Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-06-04
A DAY LOST.

WAS sewing away one morning, for
dear life, as the saying is, intending to
make good day Of it, and put my work
ahead, when Hetty, my little daughter,
five years old, gave pull at my elbow,
and said: mamma"
"Well, dear, what is wanted?" I did
not look aside from my work, into her
sweet little face, nor speak in as loving
| tones as usual, for the interruption was
not wholly agreeable.
Cant [ have my wax doll, mamma?n
Now this wax doll was a treasured pres
ent from grandmother, highly priced and
carefully treated by Hetty; and after be-
ing tenderly nursed by her, dressed and
undressed, on rare occasions, laid away
under lock and key in one Of my bureau
drawers.
mot today" was my answer.
"Why not to-day, mammal"
Sure enough why not to-day? That
was just the question. Was it because
Hetty might injure the doll? No, that
was not the reason; for she was careful
little girl. The true reason was, did not
wish to leave my work and lose five min
utes time in going upstairs to the bureau.
Just this, and no more. But, what reply
was made to Hetty? A very unreasonable
dutl ENTHUSIASTICALLY OuG, dIlll SUCH DIS no
mother should ever make.
Because you can't have Dolly to-day"
Because-how many shortcomings and
sins of omission are covered by this con-
venient, vaguely-meaning little word
81 won't hurt her, mother, I'll be oh so
careful Do, mother, let me have Dolly"
''Didn't l say that you couldn't have
Dolly?"
| knit my brows and spoke with some
severity Having said no, must be firm.
Right or wrong [ must be consistent; that
is, have my own Will in the case And as
[ was the stronger of the two, of course
my will decided the question between us.
Poor Hetty! She knew something of
my hard decision of character, and retired
from the contest AS [ turned my eyes
from her face to my work, I carried in my
mind the image of her grieving lips and
tear-illed eyes. Was [ rebuked? Yes
Did repent? Yes. And go for the doll
at once? No. [ was busy at my work
and could not spare a minute. Sewing
seams was of more consequence than SOW
ing seeds Of happiness in the heart of my
child. And then, had [ not said that Dolly
was not to make her appearance to-day?
Was I to break my word? No. [ must
be consistent mother, if I expected to
govern my Cul1tlI0u Alright.
1t was very still in the room for the
next ten minutes. Only a'sob or two broke
the silence, at first, as Hetty choked down
her disappointment. She had crept into
the great armchair, and was sitting there
idle and silent. After while [ turned
partly around, and glanced toward her
stealthily Her brow was contracted, her
lips pursed out slightly, and over her
whole face was shade of unhappiness
"Why don't you get your china doll?"
said I, rather coldly.
II don't want my china doll,'' she an
swered.
ooh, very we'll, just as you please, my
little LADY, [ returned; and took no no
tice of her for ten minutes longcr-all the
while working away as intently as if our
next meal depended on the result of my
labor. [ was sorry that | had not taken
the time to get Hetty's wax doll; but as
had said no, I concluded that it was best
to let no remain in force.
Presently she slipped down from the
armchair, and went quietly from the
room. I paused in my work, and listened
to the light patter Of her feet as she went
up stairs
A faint sigh born of passing regret,
came up from my heart. "It would have
Deen DottoT IL udu given uoI Tie uO1l,
said l. to myself. "But it is too late
now"
So bent to my sewing again, and made
the little needle fly with increased veloc-
ity.
~ wonder where that child is, and what
she is doing?"
Nearly half an hour had passed since
Hetty left the room. Ipaused in my work
as I asked myself this question, and list
ened. But [ could hear no sound of her.
[ would have laid down my sewing and
gone in search of her, only-what? felt
as if | could not spare the time!
"Hettym
There was no reply.
"Hetty! Where are you?"
NY voice was raised to louder key;
but no response came. So [ bent to my
work once more.
But this uncertainty as to where the
child had gone, and what she was doing,
could not very long be borne. The time
came when [ dropped everything, and
started in some concern of mind from the
room. [ looked into my chamber but she
was not there. [ called, but got no an
swer. Then [ ran up to the third story,
and pushed the door of one of the rooms
open hastily In the middle of the bed sat
nv little truant busily at work with pair
of scissors On an elegant lace cape which
had cost me fifteen dollars.
With quick exclamation and an excit-
ed manner, [ sprang toward the little de-
structive, who, frightened at my tone and
appearance, suddenly threw up her hands,