Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-01
fir the .Nunte Citfle.
WHAT ONE LITTLE GIRL CAN DO.

WHAT ONE LITTLE GIRL CAN DO.
"My head aches so that can't sit up,
Rena heard her mamma say, one morning
81 don't know what you'll do about break
fast"
20, don't worry about that" answered
herpapal cheerily. "We'l manage itsome'
how"
And sssomehow' it was, sure enough b.
Flies in the cream and butter, biscuits
burned, and table-cloth awry. The little
girls, Rena and Ida, sat at the table in
their night-gowns, which was great deal
worse than flies in the butter, and the table.
cloth awry. But, then, their papa did not
understand housework, and he did the best
he could. . .~... .
eff you were only little bigger now,
what help you could be to mamma when
she is SICK" he said to Rena as he fastened
her frock for her after breakfast. 81 wish
some one was here to take care of Ida.
am afraid she will make noise, and make
your mamma worse," and he looked very
grave as he put on his hat and went away.
"IfI was only little bit larger" thought
Rena, after her papa was gone, 81 could do
so much to help mamma, papa thinks. Now,
I wonder if little girl couldn't help her
some. mean to try
Rena had often seen her mamma wash
dishes, and had sometimes been permitted
to wipe them herself, and she thought it
would be good time to try and see if she
could not wash as well as wipe them. So
she gave Ida some playthings to amuse her
and set herself about her task. 1t took her
a good while, and she made some mistakes,
but at last the dishes we're all nicely washed
and put away.
By this time Ida began to fret little,
and call for her mamma to dress her. "Let
sister dress Ida, said Rena, and she brought
the little shoes and stockings, and the frock,
and the blue ribbons to tie back the sleeves.
Ida always loved to be washed and dress,
ed, and now she sat very still, and gave
Rena not bit of trouble, but when her soft
curls were being brushed, she fell asleep
Then Rena put pillow under her head on
the lounge and left her there, while she
went to see how her mamma was, and to
ask her if she wanted anything.
"Ifeel great deal better" said mamma
cit has been so quiet that I fell asleep, and
had good nap. I really believe could
|get up and get dinner, ifI could only have
a cup of tea first.
Then Rena ran down stairs, and put some
tea in the teapot, and poured some boiling
water upon it, just as she had seen her NAM
ma do SO many times, and in a few minutes
she was standing at her mothers bedside,
with cup of nice tea.
"Why, has you papa come home p asked
her mother.
"No, man," answered Rena, looking
roguish.
s'Who made the tea, then?" she asked,
very much astonished.
81 did, mamma, all by myself"
'Is it possible!" exclaimed her mamma.
"Why, what help my little girl is to me!'
This made Rena so happy, that when she
took the cup down stairs, she looked around
to see if there was not something else she
could do do help her mamma.
Presently Ida woke up and began to cry
for something to eat. Rena soon quieted
her with promise of bread and milk; and
when, few minutes later, her mamma came
down, and found her feeding Ida with a
spoon so as not to spoil her dress, and when
she learned that it was Rena who had dress,
ed Ida so nicely, and had actually washed
the dishes, she said, "How wonderful l
did not know little girl like Rena could
do so much"
And this made Rena feel very glad for
it is pleasant to be praised when we have
succeeded in doing good to others.-Lauro
Spring.