Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-29
A DAY LOST.
RAIDS reply

| "A DAI
Twas sewing away one morning, for
dear life, as the saying is, intending to
make good day of it, and put my work
ahead, when I1etty, my little daughter,
five years old, gave pull at my elbow,
and said Mamma
| "Well, dear, what is wanted?" | 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 agreeable.
| Cant have my wax doll, mammal"
Now this wax doll was treasured pres
ent from grandmother, highly priced and
carefully treated by 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.
Not today" was my answer.
"Why not to-day, mamma?"
| Sure enough, why not to-day? That
was just the question. Was it because
Hetty might injure the dolls 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
|
| 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 word.
| II won't hurt her, mother, I'll be oh so
| careful. Do, mother, let me have Dolly"
Didn't | say that you couldn't have
Dolly?"
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 U.s.
Poor Hetty! She knew something of
| my hard decision of character, and retired
| from the contest. AS | turned NY eyes
| from her face to my work, | carried in my
| mind the image of her grieying lips and
| tear filled eyes. Was | rebuked? Yes.
| Did | 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 my
| child. And then, had | not said that Dolly
| Was | to break my word? No. | must
| govern my children Alright.
| 1t was very still in the room for the
next ten minutes. Only a'sob or two broke
the silence, at first, as Hctty choked down
| her disappointment. She had crept into
! the great arm chair, and was sitting there
| idle and silent. After while | turned
partly around and glanced toward her
| stealthily. Her brow was contracted, her
| lips purscd out slightly, and over her
whole face was shade Of unhappiness,
"Why don't you get your china doll?"
said l, rather coldly.
II don't want my china DOLL" she an
swered.
"Oh, very well, just as you please, my
| little lady" | returned; and took no no
ticc of her for ten minutes longcr-all the
while working away as intently as if our
next meal depended on the result of my
| labor | was sorry that | had not taken
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
arm chair, and went quietly from the
room. | paused in my work, and listened
| to the light patter Of her feet as she went
up stairs.
A faint sigh, born of passing regret,
| came up from my heart. 1T would have
| been better if | had given her the doll"
| said |, 10 myself. But it is too late
| now"
r. 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 list
ened. But | could hear no sound of her.
l would have laid down my sewing and
| gone in search of her, only-what9 | felt
as if | could not spare the time.
"Hettyr"
There was no reply.
| "Hetty! Where are yOu:'
| NY voice was raised to louder KEY =;
but no response came, So | bent to my
| work once more.
But this uncertainty as to where the
child had gone, and what she was doing,
could not very long be borne. The time
came when | dropped everything, and
started in some concern of mind from the
room. [ looked into my chamber, but she
was not there. | called, but got no an
swer. Then | 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 a 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 point of the scissors
she held enter her check just below the
eye. A scream followed, as the blood ran
over her face. What q sickening sense of
pain and fear fell suddenly upon my heart
For some moments | was half paralyzed
with terror and bewiderment Then
catching up my little darling, 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
with a strong hand, and proceeded to
wash the red stains from her face, and find
out the extent of her injury.
The wound, happily, was not of Sc
rious nature; but the imminent danger of
losing her eye that she had escaped, made
me shudder whenever the thought passed
through my mind, and so affected me that
| grew weak and nervous, and on attempt
ing, after soothing her to sleep, to resume
my work, found that my strength was
gone.
And so, in my over-eagerness to make
a good day of it, | had comprised the
loss of a day