The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-12-13

From the N. Y. Independent.
One lovely summer noon, years ago, when
my sister Susy and were little girls, we were
tying on our pink sunbonnets just before start
ing for school, when Mother, coming in from
the great kitchen with plate of haky turn
overs in one hand and tin of gingerbread in
in the other, said: "0h girls, l had almost
forgotten to tell you that l am going over to
Aunt Miriam's to spend the afternoon. But /
shall come home before dark, to get supper for
the men, when they come home from the mead
ows. Come home from school as soon as it is
out Put on your calico dresses and don't for
get your aprons. You will find your suppers
all ready for you on the broad shelf. l m de
these little pies on purpose for you, and here is
some gingerbread made as Susy likes. You
will find, too, plate of the new sage cheese
cut to-day. Don't run all over the house and
get things out of order. You know Uncle John
and Aunt Sarah are coming tomorrow, and l
cellar. Uncle Jonn likes to see things nice"
"But what shall we do?" said Susy.
ooh don't know" replied Mother.
"Perhaps you can pick few berries for fa-
theirs tea, or play with your dolls, or work in
your fower-beds- anything to keep little hands
"i know what they'll do" said my fourteen
year-old brother David whom "long experience
had made sage" "They'll bring home that
horrid Betsy Blake with them. They won't
dare to tell her she isn't wanted here, if she
speaks of coming. If she should come home
with them, as know she will, the house will
be turned topsy-turvy, and she will put the
widest notions in these girls heads. l know
her of old.'
GAS if we should let her come home with u.s."
said Susy, Indignantly, "after what she did the
last time she was here. She washed out my
dolls dresses in soft soap; broke up my whole
plates, to make enough to go round at dolls
picnic; and had funeral, and buried my dar-
ling old Jemima in the wet sand"
"Where she caught the rheumatism, and has
never been the same doll SINCE" concluded
David.
81 guess they'll be good girls" said Mother,
fondly. "They generally are. Tell Betsy, if
rather she would make her visit when am at
home"
Mother followed us out into the piazza, and
watched us down the hill, round the corner,
and over the bridge.
We looked back, and saw her standing in the
doorway, shading her eyes with one hand, with
such love and tender longing in her dear face
as makes my heart cry out, after these many
years, for the loved voice, the yearning glance,
the touch of the vanished hand. Everything
at school ran on smoothly until recess time
Then Betsy Blake came up to Susy and me,
who were playing with the other girls, under
the big chestnut, and said: "Im going home
with you tonight" Your mother has gone
away. 1 saw her go by the school house lit
tie while ago, wonderfully dressed up, with
that dreadful green parasol she always carries
and that old purple muslin dress that she has
worn for ages"
"she won't be gone long," says Susy, fearful
ly. "She is over to Aunt Miram's, and will
come home before dark. She said she should"
"That's all nonsense" said Betsy, knowing
ly. "Your Aunt Miriam has a tea-party, and
all the ladies, except my mother, are invited.
Mother said she was dreadful glad she wasn't
asked. She don't care to go to such stuck-up
parties, where people have silver forks and cake
baskets, and only little biscuits, thin slices of
cake, and weak tea"
''Mother said she had rather you would come
and see us when she was at home," family re-
marked.
"Oh she did, did she? Well, you may tell
her that 1 shall go just when l please, and she
can't help herself. l guess, too, when your
mother knows what do, she will be glad l
went home with you. There is dreadful shack
man round somewhere. He sleeps in the woods
nights and goes round days stealing and beg
ging. His eyes are as big as saucers and his
hair is as long as my arm"
After school l said to Betsy: you'll have
to go home and ask your mother if you may
come home with u.s."
"Do you take me for q great baby ?" said Bet
sy. 81 don't have to ask my mother every time
stir, as you girls do. Your mother is so fussy
and particular about you. l should die right
straight off if l was treated So"
"You'd be a better girl than you are now,"
said sweet Josy Minis. 81 can tell you, Betsy,
that there's nothing on earth so nice and sweet
and dear as a good mother. Here her voice
failed her, and She sank down by my side, bu-
ried her face in my lap, and sobbed aloud
Only few months before her mother had left
her darling daughter, and gone on before to the
beautiful country, even the heavenly.
Even Betsy was awed and silenced for mo-
ment; bnt she quickly recovered herself, and
said: "Do come along, girls. We sha'n't have
any too much time to play in before sundown."
So, after kissing and comforting Josy, Betsy,
Susy, and started away from the schoolhouse.
We began TO see what mischief Betsy was capa-
BILE Of before we reached home. She climbed
tree and rihed birds nest, saying she wanted
the eggs to string and hang around her looking
glass. She killed a snake and frightened Susy,
who had mortal dread Of them, by throwing
it around her neck. Then she let down the
bars into Dea. Baldwn's pasture, to save them
trouble she said, when the boys came for the
COWS. We heard afterward that the COWS came
through the open bars, wandered off, and were
not found until late next day. At length, after
prolonged walk, we reached home and, as
we went up the steps, Susy said:
awe must change our dresses the first thing,
Lucy"
"0h DON'T" said Betsy. "Your mother did
not know you were TO have company. We shall
want to play visit or school, and it wouldn't
look we'll to be shabby"
So we kept on our pretty pink dresses and
dainty white aprons.
"I am going into the parlor the very first
thing, said Betsy, after the matter of dress had
been decided in her favor.
''Oh no." said I. dts all ready for compa-
ny tomorrow. Mother is always particular
about Uncle John, he's SO NICE"
"He's a city dandy. That's what he is" said
Betsy, scornfully. 'And his wife is dressed
up DOLL Mother says. I'd like to put the par
lor out of sorts for him.
So into the cool, shaded room we reluctantly
went. How fresh and inviting it looked, with
its white curtains, old-fashioned furniture, and
nlain earpet