American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-06-29
KATHIE'S NEW SHOES.

| Mamma, oh, mamma! There's grea
big hole in my shoe! Just see, mamma
don't it look funny?"
The poor, tired, handwriting woman
looked YEARLY at the little gaping shoe
and said: mo; Kathie, it does not lool
funny at all. I am very sorry you were
SO careless of these, for you know papa
| has to work hard to give us enough to eat
and 1 think you will have to go bare
footed for awhile."-
The child's lip quivered, but she said
| nothing; only ran outdoors again to heI
mud-pies by the old wood shed, thinking
to herself: 81 know my papa has to work
hard, and I'm sorry; but great big stone
cutted my shoe, and didn't do it bit!''
And tear rolled down the fat, rosy
cheek. ''Oh, dear! wish I was great
big man like papa, and I'd have gold
house, and a silver chair, and lots of
things. An mamma should come and
live with me, -and-Oh, my! Where
is my Seraphina Amanda Jane?" And
off ran Kathie after the doll.
1t was very strange dolly, and doubt
if ever a little girl who lives in the East
ern States has seen one like it. Its body
was clOthes-pin, with two hair pins for
arms, and a walnut head! The face was
linked on, and one corner of the mouth
twisted up and met one corner of the eye
in very strange manner! Poor Dolly
had no joints, and always had to sleep
with her eyes open.
But it's little mistress dressed it in scraps
of silk and muslin that mamma had hid
away, and altogether, Seraphina Amanda
Jane was quite stylish young lady; at
least, so thought Kathie.
That night at the tea-table Mrs. Harris
said: John, Kathie has worn out her
shoes. Can we afford her any new ones?"
.Shoe the horse and shoe the mare
But let the little colt go BARE
said papa, laughing. Then he added:
''Kathie might pick berries and earn some
shoes!"
So all the evening Kathie sat on the
doorstep repeating to herself: Earn
amt anything but little girl yet. When
Pm big man like papa, then I'll earn
shoes"
And the last thing she said before she
went to sleep was-"Oh-how I-wish-
I-could ~ And she dreamed that little
man came and threw some brig ht, red
shoes with blue ties and silver toes, right
on the foot of her bed and then ran
away
The next day, after Kathie had wiped
the spoons and forks, she said:
"Now, mamma, may l go out and
play ~
Eyes" said mamma. And off ran the
little girl; the pink sun-bonnet falling
back and showing the soft brown curls,
the little shoe gaping like a hungry robin,
the pretty dress blowing behind her in
the wind, and Seraphina tucked under
her arm with legs sticking out very
straight behind, and arms very straight
in front, and kind of beseeching look
on her BACKED face.
The meadow was full of tall, waving
grass, but away at the further end grew
some bushes. Kathie ran to them and
eagerly commenced ner search. Alas no
berries. Almost ready to cry with disap-
pointment, she thought "Pll just go
over this ole stump fence, then l guess
there1l be a lot there. May be fire bush
els !" So she ran on, speaking occasion
mustn't tell, cause 1 want to s'prise 'em
all. Now, you won't, will you ~
l suppose Amanda must have said
"No," for Kathie continued 'That's a
good child An I'm goin' to buy pair
of shoes for my own self. Won't that be
nice And perhaps I'll buy you some,
too"
The next field proved barren, as did the
next also. Still the child ran on. until at
last she came upon a bush quite full of
berries-great, sweet, blackberries.
"Oh, Seraphina, see here See what
I've found ~ And she fell eagerly to
picking, but suddenly stopped.
"Why, Seraphina 'Manda Jane Harris,
I've been an gone an come 'thout any
pail Oh, can take my apron" And
She lifted it and picked into it until the
bush was empty.
"Comc, dollie, let's go and find some
more cause l don't believe I've got as
much as two hundred quarts, and papa
off tod Tara LJE II
quarts! Just think how rich I'll be ~
She walked on silently for II few mo-
ments but she must have seen Il weary
expression on dollie's face, for she re-
marked Poor 'Manda, YOU is hungry,
an so am l. But l want to save all the
berries, and / haven't eaten one. And,
'Manda, | don't b'lieve God pounded in
great many berry bushes. But you must
be good girl an not fwet about it"
'NIanda only smiled, calmly.
The next field held several loaded bush
es, but SO far off, And the poor little
feet were very tired. Never mind, she
was earning shoes. So on trotted the
little girl, making pretty picture. The
grass was SO long that nothing could be
seen but IA pink sun-bonnet above it.
Suddenly Kathic criedout Why, Sera-
phina Amanda Jane trhere's our house?
| don't see it at all. We've gone an got
lost, and well die and he all Gated up, an
nobody won't never find us, an
Here the little maiden seated herself on
a stone, and cried, despairingly. But,
looking up at length she said 81 guess
may be papa'll find us. Let's say our
prayers, then go to sleep. pray the
Lord-pray the Lord-to find my house
again =" And the little head sank down
in the grass, asleep.
The sun had disappeared behind the
western hills when Mrs Harris finished
ironing little dress, aud bethought her