face was a
shade of unhappiness.
"Why don't you get your china doll?'
said I, rather coldly.
II don't want my china doll, she
answered. Fs
"Oh, very we'll, just as you please
my little lady," [ returned and took nc
moresnotice of her for ten minutes lon
ger-all the while working away as in
tently as if our next meal depended OIL
the result Of my labor. was sorry
that [ had not taken the time to ge
Hetty's wax doll; but, as [ had said no
I concluded that it was best to let no re
main in force.
Presently she slipped down from the
arm chair, and went quietly from the
room. l paused in my work, and lis
tened to the light patter of her feet az
she went up stairs.
A faint sigh, born of passing regret
came up from my heart. ssIt woulc
have been better if I had given her the
doll, said I to myself. "But it is toe
late now" ....
So I bent to my sewing again, anc
made the little needle fly with increased
velocity. ----.
Il wonder where that child is, anc
what she is doing?" ..
Nearly half an hour had passed since
Hetty left the room. I paused in my
work as [ asked myself this question
and listened. But [ could hear nj
sound of her. / would have laid dowl
my sewing and gone in search of her
only-what? | felt as if [ could no
spare the timel
"Hetty!'
There was no reply.