Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-18
How the Girls Got Rid of Freddy
ny LOUISE CHANDLER MoULroN.


az we only could get rid of Freddy, we
could have some fan.
The speaker was Oracle Medford, Q
bright, impeuous girl of nine, and the
sister Of chubby little four yeais-old Fred,
who WAS tuiling on after her through the
woodland ways, and whose tagging, short
footst' ps had made her very impatient
for the last hour.
Don't hurry so, Kitty" she said, a
momeht after. ''If you do, we shall
lose Freddy; and / do feel sometimes as
4 wauldnt much care. l never can go
s'yw ere, or do anything, with him to
cFtg along. There, / can't keep up with
yu1. and th~t's the end of II 20
lty smi h turned round her sparkling
sp rited, brunet face.
81 declare" she said, " think its too
mean uf ,ouf mo'her. She might have a
nurse for him Just as well as not. don't
know what good Saying in the country
II going TO do you, if you never can run,
or climb, or anytti Ing else, Just because
you've got always to sec to that tiresome
boy. no declare, Pm glad haven't any
lit bother"
Me 'ove 90, Kitty" said little Fred,
u, lug To make peace. 'Me 'ove 90 berry
nucn, Gacie."
Aud Gacie turned, impulslvely, then,
and hug ed her little brotner, aRd kissed
hn.
$50 you do, Freddy and sister won't
co. plain OF you any more"
"Not AN y NOR, &" Fred asked with a
Ii tie quiver Of hope and fear commingled
on the "any," which made Of it almost
suh.
The little Modfords were Kitty Smiths
cousins; ana Il cir mother had brought
tle,n out from tue hot, dusty city TO pass
Ju y and August In the pleasant country
home where her sister Smith lived all the
year.
There had been some talk about bring
ing Frsd6y's nurse with them but Mary,
WIN had been confined steadily for the
las four yeais 10 her little charge, wanted
two weeks vacation in which TO make
journey to hsr Nova Scotian home. and
STE again all the dear old faces from
Wnch sae had meyer been parted until
four years ago, when her aunt, who was
Mr.. MedfOrd's cook, procured for her
the llHce Of urse girl in the MedfOrd
es ablishment, and she commenced her
Csmpnign with little Freddy. Mrs Med.
fort really wanted to give Mary this
pl"asuie, and, moreover, she was reluc-
taut 20 e. cumber her eieter's household
VI b too many inmates but she hesitated
Nffi l4t lAuAttI Mulltt utNAuHt utl oMn
heath was delicate, and she knew that
she should be quite unequal to constantly
looking after her sturdy, tireless little
bly, The affair was tinally settled BY
Gracie.
You might let Mary go, think,
mamma see said, when the discussion
was going on. II shall be out of school,
you know, and have nothing to DO but
play all day long and Freddy can inst
play round with me-, and give you no
trouble at all"
"It yop are sure you wouldn't get tired
of him." Mrs. Mediord said, doubtfully.
"YOu know Mary has always taken care
of him, and you have never been used to
have him Interfere with any Of your
pleasures. You know you do Like to have
your own way"
81 think do not like II better than
love my brother," Oracle answered, with
earnest voice and somewhat heightened
color; and 80 the matter was settled,
May went to Nova Scotia, cook stayed
TO keep house for Mr.. Medford, whos'
business obliged him to remain in thu
cb. and Mrs. Medford, took Oracle anC
Freddy 10 her sister Smiths home in Bor
ros laie.
Tley had been there three weeks now
aua the mother had been watching thl
Goa Sc Of events IN silence. She saw verl
Often that Oracle found little Fred al
annoyance, though she had never con
fes-,d it In SO many words in her mother
presence. At fret Mrs. Medford was dis
posed TO regret the leave of absence sh
sny mad given IN Mary; but she concluded
at iast, that she had dohe the very thin
tOr Oracle for what would she or an,
oth child be worth II she grew up with
Nar lao rFl MT the 1aganm nf gplf. denial
or lasting thr sweetness Of giving up he
oar pleasures Tor sone one elsel Sure
she had too much conscience, Mrs. Med
tord thought. ever really TO neglet
F. ddy; and, even though she might tin
it alisume the silent ruggle with hel
ee.f MAS sure to do her good.
But, on tuis Summer afternoon {
Will Ia am telling Snu, the tempter ha
dawn very near TO Oracle. Sue tried fC
~hile to resist his beguiement
kul's words reused, reused Tor
moment, her sense Of Justice.
"Namma Is not to blame," she sai'
"she did not make me undertake seein
TO F eddy. She would have brought
nuIse, but begged her to let MARY 3
home. thought il would be Just nOthin
10 tlke care of FIedi but, oh dear 1t
al awtui bore sometimes, when l wal
10 something else.'
F eddy did not know what bore mean
bul ne u derstood clearly enough that
was in Graeie's way, and his sensiti'
lltiv heart ached juet as sorely as If
had not Teen almost baby's heart.
Oracle had looked at him just then 81
N ght have seen rome great teare on q
tip of hi. long, curling lashes but
WAS little mau in miniature, and
lrled very hard to make his voice Soul
hrin ard brave.
"Feddy been slower than be had To-
said he, sturdily. "Feddy be steam e
glrC nov. So lust 20 on fast, and Fed
keep up. Feddy not pull oor d'ess,
hold ON TO oor hand, eezer."
Are you sure you'll keep upP
'b ~ sure" stoutly spoken.
So Gracie eased her mind of its burde
an -oothud hur cosscieuce-for had r
Feddy promised l-aud hurried on afi
ity, who Was IN advance.
wand after her, tol.ing with might a
main 10 keep up, trudged little FIR,
rubbing away with his round club
fists the tears that would come, but
Whi,h, being a boy, he was secre
quite ashamed.
Presently a great, gorgeous clump
rh0aodendron,a little in advance of the
moved the two girls to a simultanet
ecstacy. They had never in their Ii
sen anything so beautiful as this gr
trup cal-look'ng shrub, rising high abb
l9rr heads, aud making a glory 10
" wllh lie magnificent pink blosso
nee less OF Freddy, they sprang fOrw
Dfeatl les With eagerness and he, find
Il thAt his short little legs were utterly
fE ia H..