Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-05-12
How Laura Brundige was Burned.


MOTHER" said Bessie Lakin, as she
was combing and braiding her hair one
morning before starting for school,
can't bear Laura Brundige; she's always
calling me names or throwing dirt at me
on the way home, and wish she didn't
live on our road at all" II6
and you don't ever do the same things
in return, do you, my, daughter ?" said
Mrs. Lakin, 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 mo" with
truth, and she was quite unwilling TO
say Eyes"
"Of course, if you don't like Laura"
Mrs. Lakin continued, "you don't wish to
make any effort to crafty or please her;
on the contrary, would rather humble her
than otherwise"
Bessie thought this strange counsel,
coming from the mother who had 50 often
tried to persuade her to bear and forbear,
and she turned round and looked inquir-
ingly at her as she went on.
"And know of a way to treat her that
would secure you one grand triumph over
her, and q lasting one, too, l think it
would be- 1t would hurt her great deal
more than throwing dirt ut her and call
ing her names. Indeed, it might hurt her
worse than if you threw a coal of fire and
hit her with it, for it would really make
her face as red as if she were being burn
ed"
Bessie began to think that her excellent
mother was becoming hard and revengeful,
even more SO than she herself was, for
she did not really wish to infiict 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 always being the case occasioned
considerable face scratching as well as
back. biting between the two girls, neither
of whom were especially amiable in their
"Now," continued Mrs. Lakin, as she
wrapped up nice turnover and laid it IN
Bessie's dinner basket, "as Laura hasn't
any mother, and may be her aunt don't
feel like spending any extra time in FIXING
things that children especially like to eat,
keep 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 manner possible"
Why, am sure, mother, the turnover
would please her the best OF anything:
you were going to tell me of something
which wouldn't please her, thought"
"Well, try what l have told you, my
daughter, and watch the result. You will
see, if mistake not, q little girl very
much ashamed of her conduct, and as red
in the face as if she had been burned
severely" D
Bessie's opportunity soon came. As
she opened the gate to 60 out she saw her
foe approaching from down the street.
The first thing that Laura did when she
came near was to make'a face at Bessie,
and after two or three repetitions of the
unlovely performance, seeing that Bessie
did not, as usual; initiate or exceed the
ugliness of the grimace, she picked up q
little ball of dirt that couple of tumble
bugs" were patiently rolling along, and
which contained the eggs from which their
little ones were to be Matched, and threw
it and hit Bessie square in the face.
This was great deal for a girl pos
sessed of any temper or spirit to bear
without inflicting summary punishment
upon the aggressor.
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 to huri 1t at
her antagonist, when 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 her basket, and taking out little
package handed 1t toward Laura, who at
first was reluctant about taking 1t, evil
IDENTIFY fearing it was torpedo or some
thing else that might do her mischief.
Mother made this for you, Laura,
said Bessie, struggling between her re-
spect for her moi her advice and the an
ger of her own feelings; "open it and see
fit is not somethin 6 you will like.
As Mrs. Lakin had predicted, It seemed
as If something very warm must have APP
preached the region of Laura's face, for it
grew extremely red, and her hands trem-
bled so she could scarcely hold the nice
tidbit she had received in return for the
ugly demonstrations which she had made
OILY few moments before.
They walked ON in silence q little
way then Laura stole close to Bessie's
side, and put her arm cautiously around
her.
az didn't mean to hurt you, Bessie, and
I'll never be mean to you again as long a.
I i've"
"Never mind, y. said Bessie, glow Of
happiness rising into her face as she spied
her mothers white handkerchief waving
from the window as signal Of victory,
II have done wrong, too; we won't quar-
rel any more now, will We .sg go
"No, never" replied Laura, vehement
~. a. not being able to keep the tempting
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