The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-03-20

by the kitchen fire and dry herself.
SO by the fire she stood, II long
hour, that hot day, while Mrs. Cole
took off Robbie's clothes and dried them.
Even then she was not half dry, but she
was tired and warm, and she thought
she looked dry enough to go through
the streets.
But something allied her dress, it
would not dry straight. 1t spite of pull
ing and smoothing it would not come
right, and she saw very plainly that she
could never wear it again.
eff Mrs. Primkins does her duty"
said Mrs. Cole, as Mt last Nimpo and
Robert started for home, she'll put
you to bed, and give you a hot dose of
ginger tea"
81 guess she won't" thought Nimpo,
ssfor I won't tell her a word about it. |
hate ginger tea"
1t was nearly dusk when she entered
the kitchen door, hoping to slip up
stairs before any one saw her. But Mrs.
Primkins' eyes were sharp.
"Why, Nimpo Rievor! What on
earth Have you been in the water?"
Nimpo's heart sank.
got a little wet, up at Mrs. Coles"
said she.
SCOT a little wet! l should think
so! Did you fall in the creek up
there ?"
"Yes," faltered Nimpo, "but I'm all
dry now"
"All dry. Humph! You've proba-
bly, got your death of cold. But I'll do
my duty any way, as l promised your
ma. Little did | know what Il chore it
would be either" she murmured to her.
self, adding at once, lyon go right
straight to bed, and be spry about it
too, and III come up there with a cup
of tea for you"
Nimpo groaned, but did not dare to
rebel, and besides, she was a little
frightened about the death o cold"
She did not wish to die just yet.
She climbed to her room, nndressed,
put on dry clothes, and laid down on the
bed.
In a few minutes Mrs. Primkins came
in one hand n blanket, in the other
Il bowl. Putting the bowl on the stand,
she first wrapped Nimpo i'll the blank
ct, which she had heated by tho
kitchen fire, and then she held the bowl
to her lips, and told her to drink every
drop.
This tea was indeed a 'horrid black
STUFF as Ninpo inwardly called it, very
much worse than ginger tea. Nimpo,
choked and gasped and gagged, but
swallowed it.
Mrs. Primkins smiled grimly, and
gave her a lump Of sugar to take the
taste ont her mouth.
Now, don't you stir hand or foot ont
of that bed, however warm you get.
If you don't have n good sweat You'll
have a chill, sure's you live. When it's
time for you to come ont I'll run up or
send Augusty;" and down stairs she
went.
This ended Nimpo's first whole day of
liberty. She had a good chance to think
it over as she lay there wide awake. She
had spoiled her visit to Nancy, ruined
her own nice dress and boots, and
perhaps caught a dreadful cold and
fever.
On the whole she had been unhappy
ever since her mother left, though she
couldn't exactly see why.
81 wouldn't mind the wetting," she
thought, as she lay there alone. q
could stand this horrid blanket, though
! believe l shall Sunderland that bad
stuff !" shuddering as she thought of it;
" but | know my dress is spoiled, and
what shall l do without n nice dress till
mother gets back? And Helen Benson's
birthday party next week Oh, dear,
why didn't l wear a clean calico and a
white apron as mother always made
me ?" And Nimpo's first day Of freedom
actually ended in a fit of tears.
But finally she cried herself to sleep,
and when Mrs. Primkins came at bed
time, leading Robbie by the hand, she
found her Just waking up, and all cold
gone.-FrOm Nimpo's Troubles" in
81. Nicholas.