Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-05
HAVING HER OWN WAY.
BY ELEANOR KIRK.

81 neoer can do anything that 1 want
top
This very ill-natured and wicked re-
mark was made by little Jennie Harris to
her mother. Mrs. Harris sat by the win
dow sewing on very pretty scarlet me-
rino dress for her daughter She had
made an Overskirt, because Jenny had
wanted one so much, and trimmed it
with three rows of velvet a shade darker
than the material. This kind mother had
done her very best to please her little
girl; and Jennie really thought when the
bright merino was brought into the house,
with pretty hat, and boots to wear with
it, that she should never be cross again
as long as she lived: but now the young
miss was about as cross as she could be.
She had run in from school, thrown her
books in one direction, her hat and cloak
in another; and had called out very nOis
lily for her lunch to Sc served her. Then
she boisterously inquired if she might go
with some of her school companions to
play with their sleds. Now Mrs. Harris
had two very good reasons for not indulg-
ing her little girls wish. First, Jennie
was but nine years old, and she feared
and next she could not think of allowing
uoI any ploaSuA0 olt01 oe1Ch naughty Con-
duct.
1t was here Jennie made the rem ark
which commences this story.
q never can do anything that I want
to-"
Mrs. Harris folded the work she was
engaged on, and laid it carefully in her
basket, then she commenced to sew on one
Of Jennie's papa's shirts.
"Why don't you work on my dress?"
inquired Jennie, all ready to burst into
tears.
Because" replied her mother, ~ have
decided not to touch it again until you are
a better girl; and if after it is finished you
are cross and noisy, | shall not allow you
to wear it.''
The little girl thought this was very
hard, and tried to excuse her behavior by
saying that she was cold and hungry; but
she did not ask her mothers forgiveness,
only cried, and sniveled, and sObbed, just
as | have seen great many children do.
Mrs. Harris kept on sewing quietly, and
allowed her daughter to act in this foolish
manner until she grew tired of it; and this
sometimes is very good way to deal with
cry babies. When they see that their
tears are not noticed, they are very likely
to come to their senses. After Miss Jennie
had satisfied herself with crying, she
skulked and pouted awhile, then she
beamed like an April day, then she boss
omed out like May flower, and finally
grew so sweet and obliging that Mrs.
Harris was almost persuaded to resume
work upon the scarlet merino; but this
mood did not last long.
Something went amiss, and Jennie had
another crying fit, and declared that her
little girls should never be made to stay
in the house when they wanted to go out
Of doors and have a good time. They
should always do just as they pleased.
What was snow made for, if not for chill
dren to play on with their sleds and why
did other mothers allow their little girls
to 90 out when her mother thought she
ought not? Why would it hurt her any
more than the rest? These, you all know,
were very impertinent and disrespectful
questions; but Jennie little realized what
depths of trouble she was preparing for
herself
Mrs. Harris was finally compelled to
Danish the naughty girl from the sitting
room, and that evening Jennie ate her
supper in the solitude of her room. The
next day Mrs. Harris was quite i'll, and
Jennie's aunt came to assist in taking
care of the house and children. She was
called Aunt Annie, and her way of man
aging i'll behaved children was very diff
ferent from that of Mrs. Harris.
Aunt Annie had not been in the house
twenty four hours before her little niece
commenced her disagreeable pranks.
When restrained from some dangerous
pleasure, she made the same remark to
her aunt that she had used to her mother.
| 81 never can do any thing | want to-"
Aunt Annie looked steadily at the child
for moment; then she said:
"Jennie, give you full permission to
do Just what you please during the re-
mainder of the day. 1t is now eleven
O'Clock. Come to me at six, and tell me
how you have enjoyed YOURSELF
Jennie clapped her hands in delight,
and in her great enthusiasm promised to
be good girl; which promise, as you
may suppose, she quickly broke
Il can go where l please?" she asked
in surprise.
''Where you please, and you may wear
what you please; but remember you must
come to me, without fail, at six o'clock"
was the lady's singular answer.
The first thing Jennie did was to 60 to
her room, and with the girls help to
dress herself in her very best gown. She
put on her new bronze boots, and her
new white uncut velvet hat with blue
feather; then she walked to a friends
house and make short call. They were
all very much surprised to see Jennie so
dressed of Saturday morning, when all
| her playmates wore their every day
| clothes, and wondered where she was go
| ing; but Jennie tried very hard to initiate
| her elders in the matter of calling, and in
a very few minutes withdrew in the most
approved style.
1t was funny to see the foolish little
girl endeavor to ape the manners of ladies,
! and the sensible children in the house
| where Jennie made her first call were so
surprised by such singular behavior thai
they could really think of nothing to say