River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-04-04
BY SARAH G. nuLRY.

you are SUCH CROSS mamma, UhaJ
shall go away some day and leave you,
and never come back any more, and
then you won't have any little girl"
This was Nannie's favorite threat
when anything went contrary to her
wishes.
why. Mamie, what's the matter
now?" asked her father, lowering his
newspaper. and looking over it at the
forlorn little figure seated on the has
sock.
"Mary Carr asked me to come over
and spend the afternoon with her.
and mamma won't let me CO." said
Mamie, mournfully. Mamma wants
me to play out in the yard with Willie.
[ am so tired of Williel L have to
play with him every Wednesday after
noon. And don't love mamma one
bit" And Mamie shook her head with
great decision.
"Dear me, Mamie Don't love
mamma one bit9 How dreadiul!p
said her father. "Some little girls
don't have any mammas to love. What
do you think you could do, if you did
not have any mamma 2"
Nannie's face frightened. "O,"
said she, promptly, 81 could put on
my best dress and my bronze boots
every afternoon"
Mr.. Mason raised the paper to conceal
the smile he could not quite repress.
Presently he lowered the paper and
went on: "You said just now, Nan
ME, that sometime you would go away
and never come back again. Where
are You going ?'
Mamie sat in thoughtful silence for
a minute. :" / should go 30 Mr.. Vests
farm, guess" said she. "When we
were out there, they asked me to stay
and be their little girl; and Mr.. West
said | might have the cunning little
chickens all for my own"
so yes, / had forgotten all about
that, !" said her father. "Well, Mamie,
this is very nice afternoon. If you
are going at all, why don't you go to-
day"
"O,may 2" said Mamie eagerly.
IF you had rather go ont there to
live and be their little girl, than to live
here and be our little girl, you may
CO." said her father.
''And may / wear my new dress and
bronze bootl" said Mamie jumping up
quickly.
May she, mammal" said Mr..
Mason.
81 shall not interfere with any Of
your arrangements, said Mrs. Mason,
who sat sewing by the window.
So Mamie presently arrayed herself
in her new dress and boots, and her
father though somewhat unused to the
work, managed to fasten the dress and
button the high boots.
81 shall want my old dress and
ankle-ties to put on in the morning, :"
she said thoughtfully, as she put on her
hat
Very well, you can take them in
your satchel," said her father. "But
think we shall have to ask mamma to
fold the dress" he said, after various
attempts to reduce it to the size of the
satchel
Mrs. Mason laid aside her sewing
and folded the dress. 81 suppose, she
said, 'If you are Mrs. Vests little girl
she will make your clothes now. But
she can send in by Mr.. West for some
of your old clothes, if you need them
before she has time to make you new
ones.
"Thank you. Yes'm," said Mamie,
with severe politeness. She was still
cherishing the anger against her moth
er.
She put the satchel on her arm. She
was ready to start out, but she fingered
beside her father Il wish you were
gong FOO, papa !" she said.
''Why should go? l love mamma
dearly, and do not want to leave her;
and / am not tired OF Willie" said Mr.
Mason.
Mamie hesitated q minute. Then
suddenly she said, Goodbye, papa, "
putting up her face to be kissed.
Mr.. Mason kissed her. Then Mamie
ran past her mother without a word,
out of the room and ont of the house,
down the steps and down the street
She knew the way very well TO Mr.
Vests farm. She had been by IL often,
and once she had been there to her tea
with her father and mother and Willie.
Mamie and Willie had very nice time
playing with the little chickens and
making nests in the fresh, sweet hay.
But now, as Mamie went along, she
did not feel very happy She had not
said goodbye to her mother, nor kissed
her; and she could not help thinking
how disappointed Willie would be
when he awoke from his after-dinner
nap and found her gone. Then the
dust would get on her pretty bronze
boots. though she stopped and wiped
them again and again, until her hand
kerchief got quite soiled. And the bag
on her arm grew heavy, and there was
nobody TO carry it for her Mamie
had never taken such a long walk alone
before. And the sun was so warm that
Nannie's face grew quite damp with
perspiration, and She wiped il off,