River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-11-25
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

B1 MARY Ia DULLES BkANChs
The first one in the house who had any
was little Ben Bowen. He went on an err
rand for old Mrs. Starbuok, 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 shiny black dot on each
one. None Of the children had even so
much as heard of black-eyed-Susansb 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 cam string them, said Mag
gle Gillett. 81 wish had them to put in
my ivory box"
"They're beauties, any way" remarked
Ada Gillett, bending her iaxen curls over
them; " think they are fairies footballs
Give them TO me Benny, and | will give you
my cornelian ring -
Well, | 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 mere
ring? May and Maggie looked ON in dis
may, they wanted them SO much themselves.
Z" Pm going To get some MORE" said Ben
ny sturdily, putting on his torn straw hat
He meant TO 90 to Mrs. Starbuck's and wait
for another errand.
whats all this fuss about?" exclaimed
some one who landed at this moment in the
centre Of the room after a double summer
sault. Ii was Jem TOwne, the neighbor' 5
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 a whole
lot once; I've got them around home some
where"
"Mrs Starbuck says they are black-eyed-
Susans," said Benny.
"Yes, black-eyed-Susans-thats the name
of 'em,n said Jem, with wise air. Did
she give you that ring for 'em9 I'll find
mine and bring some over, if you'll buy
'em.n
This the girls were eager to do, and away
went Jem. Away went Benny, TOO, over
TO Mrs. Starbuck's, 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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. said
Benny, looking disappointed.
"Why, land sales, child, then you shall
il Tve got any left. Here, hunt in NY
work.bag | found them in my son Is pocket
when was mending his jacket last time he
came home from Iniy. Here's six, and that.
every one there is !"
Ben ran home again with his handful, but
this time he determined not TO part will
any. Maggie and May coaxed in vain, moi
one would he give or sell, but he said they
might play with Tn sm.
SO that evening they bad a good time out
in the kitchen, where Mrs Bowen sat al
work picking over sea-moss. Mrs Gillett
came down out Of her room and sat there
too, in what the children called the peacock
chair, because II was stuffed and covered
with calico printed all over with gay-color
ed peacook- Mrs. Gillett was AIrs. Bowen
boarder; she had come from the city will
her two daughter 20 stay through the sum
mer in this old seaport town for the sake o.
the salt air
The children played all the evening will
the black-eyed-Sus They made believ,
they were marbles, and had several games
then they played house with them an,
made believe they were fine ladies. dresse,
in scarlet with black hats Then they pre-
tended they were little African princes
changed into This shape By some dreadful
enchanter. Ada said il made her think q
a story she had read in the Arabian Nights
where there was a lake full Of fishes Of al
sorts u bcautiful colors, that had been pee
pie once. Maggie and May and Ben listene,
in delighted wonder, and. when tlrcy wer
all sent of 20 bed there was not child q
them but what dreamed Of blaek-eyed.Su
sans all night long.