The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-07-24
:. oId pinah and Her Pets"

Old Oman anu ffeT ESss'
Children. let me tell you how this
,,;cture was drawn, and may be you Will
,fael more interested in looking at 1t.
The artist calls it "Old Dinah and her
Pets" and Judging from the kind face
of the nurse We may imagine that her
pets love her very dearly. l wish you
.could see the real old Dinah who sat
for her likeness in this picture. She
was such a good-natured, happy soul,
and considered it quite an honor to be
"put in the paper" but when the artist
told her that a great many children
would look at her after the paper was
printed, she put on her p~leasantest face
and was more delighted than ever. And
now what about the children gathered
around this old nurse, you wonder.
Well, the boy who lies stretched upon
the table, appearing to listen with all
his ears TO the story which Dinah Is
reading aloud, is little Harry, the ED
est of the three little ones, and he con-
siders himself the Nan of the family
for dear papa died long ago, and
mamma has only this one little son to
take care OF her as soon as he is old
enough. But Harry forgot his dignity
a little while ago, and quarreled with
his sister Maggie (the little girl who sits
in the chair holding dolly, and also
with little precious May. He took all
his marbles away from them, and even
pushed his sister May away from HIM
when she came to his side and coaxed,
"Brother Hally to div May de mobiles
again" Only think what temper must
have taken possession of the little boy
to cause him TO pushthat beautiful little
sister away, instead OF kissing and max
ing up with her.
But the good nurse, hearing loud and
angry voices, and knowing that mamma
was living down with a headache, hur-
ried to act the part Of peacemaker, and
after she had coaxed back smilesinstead
of the ugly frowns which were spelling
those dear little faces, she promised to
read them a story, and it was while the
children were gathered around, forget
ting playthings, disputes, and all
unkindness, the artist put them on
paper.
A very sad thing has happened since
this little group was drawn. Do You
see the little girl who is leaning against
old Dinah's knee, looking up into the
kind face?
Well, shortly after she was sketched
in that position, with her bright face
rosy and merry in health, her blue eyes
sparkling with JOY and appreciation OF
the story to which she was then listen,
ing, the little girl, our darling May
was taken sick. None knew quite what
the trouble was, but she grew pale ane
languid, and wanted mamma to take
her" and laid her golden head upor
Dinah's knee SO YEARLY that the ole
nurse was filed with anxiety concern
ing her youngest pet. Harry Offered
all his marbles, but May didn't carr
about playing any more, and evel
Dolly's attractions failed to make he
smile. Poor little Maggie grew 81
tired of proposing games when Ma.
wouldn't take any interest, and poo
IN sent for the doctor and tried t.
think her baby would be all right in
few days.
All when the STEW days" ha'
passed there was no longer a littl
sister May for Harry and Maggie, onl
a little still form lying quietly in tn
crib, which always stood by mamma
bed. Only the beautiful form fror
whence the glad, happy spirit had file
forever.
That dread disease called "scarlt
fever" had stolen the fairest fowe
which mammals garden contained, an
God sent angels to take the cherishe
bud far mp beyond the clouds, an
little May is now an angel sister for IL