The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-05-03
Lucy Ann's Little Temptation

Lucy AIMS Little Temptation
Lucy Ann was the little girl. Jane
Maria was the doll. Lucy Ann said te
Jane Maria, one day, "Now, you've
gone and got the mumps, and I'm going
to doctor you up right smart; or you'll
be having ear-ache or something all the
winter; and like as not you will be down
sick when the winter comes, and shall
just have to stay at home and take care
Of you"
Lucy Ann went into the kitchen to
make a poultice (poultices were the
thing for the mumps, she thought), and
Jane Maria was left alone.
Only the cat listened to poor Dolly's
doleful words. "Oh! it's dreadful OF
be doll," she said. II am all twisted
up. Lucy Ann tells folks the rheuma-
tism did it; but l know twas herself
pulling me SO, and twitching me when
she gets mad. Wish I could get mad
too, sometimes; but I guess wouldn't
tell folks story about it. Oh! it's
awful to be doll, and have a new
head put on; and I know I've got to, if
she puts that thing on; for it's just
going to stick fast and pull all the red
off my face, know it is.''
"Dear me! how loud you do purr!"
said Lucy Ann to the cat, going into
her room and taking up Jane Maria in
her arms. Kittie followed them into the
kitchen.
"Now, there's no use in your making
one bit Of fuss, for you've got to take
it. Castor-oil is always good for babies,
if they're sick or anything" said Lucy
Ann, when the bread and milk poul-
tice was bound on Dolly's cheek, and
the cat was licking the milk from the
dish. The spoon was full A knock at
the kitchen door startled Lucy Ann.
The spoon shook, and down spread the
oil over Dolly, Lucy AIMS dress, and
the cats fur.
Il thought twas mother come home,
said the child, springing up to hide her
"doctoring' from sight.
"No! it's just me-" said Sarah
Burns, and have come to see if your
mothers got any castor oil. Mrs.
Browns baby has been taken sick, sud-
den, and they can't wait to send to the
doctor.
eyes, here it ISL said Lucy Ann;
fright here
Sarah Burns took the bottle and ran
with it to Mrs. Brown.
"Isn't it lucky for me,' thought
Lucy Ann, ''that she came; what would
mother say to all this! And now she'll
think l spilled it out, getting the bottle
for Mrs. Brown" After q while tho
darkness began to gather in the tall
evergreens by the kitchen-windows, and
Lucy Ann began to feel very unhappy.
She had burned up the poultice., put
away the dish in which it had been
made, and hidden Jane Maria, SO that
no one should ask any questions about
the cheek that had no paint on it. The
evidence was out of sight, but the little
actor did not feel one bit better.
At last her mother came home. AS
soon as the lamps were lighted she saw
the oil on the ehild's dress.
"Lucy Ann, what is that on your
new dress!" she asked.
at is castor-oil, mamma"
"How came it there?"
Lucy Ann, hung down her head, and il
was still in the room for minute. Then
the little girl looked up, and twitch.
ing about her lips disappeared with the
words:
II spilled it. I was playing give
Jane Maria some, for the mumps."
''Playing with castor-oil-and in you
new drcss!" exclaimed her mother, VIII
knew nothing Of the temptation her lit
It'd girl had resisted. "You shall 70 t,
bed for that without any light
Lucy Ann went slowly up stairs
The big round moon looked into he
room. and lit it up while she undressed
The cat had followed her. It jumpe,