Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26
k1TTY'S PANIC SHOES.
BY MAMIE A HEPwoRTH.

by themselves, and, though Kitty does not
nave a great many things that some little
girls think they could not do without.
sui she loves her home dearly.
One evening this winter Mrs. Prime
was looking so sad that Kitty said:
what is the matter, dear mother; are
you tired?"
| NO, my darling; but when took Mrs.
| FiOyd'S work home this afternoon she
told me she could not give me any more,
for her husband had lost so much money
that She must try and do her own sewing
now. 1t will be hard winter, Kitty, dear
for everybody" .r..
| ooh, | know, motheri for l heard the
| girls talking about it at school. MAY
| FlOyd's father has sold his carriage and
| horses, and she can't have the new tippet
and muff she wanted. I'm real sorry, fo1
she was going to give me her old ones
Then Susie Percival's mother won't let
her give her birthday party, all on account
of the panic. When l asked Miss Brooks
what the panic was, she said it meant
hard times T.; and l just thought, mother,
that it was always panic with US. [ don't
see how we can go without anything more
than we do now"
Think, Kitty; you wanted something
yesterday which | am afraid [ cannot
buy for my little girl" Kitty did think
for minute, then, glancing at her feet,
exclaimed: "Oh! never mind, dear
mother, l can wear my old shoes; only
when that toe comes through I'll have to
stay at home to have patch put on" and
Kitty did not know whether to laugh or
cry, for Miss Brooks was very strict, and
read the excuses for absence before the
school, and she felt sure the girls would
make fun of hers. But when she heard
her mother sigh, she decided to laugh
over it, and said: "They will last for
two months yet, if use my rubbers; and
I'll call them my panic Shoes"
"God bless my brave little daughter"
whispered Mrs. Prime . f.ts
SO Kitty wore the old shoes, remaining
at home, just as she knew she would have
to, in order to have them mended; and
the next morning her excuse was laid on
the desk, telling the whole truth After
Miss Brooks called the roll, she took up
the half-dozen white notes:
Bella Steele, excused for sickness;
May Floyd, absent because she had com
pany; Susie Percival, went skating D.
| and the teacher frowned. Then, opening
Kitty's note, she paused. Kitty was not
| ashamed of her patches; but she fancied
the girls would all turn to look at her
feet, and she drew them up close under
her dress, while her cheeks flushed:
Kitty Prime remained at home yester-
day-tO help her mother; she is excused"
Miss Brooks told Kitty at recess that she
had met Mrs. Prime in the sh0e-store, and
had learned from her how cheerfully her
little daughter wore her old clothes, and
helped her by not complaining, but laugh
ing over her "panic Shoes" After that
Kitty thought she would not change her
patched boots for the best pair in school
she was so glad to be a help to her
mother! ....-..Es ......
But this was early in the winter, and
by the oath Of December, when she came
from school with the news of vacation
for the holidays, the soles of her shoes
were thinner than ever, and even the
patches were wearing off; nevertheless,
! doubt if there was happier girl IN
town that afternoon than Kitty Prime
Her brother Ben was coming home to
spend Christmas, and she loved him
more than she could tell and wished he
did not have to live so far away; but then
twice a week Kitty went to the Postoffice,
and always found letter from him; and
In the very last one he said he had fin
ished his apprenticeship as printer, and
would begin to have wages the first of the
year.
Up 10 her little room she went to brush
her dress, and smooth the curls that Ben
tried in vain to pull out-her hands and
face were sweet and clean as water and
soap could make them, no matter what
time OF day you kissed them. 1t was
only four O'Clock, but she had the table
to arrange while her mother went out
with some sewing she had completed.
" will be back soon, Kitty; put the
biscuit in the oven in three-quarters of an
hour, and have everything ready for our
hungry boy"
1t was nothing new for Kitty to set the
table, but it was so nice to put on three
plates They always had biscuits when
Ben came home once, for a treat, they
had oysters; but Kitty knew she must not |
even speak of them in panic times So |
she put the baked apples on glass dish |
and sprinkled white sugar over them |
most beautifully (Ben liked sugar., and |
stood them outside the door that they |
might be icy cold. She could not help |
though, how pretty a frosted |
cake would look, right in the center Of |
the table-such as she had seen at Mrs. |
Floyd's one night when she waited in |
their supper-roOm for her mothers work |
and mold of jelly opposite her place;
how she would like to help it out! And |
in front OF Ben's plate dish Of
Just then Mrs. Prime, coming in, heard |
her little daughter exclaim: " Yes, I'll |
do it.! Oh, mother, may / go out ten |
minutes? And, mother, dear, instead of |
buying mittens with my half dollar, nav
L 90 what L choose with it 90
1t was money Kitty had earned herself;
and, knowing she would not spend it fool
lshly, Mrs. Prime gave her consent, and
remained in the sitting-room to watch for
Ben, for she guessed that she was not
wanted in the Kitchen.
What time Kitty had opening that
'ardine-box! She used hammer, an old
knife, and nail before she could get the
cover off. She laid the tiny fish on a
little platter, and placed thin slices of
emon between-hOw glad she was that
'he had five cents over to buy that lemon
and if there were only some parsley
around the edge of the dish it would be
Exactly like Mrs Floyd's.
Mother, dear mother, please give me
our or five geranium leaves from your
push ~
Kitty, what are you up to?" said Mrs.
rrime, cutting the leaves from her pet
plant
ooh, beautiful surprise! but you must
lot see yet" And when she had dressed
Ter platter with green she could not help
;lapping her hands and saying, It's ever
10 much prettier than oysters. | wish
Ben would GOMEZ"
Ben did come that minute, and of
course he was so hungry he could not
= L an1 |