The Van Buren press., 1873-05-20

Kissed her ana Snc Coulu NOT Itip tuiHh
ing how disappointed Willie would be
when he awoke from his after dinner nap
and found her gone. Then tho dust
would get on her pretty bronze boots,
she stopped and wiped them again and
again, until hcr handkerchief got quite
soiled. And the bag on her arm grew
heavy, and there was nobody to carry it
for her. Mamie had never taken such
long walk alone before. And the sun
was SO warm that Nannie's face grew
quite damp with perspiration, and she
wiped it off, quite unaware of the ssreaks
the soiled handkerchief left. SO good
many things troubled Mamie and worst
Of all, when she almost reached Mr..
Vests, big black dog ran barking out
of q yard at her, and Mamie was dread
fully frightened, but she coald 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
terrer she ran on as fast as possible. As
soon as she dared she looked back and
saw the dog 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.
II you please, have come--to be
your-little girl, said Mamie, as soon
as her painting breath would admit Of her
speaking.
"WeH, nover!' exclaimed Mrs
West, looking over her glasses in great
astonishmcat, pausing in her work and
steadfastly regarding the grimy little Wis
age under the oad-brimmed hat "lt
that don't beat all. What's your name
little girl p
Somehow, this was not just the sort OF
welcome that Mamie had expected. Sho
said with quivorng lips, I'm Mamie
Mason You asked me 10 be your little
girl -
" Mamie Mason declare, did not
know you, said Mrs West, now adjust.
ing her specs so that she could look
straight through them. did your ma
say yeu might come and see me this af-
ternoon 2"
Papa said might como and be your
little girl. have got my old dress and
ankle ties in my bag, and mamma said
you could send for some ofmy old clothes
you wanted thom, said Mamie.
"Well, DECLARE" said Mrs. West, e" ]
never heard of such thing in my life.
Just then somebody raped at the front
door, and Mrs West laying aside her
work and bidding Mamie sit down. went
to answer the summons. 1t was one Of
Mr.. Masons clerks, who held short
conference with Mrs West.
She presently came back to the kitchen
smiling $50 you have come to live
with me Mamie, she said. :" am very
glad, ] am sure 1t will seem nice to
have a little girl about the house, Take
of your hat, dear, and let mo wash your
face, for it has got very dusty with your
walk, aud il anybody should como in, l
should not want them to think my little
girl had dirty face, yon know.
Mamie did not like her face washed at
any time. Sometimes, | am sorry to say,
she would cry when her mother washed
her. She found Mrs Wosts scrubbing
and wippg with q rough crash towel very
different from her mothers gentle touch.
But Mamie did not say anything.
After Mamie had rested awhile, she
ran out to see the chickens. But to her
great disappointment she found that the
cunning little puff balls, that flew over
the grass SO comieally when she saw them
last, were now half grown, scra2gy, long
legged hens, that were not in the least
pretty She did not like them any more.
Then she went through gate to pick
some blackberries growing by the wall,
but she got berry.stain on her dress,
and long scratch along one of her
boots. Besides, there was no fun in
picking berries when she could not give
any to Willie And Mamie could not
help thinging of Willie, and wishing she
had kissed her mamma. Then she won
dcred where she shonld sleep, and ran in
to the house TO ask Mrs West,
Mrs West went up stairs with her, and
showed her little chamber. 1t was
room with sloping ceiling and without
paper on the walls, and it seemed yory
strange TO Mamie. She did not like The
queer, cross legged little bedstead with
the patch work quilt She thought it was
not half so nice as the white draped bed
Mamie had slept in the night before and
she felt afraid the sloping wall would fall
down on her while she slept. She look
ed very sober as she followed Mrs. West
uovn stairs
Dear ME it was such long after
noon; and Mamie GUILD not help think
ing Of her mamma, and how she had said
she did not love her one bit, and had run
away without kissing her. and the tears
would keep coming in her ewes. And
when il grew dusk and snpper was ready,
Mamie could not eat anything. She
could not even drink the cup Of nice milk
Mrs. West gave her.
40 dear, she sobbed, leaning her
head on the table. IL don't want TO be
your little girl and live here! want to
DO my mammals little girl, and sleep in
my own bed.
"Bloss her heart She should not
stay IL she did not want to, said Mrs
West, lifting her into her lap and cud-
ding her in her arms. Don't cry any
more, dear, you shall go home and sec
your mother this very night. -
But Mamie only cried and sobbcd the
harder. It's dark and I'm afraid TO
go. A big black do-og barked at me
when ca-ame out here.
/" There. there. dear. don't cry, and