Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-10-28
MRS. HRAGDEN'> LESSON.

a. | can 10 get your dress finished
for YOU TO wear TO Fanny Swasey 5
party, aud here YOU are bOthering
me so that | can hardly see what
I'm about"
Il don't want TO go TO the party"
said Susie, in half-fretfnl, half
tired tone; Il don't like Fanny Swa-
sey; she puts on airs. And l don't
want dress all fused up. Ii takes
you so long TO make il, you never
pay no 'tention 10 me"
Susie, | should think you'd be
ashamed of yourself" said Mrs.
! Bragden, as she sewed away on the
muslin dress that was all one mass
Of ruffles and putis, and looked any
thing but suitable for little girl of
six. Il work so hart for you all the
time, and that's all the thanks l get.
! See here. child. Now isn't that
pretty! Don't you think its very
kind in me 10 be sewing 50 hard for
YOU this warm day."
But don't want you to sew for
me, " persisted Susie, hanging on to
her mothers skirts. Il want YOU
10 take me up in your lap"
"Why, Susie Bragden, / should
think YOU were little baby" re-
piled her mother, still busy with the
putis and furbeiows. 'Pm ashamed
OF you. Run away, do; you bother
me TO death"
Il don't want TO run away"
| whined Susie. Il am just as tired
as can be. Do take me up, man.
ma: and Susie twisted and w riggled
( herself against her mother, as only
! child can twist and wriggle, and at
last caught one of the muslin ruffies
in button on the back of her dress,
and twItched out the gathering
/ string.
"There," cried Mrs. Bragden, Civ
ing Susie a slight push, but speak
| ing in a very impatient tone, "now
! see what YOU have dOnei L declare,
( that is too provoking. Now run
! away by yourself, and don't come
near me again thi8 afternoon. You
J are enough TO drive me distracted"
Poor little Susie ran out of the
/ room, crying as if her heart would
I break, and Mrs. Bragden was left 20
/ finish her rufties and puffs in silence.
At six o'clock her husband came
home from the city, and coming di-
rectly up stairs into the room where
his wife was working, said:
"Wcll, hasn't il been warm day!
Almost equal to the Fourth of July.
Why, where's Susie:"
20. don't know" replied Mrs.
Bragden; | haven't seen her for an
hour or two. She was in here then,
and worried me out of my senses
whining 10 be taken up, just a. il
she were little baby. / really thiak
George, YOU pet her too much.n
Il don't agree with you, said Mr..
Bragden. 81 don't think petting
ever hurt child, provided IL docs
not degenerate into inordinate in
diligence. / don't think Susie has
seemed quite like herself for week,
taad she feels this hot weather very
1 much. | think IL would be betTer
! for her if YOU paid less attention to
her clothes and more To her com
fort"
.George, how YOU do talk" re-
piled Mrs. Bragden, looking nD in
I surprise. for her husband was OEe OF
the kindest Of men, and rarely spoke
so severely 10 his wife or any one
else. ANY one WOuld think, TO hear
( YOU talk, | neglected the child. I
| think ann Just as fond of her rs you
are, even if don't think il necessary
10 stop nay work to crafty every
} whim of hers
Il know Won are very fond of her,
/ dear" replied her husband; ''but
! YOU don't seem 10 think that after
all she is Just little child, and If she
is rretful and troublesome at times,
isit to be wondered at? We certain
IN should not expect more self-con-
troll Ia our children than we have
ourselves
Mr.. Bragdcn left the room TO hunt
up his little daughter, and once more
Mrs Bragdcn was left 10 do her sew
ing in silence: but her work did not
interest her - much asit had before
her hu- bands 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 layished upon her all the
little pet names, all the fond greet
iugS that warm. impulsive nature
could suggest. lie was never so
busy or 80 tired but he had a gentle
word OF loving carcss for her when
ever she came near him. lie never
spoke har>hly or impatiently 10 her
when, like all other children she
@ayc way TO naughty freaks. but re-
proved her gently and firmly.
On the other hand, Mrs. Bragden
was very uneven in her treatment oil
susie. At times she was almost
passiOuately ydcmOnstraiive with her
but she had not patience enough tC
bear with any little childish out
burst Of temper which Susie might
exhibit. As Mr.. Bragden laYished
upon his daughter every term Of en-,
dearIuent that came To- his lips, 81
Mrs Bragden lavished upon her al
be elaborate clothing and childish
AEnamcnlS that her ingenious fancy
cTNd invent and skillful fingers exc
cute. A. the hcatheHs show thei
devotion to their idols by deckin!
them in costly Jewels, and LAYING a
their feet rare works OF art an1
nature. so she showed her affection
for her child by arTaying herin puff
and rufiieS, feathers and laces. unit
the child looked more like a Erencl
doll than creature Of real flesh ant
blood
A. the tea bell sounded. Mrs
Bragden prepared to lay aside he
work until evening, but before sh
had fairly done 50, her husband en-
terc the room, bearing in mis- arm
little susie, who lay with her hea
thrown back on his shoulder in
deep but unnatural sleep.
What is the matter?" asked Mr.;
Bragden. in an anxious tone, for sh
law from her husbands face tina
something WAS wrong.
Il have sent for the DOCTOR" re
piled hcr hU- band, rs he laid Susi
on the bed. s'I think she is goin
10 be very H.
Where did YOU find herr" aske
Mrs Braglen, almost in a whisper
her heart reproaching her for he
impotence TO her child. "What hs
happened 10 hcrt'
Il don't know that anything Ia
happened that we could have Or,
vented" !" said Mr.. Bra2den, helpin
his wife 10 mfasten Susie's clothe
for her trembling fingers Woul
hardly DO her bidding. Il foun
her away up in the garret. She ha
thrown herself down in front of a
open window, and evidently erie
herself to sleep. She was moanin
and tossing her arms about; but II
hard as can, | cannot wake her.
Don't be frightened, dear; il ma
not be anything serious, after ALL
But [ knew we should both fe
easier if the doctor were here"
Susie, darling" said Mrs. Bra
den, bending over the still sleepiI