The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-11-09
Mrs. Bragden s Lesson.


Won't you take me up in your IapY
| ''NO, child, I can't" said Mrs
Bragden, in reply to her littl,
daughter. "I am hurrying as fas
as 1 can to get your dress finished
for you to wear to Fanny Swasey'i
party, and here you are botherine
me so that 1 can hardly see wha
I'm about"
81 don't want to go to the party
said Susie, in q half-fretful, hal
tired tone; 81 don't like Fam,
Swasey; she puts on airs. And
don't want a dress all fused up
1t takes you so long to rake it
you never pay no 'tention to me" "
"Susie, 1 should think you would
be ashamed of yourself" said Mrs.
Bragden, as she sewed away on the
muslin dress that was all one mass
Of rufles and pufs, and looked
anything but suitable for a little
girl Of six. "I work so hard for you
all the time, and that's all the
thanks Iget. See here child. Now
isn't shat pretty? Don't you think
its very kind in me to be sewing so
hard for you this warm dayT2
but 1 ,ion't want you to sew
for me-" persisted Susie, hanging
on to her mothers skirts. 81 want
you to take me up in your lap"
why, Susie Bragden, I should
think you were a little baby" re-
piled hec mother, still busy with
the puffs and furbeiows. I'm
ashamed Of you. Run away, do;
you bother me 20 death "
81 don't want to run away"
whined Susie. 81 am just as tired
as l can be. Do take me up, man.
ma; and Susie twisted and wrig-
gled herself against her mother, as
only child can twist and wriggie,
and at last caught one Ofthe muslin
rufiies in a button Oh the back of
her dress, and twitched out the
gathering string.
"There!' cried Mrs. Bragden,
giving Susie a slight push, but
speaking in very impatient tone,
now see what you have done! l
declare that is too provoking.
Now run away by yourself, and
don't come near me again this af-
ternoon. You are enough to
dive me distracted"
Poor little Susie ran out Of the
room, crying as if her heart would
break, aud Mrs. Bragden was lett
to finish her rufIies and pufs in ST.
lence.
Atsix o'clock her husband came
home from the city, and coming di-
rectly up stairs into the room where
his wife WAS working, said:
We'll, hasn't it been warm day?
Almost equal to the Fourth OF July,
Why, where's SusieY'
20, l don't Know" replied Mrs.
Bragden; l haven't seen her for an
hour or two. She was in here then
Al wortie me olt OF my senses,
whining to be taken up, just as il
she were little baby. l really
think George, you pet her too
much
81 don't agree with you," said
Mr. Bragden. Il don't think petit
ing ever hurt child providing it
does not degene. ate into inordinate
indulgence. / don't think Susie
has seemed quite like herself for
week, ami she feels this hot wealth
er very much. think it would he
better for her ifyou paid less atten-
tion to her dress and more to her
comfort"
George, how You do talk" re-
piled Mrs. Braglen, looking up in
surprise, for her husband was one
Of the kindest of men, and rarely
spoke so severely to his wife or any
one else. ANY one wQplI think,
to hear you talk, neglected the
child. l think am just as fond
of her as you are. even if 1 don't
think it necessary to stop my
work to crafty every wh1m of
hers"
81 know you arc very fond Of her,
dear" replied her husband; ''but
you don't seem to think that after
all she is just little child, and if
She is fretful aAd troublesome at
times, is it to be wondered at? We
eltainly shonld not expect more
self-control in our children than
we have ourselves"
Mr.. Bragden left the room to
hunt mp his little daughter, and
once more Mrs. Bragden was left
to do her sewing in silence; but
her work did not interest her as
much as it bad before her husbands
entrance. She loved her only child
very dearly, but she showed her
love in a very different way from
that in which her husband did. He
lavished upon her all the little pet
names, all the fond greetings that
a warm, impulsive nature could
suggest. He was never so busy or