The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-07
GLIFFORD'S CAP.

E The Coagregusonaltst.
GLIFFORD'S CAP.
BY FRANCIS LEE.
WILLY and are going out to grandma
Denise's to-day but suppose you can't
go with us, Generalf"
Clifford looked up quickly from the ship
he was drawing,
"Why not? You knoso 1 have been
wanting to 60 out there for month" said
he. Why can't goY"
"Oh we are going in about i've min
untes, and it isn't likely you can find your
cap in that time. Peter Shangle is here
with his old donkey, and we are going to
ride over, but he won't wait" answered
Fred.
"My cap" cried Clifford, starting up
in great confusion. Ma, where is my
cap?"
aI don't know, my son." replied Mrs.
Gabriel, with discouraged sigh.
She had been asked that same question
so many, many times!
"Where do you think it is! Where do
you guess maybe it is, perhapss" persisted
Clifford, looking helplessly around the
room.
"Cliford, dear, don't you remember /
told you this morning you must find your
t1hgs for yourself hereafters" returned
his mother.
"But Just only for this once, MAJ The
boys won't wait; there is Peter now
Begin tomorrow with me, and then I'll
put my things in their places, and know
just where they are every time" Clifford
pleaded.
But Mrs Gabriel shook her head, with
that little quick shake she never took back.
"All aboard, General Disorder !" called
out Fred from the doorstep.
"Lucy, don't you know where my cap
iss" cried Clifford, half distracted.
"Boys, do wait one minute"
"You must not 60 away leaving your
paints and paper scattered over the table"
said Mrs. Gabriel, looking very indiffer
ent, but wishing with her whole heart it
was best to help him, "but just only for
this once"
"Time's upI" shouted Fred from the
tail of Peters old cart
~Gol" cried Peter, tapping the bits of
rope he used for reins, and touching up
the donkey with a grapevine branch.
Clifford rushed in dark closet under
the hall stairs, and lying down on q trunk
cried out his disappointment; and when
he came from the closet the first thing he
saw was his cap on the floor behind the
hall door, that, standing open, had hidden
it before.
Here is my cap, ma; hadn't lost il"
said he, going in the sitting room looking
pink and subdued like rose after
shower. But his tone suddenly changed
to one of horror "Wby, baby Gabriel
Ma, just see what she has donel" he
cried.
Mm-m-m :" answered the baby, shut
ting her eyes tight and shaking her curly
head.
"Grandpa's beautiful ship, ma. 1t was
almost finished, and now see herel Baby
has wrinkled it and spit on it and torn it
and spoiled it. Why didn't somebody see
to her and take it away? l can't possibly
do another before grandpa's birthday"
"She couldn't have got the picture If 1t
had been in its place" replied Mrs. Ga
briel, calmly. at was nothing to me-"
Clifford felt very unhappy, but he had
cried out his tears; 50 he sat down by the
window and looked so sorry that his
mothers heart ached for him But she |
did not say anything, for talking had not
cured him and she thought it best to try |
aQObncI way, duu lCt lAhhu oSS " AAese WOohA |
happen if nobody did the work that be-
longed to him to do.
al suppose Fred and Willy are out to !
grandma's by this time, pretty near. l
shouldn't wonder if they are under the |
peach tree eating peaches this very min
ute-like enough, perhaps" thought Cliff
ford, mournfully. "And grandma always, |
most, makes me little pie and gives me !
some maple sugar when go there, and all |
the milk / can drink possibly"
Then ne took out his watch to see If
there had been time enough for his broth
ers to be really enjoying these delights
already. "Motherl" cried he, when he |
looked at it, any watch has stopped! l
didn't wind it this morning What shall |
I do? Now Aunt Elizabeth won't give |
me the chaini"
81 suppose not am sorry" said his |
mother, quietly.
Poor Ciifordi He felt as though every |
misfortune was happening at once, for |
when Aunt Elizabeth gave him the watch |
on his birthday, she had promised him q |
chain for it if he would not let it run |
down for three months Two months had |
passed, and this was the first time he had |
forgotten it; but he knew very well it !
was also the first time his mother had not |
asked if he had wound it.
Presently Lucy broke in upon his mel
ancholy thoughts.
"Clfford I" she cried from the garden,
come out here, quick Hurryp
Clifford jumped through the low, open
window upon the piazza.
"What is it, Lucys Wherey' he
asked
"Willy's rabbitsl They are gone
Somebody left the door open" answered
Lucy, "and we can't find them Benny
and l. We've been looking every place.
We s'posed you he'd gone to grandma
Denise's."
Clifford's heart choked him He re-
membered leaving the door OF the pen un-
fastened while he went for q cabbage leaf;
and then the oysterman came, and running
in to see if his mother wished any, he for
got to 60 back
at is the fault of that lazy oysterman
this time" thought he, trying, like his
grandfather Adam, to excuse himself "1f
he had gone to the kitchen door, as the
way was for him, and not called me, Il
shouldn't have forgotten the rabbits. And
Willy might have stayed home and
seen to them himself"
But these excuses did not satisfy his
conscience as he looked behind every
shrub and clump of flowers in vain search
for the lost pets At last he gave them
up, and went back toward the house.
"Who broke Fred's shovel?" said he,
suddenly stopping short.
al" answered Benny, eomplacently. II
was pounding for my eatqfalo,o to come
and it broked. 1t wa good for nothing"
"Yes, Benny broke it trying to make
caterpillar come out from under the door
STEP" said Lucy.
"How came Benny to have it ?" asked
Clifford, fiercely. Father doesn't allow
any of you little ones in the tool house;
you know he don't"
Benny nodded. az didn't. Il was
right here, and it broked. 1t wa good for
nothing" he repeated.