The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-05-05
How Laura Brunsli;ge WAS Burned.


How Laura Brundige WAS Burned.
"MoTHER," sal ssie Lakin, as she
was combing and brailiHg her hair one
morning before starting for school,
can't bear Laura Brundige: she's always
calling ne names or throwing dirt at me
on the way home. and I wish she didn't
| live on our road ar al
"And you don't ever - the same things
in return, do you, my daughter - said
| Mrs LakiD, looking up into the frowning
face of the little girl, with smile.
Bessie did not answer. She knew very
well that she could not say "no" with
truth, ard she was quite unwilling 10
say "yes"
"Of course, if you don't like Laura"
Mrs. Lakin continued, you don't wish to
make any eff,rt to crafty or please her;
or the contrary. would rather humble her
than otherwise"
Bessie thought this strange counsel,
coming from the mother who had so often
tried to persuade her to bear and torbear,
and she turned round and looked iDquir-
ingly at her as she went on.
And know of a way to treat her that
yOul1 secure you one grand triumph over
| her, and lasting one, too, | think IL
more than throwing dirt at her and call
| ing her names. Indeed. it might hurt her
worse than if you threw coal of fire and
hit her with it, for it would really make
ber face as red as if she were being burn
ed"
Bessie. began to think that her excellent
mother was becoming hard and reyeDgeful,
even more so than she herself was, for
she did not really wish to inflct any very
sever injury upon her disagreeable school
mate when the truth of the matter was
reached, for Bessie was kind-hearted
enough when that little temper of hers
was perfectly quiet and under control, but
| this not al ways being the case occasloned
considerable face scratching as well as
back-biting between the two girls, neither
of whom were especially amiable in their
dispositions.
" Now" continued Mrs. Lakin, as she
wrapped up nice turnover and lad 1t IN
Bessie's dinner basket, as Laura hasn't
any mother, and may be her aunt don't
feel like spending any extra time III hXlng
things that children especially like to eat,
kee p this until to night, and if Laura be-
gins to throw dirt or sticks at you you can
return the courtesy by not throwing ex-
actly, but by conveying the turnover into
her hands in the gentlest mannerposSibie."
"Why, am sure, mother, the turnover
would please her the best OF anything:
you were going 10 tell me OF something
which wouldn't please her, thought"
"Well, try what | have told YOU, my
daughter, and watch the result. You VIII
see, if | mistake not, little girl very
much ashamed of her conduct, and IS red
in The flee as if she had been burned
severely"
Bessie's opportunity soon came. As
she opened the gate 10 90 out She SAW her
foe approaching from down the street
The first thing that Laura did whea she
came near was to make lace at Bessie,
and after two or three rcpctitIons ol the
UnlOyely performance seeing that Bessie
did not, as usual, initiate or exceed the
ugliness of the grimace, she picked up
little hall of dirt that couple of tumble
bugs" were patiently rolling along, and
which contained the eggs from W hlch their
little ones were To be matched, and threw
it and hit Bessie square in the face.
This was a great deal for girl pos
sessed of any temper or splrlt To pear
without infiicting summary punishment
upon the aggTessOr.
Bessie's lace flushed angrily as she took
out her handkerchief and wiped the dust
from her face. She hastily caught up "A
small stone, and was about 10 huri II at
her antagonist, wnen looking back to-
ward home. she saw her mother standing
in the door and, as she knew, watching
with some anxiety the result of the en-
counter
Her hand fell to the ground She
opened heI basket and taking out a il'tle
nackage handed il toward Laura, who AT
I first was reluctant about taking 1t, cvi-
IDENTIFY fearing it was torpedo or some
thing else that might do her mischief
"Nlother made this for you, Laura,
said Bessie, struggling between her re-
snect for her mot her advice and the an
ger of her own feelings; open II and see
if 4 is not something you will like.
AS Mrs. Lskin had predicted, IL seemed
rs il something very warm must nave ap
nroochel the region OF Laura 5 face, Tor NJ
rev extremely red, and her hands trem-
hlei so She could scarcely hold the nice
,idhit she had received in return Tor the
ugIv demonstrations which she had made
osly a few moments before. -,
They walked on in silence little
NOV then Laura stole close TO Bessie :
s;Se and nut her arm cautiously around
II didn't mean to hurt you, Bessie, and
I,u never be mean to you again as long as
live" .,- or
"Never mind" SAID Bessie, glow oI
boDr;pess rising into her iace as she sped
her mothers white handkerchief waving
from the window as a signal OF victory
al have done wrong, too; we wont quar-
rel any more now, Will We:
"No, never" replied Laura, vehement
" As not being able to keep the tempting
meTsel until noon, she munched away a,
the nice turnover; " this is 50 good, and !!
haven't had any before since mother died.
Then the tears ran over from her eyes,
a,d BESSIE felt she had never before
gained such triumph, not even when
once she had pushed her enemy into a
r mudnnddle, from which she emerged the
laughing stock of the whole school,
: Golden Hour.