Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-26
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

BY MARY L. BOLLES BRANCH.
The first one in the house who had any
was little Ben Bowen. He went on an er-
rand for old Mrs. Starbuck, and when he
came back she gave him five black-eyed-
Susans. He ran home with them held
tight in his little warm hand, and showed
them to May; and, of course, the Gillett
children wanted to see them too. They
looked for all the world like little round,
scarlet peas with a shiny black dot on each
one. None of the children had even so
much as heard of blacl>-eyed-Susans before,
and they thought they were wonderful
"Dey looks like big red beads, don't
dey ?" said little May in delight hoping
that by-and-by Ben would let her play with
them.
"Only you can't string them, y said Mag
gle Gillett 6 [ wish had them to put in
my ivory box.n
"They're beauties, any way,u remarked
Ada Gillett, bending her faxen curls over
them; think they are fairies footballs
Give them to me Benny, and will give you
my cornelian ring !"
We'll, [ will" said Benny, dazzled into
consent, but the moment the exchange was
made he was sorry. What, had he parted
with his handful of wonders for a mere
ring? May and Maggie looked on in dis.
may, they wanted them SO much themselves
"Tm going to get some more,n said Ben.
ny sturdily, putting on his torn straw hat
He meant to go to Mrs Starbuck's and wait
for another errand.
What's all this fuss about?" exclaimed
some one who landed at this moment in the
centre of the room after a double summer.
sault. 1t was Jem Towne, the neighbour
son, who was always on hand full of teaz
ing and mischief.
"Ho, | know what they are" he said
when Ada had carefully shown him her
treasures. They're nothing but beans
they grow in Africa, and the sailors bring
them home. My uncle brought me whole
lot once; I've got them around home some.
where
"Mrs. Starbuck says they are black-eyed
Susans," said Benny.
Eyes, black-eye d-Susans-that's the name
of 'em,' said Jem, with a wise air. Did
she give you that ring for lem? I'll find
mine and bring some over, if you'll buy
7em.'
This the girls were eager to do, and away
went Jem. Away went Benny, too, over
to Mrs Starbucks, and was just in time, for
she wanted some eggs from the store. Ben
ny got them for her, and she gave him a
penny.
''Ud rather have blaok-eyed .Susans," said
Benny, looking disappointed.
why, land sakes, child, then you shall,
if I've got any left. Here, hunt in nv
work bag. found them in my son spocket
when I was mending his Jacket last time he
came home from Injy. Here's six, and that's
every one there is !"
Ben ran home again with his handful, but
this time he determined not to part with
any. Maggie and May coaxed in vain, not
one would he give or sell, but he said they
might play with them.
So that evening they had good time out
in the kitchen, where Mrs. Bowen sat at
work picking over sea-moss. Mrs. Gillett
came down out of her room and sat there,
too, III what the children called the peacock
chair because it was stuffed and covered
with calico printed all over with gay-color-
ed peacocks Mrs. Gillett was Mrs. Bowen's
boarder; she had come from the city with
her two daughter to stay through the sum-
mer in this old seaport town for the sake of
the salt air
The children played all the evening with
the black-eyed- Susans. They made believe
they were marbles, and had several games;
then they played house with them and
made believe they were fine ladies, dressed
In scarlet with black hats. Then they pre-
tended they were little African princes.
changed into this shape by some dreadful
enchanter Ada said it made her think of
story she had read in the Arabian Nights,
where there was lake full of fishes of all
sorts OF beautiful colors, that had been peo-
pie once Maggie and May and Ben listened
IN ., dehghted wonder, and, when they were
an sent OF to bed, there was not child of
lnelh put what dreamed of black-eyed-Su-