Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-09-17
A Day Lost.

! make a good day of II, and put my work
ahead, when,Hetty, my little daughter, five
years old, gave pull ut my elbow, and
said: Mamma"
"NVell, dear, what is wanted? ~ 1 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 agreeble.
Can't have my wax doll, mamma ~
Now this wax doll was a treasured pres
| ent from grandmother, highly priced and
| carefully treated 10y Hetty; and after be
! ing tenderly nursed by her, dressed and
undressed, on rare occasions, laid away
under lock and key in one Of my bureau
drawers.
mot to-day" was my answer
"Why not to-day, mamma?n
Sure enough, why not to-day? That
was just the question. Was it because
Hetty might ipjure 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 reply
was made to Hetty? a very nnreasona-
Die 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 work.
careful. Do, mother, let me have Dolly"
Didn't / say that you couldn't have
Dolly % ra'
knit my brows and spoke with some
severity. Having said no, / must be firm.
Right or wrong, must be consistent that
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 Hetty She knew something of
my hard decision of character, and retired
from the contest. As L turned my eyes
from her face to my work, carried in my
| mind the image of her grieving lips, and
tear. filled eyes. Was l rebuked? Yes.
Did L repent? Yes. And go for the doll
at once? No. / was busy at my work
and could not spare a minute. Sewing
seams was of more consequence than SOW
ing seeds of happiness in the heart of ny
child. And then, had not said that Dol
ly was not to make her appearance to-day?
Was [ to break my word? No. 1 must
be consistent mother, If I expected to
govern my children right.
1t was very still in the room for the next
ten minutes. Only 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 while turned partly
around, and glanced toward her steathily
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 doll ?n
said rather coldly.
II don't want my china DOLL" she an
swered.
"Oh, very well, Just as you please, my
LADY, l returned; and took no more no.
tice of herfo ten minutes ionger-all the
while working away as intently as if our
next meal depended on the result of my
| labor. was sorry that L had not takeh
the time to get Hetty's 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
upstairs.
A faint sigh, born of a passing regret,
came up from my heart. "It would have
been better if l had given her the doll,n
said /, to my self But it is too late
now.p
So | bent to my sewing again, and made
the little needle fly with increased veloc-
ity.
II wonder where that child is, and what
she is doing"
Nearly half an hour had passed since
Hetty left the room. / paused in my
work as / asked myself this question, and
listened. But l could hear no sound of
her. I would have laid down my sewing
and gone IN search of her, only-what? l
felt as if could not spare the time!
"Hetty !"
There was no reply.
"Hetty! Where are you?"
J My voice was raised TO louder key but
no response came. SO bent 10 my work
once more.
But this uncertainty as 10 where the
| child had gone, and what she was doing,
could not very long be borne. The time
came when L dropped everything and
started, in some concern of mind, from
the room. looked into my own chamber,
| but she was not there. called, but got no
answer. ThenI ran up to the third story,
and pushed the door of one Of the rooms
open hastily. In the middle of the bed
sat my little truant, busily at work with a
| pair OF scissors, on an elegant lace cape
which had cost me fifteen dollars.
! With 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 points OF the scissors
she held enter her cheek just below the
eye, A scream followed, as the blood ran
over her face. What sickening sense of
pain and fear fellsuddenly upon my heart
For some moments / was bali .paralIzed
with terror and hewilderment Then
catching up my little darling I made an
effort to compose myself, and responded to
the sober call Of duty. / carried her down
stairs, and though almost fainting at the
sight Of her blood, held back my agitation