American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-05-03
Youths Department.
NELLIE,S FIRST OF APRt1.

BY MARY A. p. sTANsBURY.
Close TO my arm chair Nellie crept
In the tender twilight goom:-
There only the starlight out Of doors,
And the freight in the room,
But not n star in the April skies
More brightly shone than my darling's eyes.
l laid my hand on the golden head
That rested upon my knee
| - And what have you done all day, sweetheart:
For It's very plain to see
That some secret only waits to slip
Through the parting curve of that rosy lip!''
- O. have had such a merry day!
You surely should know why,
For-this she said with saucy smile,
And mischievous glance Of her eye
IF you don't. l think you must go to school,
And learn TO be more than an 1pra Fool!
- This morning ever twas light,
stole down stairs like mouse,
And rang the beil-such noisy peal!
Cook cried in di-may och, Miss Nellie, my dear !.
But stopped as whispered a word in her ear.
- In the closet I crept as mamma hurried down,
With Hal and Ned rubbing their eyes,
All stared at the clock in surprise.
Till Ned dragged me out, crying. AS I'm alive!
Here's the witch who has walked us at halt.p
.fre!
When breakfast was brought on the table at last
scarcely could taste it for glee;
Papa's crisp; brown doughnut with cotton was
In one dish. when uncovered note lay alone,
All neatly directed, which no one would own.
" And so, all day long, I've been rackng my
brain.
To play some sly prank with each one-l
1 think all glad. from papa down to cook,
Now that night puts an end to such fun
Even l, too. am tired Of mischief and yet
will tell you one thing that shall not forget
Lame joe the wood sawyer, works early and
For our neighbor just the way;
have seen him SO often, all tired and pale,
When have been out at my play:
And he brings for his dinner a piece Of coarse
bread
Even Towser would scorn with such fare to be
fed,
- So crept mp behind him so softly to-day,
That he heard not a step or a sound
Nor knew that his basket was stolen away
From the place where it stood on the ground;
ran to the parlOr-mamma gave me leave!
Then down to the Kitchen and you may believe
g That never before in basket 20 small,
So luscious dinner was packed;
There were sandwiches, plum-cakes, the richest OF
tarts.
With jelly-no dainty it lacked
And Just room enough as the cover shut down,
To squeeze in the orange papa brought from town.
- ran with it back, my heart beating SO fast
was not moment too soon,
For just as left it all safe in its place,
The clock in the tower struck noon;
Joe laid down his saw with sigh Of relief,
And picked up the basket hid like thief!
If you only had seen how he stared and stared,
While his cheek grew first red and then white!
He gazed all around him, now this way. now that
| could have screamed loud with delight,
Till saw his lips move and a tear dim his eye
He was praying, l think, for he looked toward the
sky.
Il watched while he ate of the and the bread
Never tasting a cake bun,
But holding each up with smile on his face,
Then laying them back one by one;
For his children at home, it was plain to be
guessed,
He was keeping, unbroken, the sweetest and best.
One thing more must tell you, and then 1 have
done:
You surely must know Annie Reades
Poor Annie! L don't know what makes her so
cross,
For try hard to please her. indeed,
But TO day shc came over TO stay for awhile,
And 1 scarcely could coax her to speak or TO
smile.
She soed my new book, my tea-set she threw
down.
Then snaichng my doll by the hair,
Tore of her curls-they real ones you
That was more than it seemed could bear;
/ lifted nv hand-Annie bent low her head
All at once l remembered, and kissed her in
stead.'
e All. sweet little Nell. what world this would
be,''
I thought as I looked in her eyes,
" II for only day in the hurrying year,
We failed to be wary and wise,
Or if sadder surprises We never might know,
Than plum-cake for black bread, or kiss for
blow!"
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