American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-04-05
PIDGET AND MIDGET.

There were two of them-Pidget and
! Midget. You would think Pidget the
smallest possible specimen of humanity
for her years-until you saw Midget.
Pidget was ''free last july" while
Midget twas two years at Christmas" a
fact which she was able to announce
quite plainly TO her astonished friends
One morning there came the softest of
taPpings at Aunt Lizzie's door, and that
lady, knowing the sounds full well,
answered the same in most respectful
and dignified manner.
There stood two ladies of diminutive
~hnse smell fases bnffspsd opt It
their elders, but were partially concealed
by long black lace wells.
"How do you do, Mrs. -" Aunt Lizzie
hesitated
s'I'm Miss And'sen," replied Pidget.
"Pm Missis Taylor, bIissis Taylor,'
piped Midget's clear little voice.
81 know very well who you are,"
laughed Aunt Lizzie. Pidget in her
choice of names WAS capricious and
She was always 'NIissis Taylor"
Chow are your children" asked Aunt
Lizzie, when her callers were seated.
"Sick! replied "Miss And'sen,"
solemnly.
"What, all of them?" inquired the
lady, COmpasSIOnately.
"No, not all, not only but ten"
"What's the matter?"
"They 6re0ked out"
"What with"
"Chills" with ANONYMOUS shake of the
little curly head.
zone Of my husbands is awful dead"
chirped "Missis Taylor" from her corner
of the lounge.
"Indeed"
eyes, he's GeofM dead! Good bye"
The large bonnets trembed with the
energy of the parting salutation, while
the tiny fingers adjusted the lace wells to
the immense satisfaction of the little
wearers, as they took their departure.
Now it happened that, as they turned
to go into the nursery, Pidget's blue eyes
spied the bright sunlight streaming into
the hall below, and she knew at once that
the front door had been left open.
Lets do some realty CALLS" said she to
Midget.
"Wheree" inquired Midget.
"Anywheres, was the reply; and the
two little figures passed noiselessly down
the stairs, and were out upon the pave
ment in an incredibly short space of time
They didn't stop to shut the door Pid-
get having an indistinct idea that it
would be rather more convenient to find
it open on their return. Down the street,
round the corner, where the pretty ''grug
store" stood, up a little farther by
the large toy shop, whose windows were
SO Gerry enticing, passed the two children.
And So doing, they were lost quite as eff
fectually as if they had suddenly found
themselves in the wilds of Patagonia.
They did not know il, however, but
walked on, pair of funny little ladies in
white pique dresses and wonderful he d
rigging. Many were the smiles and many
the remarks which their strange appear
ance elected from the passers-by.
you've run away, | know you," cried
hilarious school-boy, laughing heartily.
1--WE didmf rund away; did we, Pidgy?'
Pidget didn't answer, having faint
suspicion in her little heart that the boy
had told the truth.
as we run'd away, Pidgy?"
Don't know" replied Pidget, shortly.
"Why don't we find somenheress"
Poor little Midget was shivering with
cold. Fidget looked at the great houses
upon each side of the street into which
they had now turned. They looked stern
and forbddpg.
Il guess bad people live here,' said
she.
'Do they'' Midget's eyes grew large.
"Yes. Wen find our 'grug' store"
"IIere it's cried Midget, joyfully, but
found it was not their own familiar cor
ner. Everything was strange, and such
forlorn sense of loneliness came over
them; the keen wind, as it whistled by,
almost tearing the unfortunate bonnets
from their 'moorings," seemed so cruel
to the unprotected little shoulders, that
both the children cried bitterly.
They found n friend, however, in the
kini-hearted clerk, who took Midget in
his arms, brought her into the store, and
placed her on Il tiny stool behind the
counter Pidgct following with wide open
away the tears.
He produced a handful of tempting
gum-drops from "A jar, nj the sight OF
which Midgct's grief assuaged. They had
got to somnwheres' after all. Fidget,
however, being older, had more realiz-
ing sense of lie dread fact that they were
far away from home and friends. To her
small mind the chances of ever seeing