The Van Buren press., 1871-06-20
MISCELLANY.
From the New Orleans Sunday Times.
The Little Plague.
BY LEONA.

"She is the worst child ever saw, un-
Gle! You will yet repent the day you
brought her here; she is Of no earthly
use but to tease and torment She rides
the horses Observation-Disclosures summer
saults, stands on her head, and does such
dreadful things! l declare she will ruin
May. Do please, Uncle Thomas, send
her to some strict school; she is such q
plague!'
Mr.. Thomas Buckram looked perplex-
ed us Mrs. Goddard closed her impatient
speech. Never within the ten years that
he had sheltered Ellen Goddard and her
orphan child had he heard single com
plant fall from her lips, until he brought
Irene Pratt, the homeless child Of an old
friend, to share his home.
Thomas Buckram was a bachelor He
had in early. life hard struggle with the
world for independence and wealth from
that struggle he came forth victorious,
an happy in the thought that he had al
ways led an honest life, and tried to do
right. Warm hearted and charitable by
nature, his bitter struggle with men did
not chill his faith in the good and pure
1t was this charity which led him to take
Irene Pratt home, and beg his niece to
be kind to her for poor Wills sake. )"
Mrs. Goddard's little daughter May
was a delicate, quiet child, who loved
books and needlework, and seldom play
ed out of the house Irene Pratt sobbed
and cried away the first few days in her
new home, then she seemed to become
reconciled, and began to delight in mis-
chievous pranks until she well nigh mer
tied the name Of 4" Little Plague. "
Mr.. Buckram looked thoughtfully into
Mrs. Goddard's face, and deep shade
of anxiety stole into his dark eyes as he
replied;
"Wel Ellen, we must make the best
Of it. The child is wild little creature
but she has a warm heart, if we can only
find it. Poor thing, how she loved her
father! Ifyou could have seen her cling
to his coffin as did. ] promised win
that l would see that she was cared for
poor Will Try and bear with her a
little longer, Ellen; then if you do not
succeed in reforming her shall send her
away. For my sake, Ellen, try and do
something for this poor child. "
For your sake, dear Uncle ? l will do
anything for you; but l feel like lost
mariner without compass. The way
ward little plague is SO ungovcrnable |!
My little May is so docile and sweet !
have never had an hours trouble with
her. ="
"Yes, Ellen; but May is 80 quiet. Do
you know often think that il she had a
little of Ircne's tomboy propensity. she
would become stronger, and in better
health
"Oh, uncle | would die with NORTH
cation if my child should act as she does.
Do you know she climbed that large oak,
and actually pelted DR.. James with
acorns, as he rode up the avenue ycster-
day ?"
Mr. Buckram laughed heartily, and
said
~ did not think she would climb that
tree. dare say the Doctor thought
was putting his pet theory into practice.
You know he told you to send May out
to climb trees and fences, though don't
think he bargained to be peltcd with
acorns.
"I cannot have her playing such tricks
on my visitors, Please speak to her
about it, uncle; for she braves my au.
thority, and actually makes faces at me y
"You must be firm with her, Ellen
but, my dear, do not mistake childish
mischief for wickedncss. Where is she
now"
81 do not know; I'm sure it would
kill stout woman to keep up with her. "
Mr. Buckram walked out Of his study
which his niece. had invaded to. make her
complaints, bent on finding the child. A
servant directed him to the stables,
another to the pig.sty, and third to the
pen where the cows were driven to be
MIXED. At the latter place he saw Irene
perched on high fence, seemingly en-
gagged in conversation. Mr.. Buckram
paused and listened.
"Sukey. you are pretty COW pretier
than Brindle. But are you good COW,
Sukey2 Do you tell your calf that she
shant kick up her pretty heels, and shake
herself, and roll over and over in the
dirt? Do you pinch her, and shake her,
and make her 60 to bed without her sup
per? If you do, you are bad COW,
Sukey; for your calf sees the birds flying
and the squirrels running up the trees,
and the sun shining, and she wants to
have some iun too! Don't get mad at
me, Sukey, because I'm little, and tell you
what think, for you know when you