Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-05-09
A DAY LOST.

L 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,
hye years old, gave a pull at my elbow,
and said: "Mamma."
"Well, DEAR what is wantcd?" | 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 awav
under lock and key in one of my bureau
drawers
mot today" was my answer
why not to-day, mamma?"
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 replv
was made to Hetty? A very unreasonable
and unsatisfactory one; and such as 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
knit my brows and spoke with some
severity. Having said no, must be firm.
. Rirnt n I 1,,ttc 1n
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 Hettyl She knew something of
my hard decision of character, and retired
from the contest AS | turned nv ewes
from her face to my work, | carried in nv
mind the image of her grieving lips and
teartilled eyes. Was l rebuked? Yes
Did | repentg Yes. And go for the doll
at once? No. | was busy at my work
dnd could not spare a minute. Sewing
seams was of more consequence than sow
ing seeds of happiness in the heart of nv
child. And then, had l not said that Dolly
was not to make her appearance to-day?
Was l to break my word? No. must
be consistent mother, if | expected TO
govern my children 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 a 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 dollsn
said [, rather cOldly.
81 don't want my china doll" she an
swered.
"Oh, very well, just as you please, my
little LADY," | returned; and took no no
tice of her for ten minutes longer-all the
while working away as intenty as if our
neXtmeal depended on the result of nv
labor. l was sorry that | had not taken
the time to get Hettys wax doll; but, as |
had said no, / concluded that it was best
to let no remain in force.
Presently she slipped down from the
armchair, and went quietly from the
room. 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. at would have
been better if l had given her the doll"
said |, to- myself "But it is too late
nova
: So bent to my sewing again, and made
the little needle fly with increased veloc
ity.
Il 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 L 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!
'Hetty I"
There was no reply.
"Hettyl Where are yOu?"
My voice was raised to a louder kew;
but no response came. So l bent to nv
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,
ana pushed the door of one of the rooms
open hastily. In the middle of the bed sat
my llttle truant, busily at work with pair
Oh scissors on an elegant lace cape which
had cost me fifteen dollars.
With a 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,
and saw the sharp point of the scissors j
she held enter her cheek Just below the
eye A scream followed as the blood ran
over her face. What a sickening sense of ]
pain and fear fell suddenly upon my heart
For some moments / was half paralyzed {
with terror and bewilderment Then '
catching up my little darling, made an |
effort to compose myself and responded to I
the sober call of duty, Icarried her down {
stairs, and though almost fainting at the l
sight OF her blood, held back my agitation t
with a strong hand, and proceeded TO I
wash the red stains from her face, and find |
out the extent Of her injury.
The wound, happily, was not of Sc {
rious nature; but the imminent danger of q
losing her eye that she had escaped, made G
me shgdder whenever, the thought passed 5
through my mind, and so affected me that q
!. grew weak and nervous, and on attempt. n
ing, aner soothing her to Sleep 10 resume c
my work, found that my strength was Q
gone, ifF "