Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-04-02
Fannfc's Experience.
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Fsyou are such cross mamma, that
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.
g 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.
e'Mary Carr asked me to come over
and spend the afternoon with her,
and mamma won't let me CO." said
Mamie, mournfuIly. Mamma wants
me to play out in the yard with Willie.
I am SO tired Of Willie! [ have to
play with him every Wednesday after
noon. And [ don't love mamma one
Bit" And Mamie shook her head with
great decision.
sEDear me, Mamie Don't love
mamma one bit !? How dreadfull"
said her father. 'fSome 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. 60"
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 q You said just now, Nan
ME, that sometime you would go away
and never come back again. Where
are you going 2"
Mamie satin thoughtful silence for
a minute g 7 should go TO Mr.. Vests
farm, I guess said she F'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"
go yes, [ had forgotten all about
that, '" said her father. "Well, Mamie,
this is very nice afternoon. If you
are going at all, why Cont you go to-
day?" "t97
O,may I 2" said Mamie eagerly.
# you had rather go out 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 I wear my new dress and
bronze boot ~ 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 Il shall want my old dress and
sankle-ties to put on in the morning, :"
E she said thoughtfully, as she put on her
hat.
every well, you can take them in
your satchel," said her father. 'sBut
I I think we shall have to ask mamma to
fold the dress, he said, after various
attempts to reduce it to the size of the
9 satchel.
Mrs. Mason laid aside her sewing
and folded the dress. II suppose, % she
said, eff you are Mrs. Vests little girl
she will make your clothes now. But
she can send in by Mr.. West for sJme
OF your old clothes, if you need them
before she has time to make you new
ones" Is II 1911
'fThank you. Yes'm,n said Mamie,
with severe politeness. She was still
cherishing the anger against her moth
CT. A+ ~
She put the satchel on her arm. She
was ready to start out, but she fingered
beside her father I wish you were
gong too, papa ~ she said.
why should I go? I love mamma
: dearly, and do not want to leave her:
and l am not tired of Willie" said Mr..
Mason.
Mamie hesitated minute. Then
suddenly she said, Goodbye, papa, y
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 out of the house.
down the steps and down the street.
She knew the way very well to Mr..
Vests farm. She had been by it 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 hav.
But now, as Mamie went along. she
I'D 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
kerch1ef got quite soiled. And the bag
on her arm grew heavy, and there was
nobody to carry it for her. Mamie
.nad never taken such long walk alone
before. And the sun was so warm that
: NannIe's face grew quite damp With
persplratlon, and sheE wiped it off,
Esqulte unaware of the streaks the soiled
handkerchief left. So good MANY
bhlngs troubled Mamie; and worst of
ali, when she almost reached Mr..
vests, big black dog ran barking
out OF yard at her. and Mamie was
dreadfully frightened, but she could
not run behind her mother for shelter
nor cling to her fathers hand, She
screamed, but there was nobody to
hear her and in her terror she ran on
as fast as possible. As soon az She
dared she looked back and saw the doc
Z standing IN the middle of the road
looking after her. And at that she ran
faster than ever.
When she reached the house, she
ran round the yard and into the door
quite out OF breath Mrs. West was
sitting IN the kitchen braiding mat.
5 III you please, [ have come-to be
yoqr--lttle girl, said Mamie, as soon
as her painting breath would admit of
her speaking.
swell, [ neyer!" exclaimed Mrs.
West, looking over her glasses in great
establishment, pausing in her work and
steadIastly regarding the grimy little
usage under the broad brimmed hat.
= Il that don't beat all What's your
name little girl ~
Somehow, this was not just the sort
OF welcome that Mamie had expected.
Sne said with quivering lips, "T'm
mamie Mason. You asked me to be
your little girl 2"
- Mamie Mason! [ declare. I did
not know you" said Mrs. Wet now