American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-10-24
Our Boys and girls.
CHILDREN - MUST - LEARN-TO-
OBEY.
BY MARY c. BARTLETT.

and mamma said, and it was strictly
true Had she not been to school two
( days and a half, and was she not the
happy owner of primer with pictures:
Sallie thought her primer a most de
lightful book She knew every word OF
| the 'printin'" under the pictures, from
man." cat" "dog," upon page eight
| to "Children-must-lc y
upon page fifty-four-the Importance of
| which precept was the more strongly i'm
pressed upon her mind by an illustration
| representing a large, fiercelooking dog
in the very act of setting his teeth into
the pantaloons of a small boy. Sallie
did not exactly comprehend the chain of
| events which led from the small boys
disobcdience to the punishment thereof,
but the expression of terror upon his
face seemed to possess strange fascina-
ton for her blue eyes. 1t was her favor
| lite picture.
| For three mornings she had taken
Budgets hand and trotted along quite
| contentedly to the school-house door.
| Upon the fourth she announced that she
was going witlDher own self, without
anybody"
| Bridget looked inquiringly at mamma.
1t was baking day and both were very
busy.
81 suppose she might go alone" said
mamma, half anxiously; "but-"
| ''If it's the right track she kapes,
ma am" replied Bridget, doubtfully.
| You'll be sure to turn the right cor
ner, won't you, dear?"
Its not round by Gibson's you're goin'
at ALL
! 81 know all of that" replied Sallie, in
a dignificd tone.
| Il think can trust you," said man.
ma. "Give me a kiss and run along"
| Mammals hands were in the flour, SO
1 ,-l, 1,..-
good-by." The lady watched the plump
| little figure as it walked complacently
down the street, and she smiled as she
| looked.
Sallie had no thought of smiling, how
| ever. She scanned each corner curious
| ly as she passed. She knew "Gibson's"
| very well indeed. 1t was where that
great large piece of dates" stood.
Somehow it always made her think of
little Jack Horners pie. But she would
have scorned to touch it, tempting as it
| looked.
"sallie wycrs! sallie-Wycrs! Sal
| lie Wy-ers!'
She turned, and, some distance behind
| her, painting and putting, she beheld
Mamie Sims, her very intimat0friend of
| two days standing.
Lets g - Gibson's-way," called
Mamie.
q can't"
1--WE got-a-ccnt."
Dear me! How Sallie wished that
she could.
You could buy some dates" she sug-
gested, timidly.
"Oh, no." replied Mamie, with a toss
of her flaXen curls. "They don't give
nothing for cent at Gibson's. I'm
going to Jane Ann Jones'. She gives
the mixed"
Sallie had not lived five long years in
| the world without knowing what the
mixed" was. She was strongly tempted.
eff we ruined every step of the way
don't b'lieve they'd care" she said,
slowly.
Don't b'lieve who'd care?"
"Mamma and Bridget. They said"
"Well-but - don't you see-they
didn't know-I was coming" replied
Mamie, confidently. "Well have to run
some. It's most quarter of"
So Sallie allowed herself to be per-
suaded.
1t took Jane Ann Jones "A long while to
deal out the ''cents worth of mixed"
Then it took her longer while to divide
it into two equal parts, a point upon
which generous little Mamie insisted.
When, at length, they left the store Sal
lie held tightly in her small hand half a
law-breaker, two broken peppermints
up in a piece of brown paper.
But she could not stop to look at her
treasures. She realized that time was
flying.
Lets run some noo, Mamie" And
they did run until they were both out OF
breath.
Its great deal longer way" whined
poor Sallie.
Just then they saw man coming to-
ward them, waving his arms, Just as If
he was going to preach" Mamie said,
and shouting as loud as he could: Stop!
Stop! Don't come on! Stop there, nowi
Stop!"
Sallie's eyes grew large with wonder
and anxiety, but Mamie was not dis
mayed.
"What for?" she shouted at the top of
her little voice.
''Blastin' - was the laconic reply.
"What is it?" whispered frightened
Sallie.
"Thcyre blasting rocks. If we go too
near Wen get blasted too. Hank! Let's
hear the bang"
Both listened attentively, and in mo-
| ment it came.
at didn't you see" said Mamie, hurt,
reassuringly Come on. now"
Sallie went with fear and trembling
She had no very clear idea of the mean
y
| have greatly preferred not to rush into
| uncertainties.
She saw something that looked like
fire, and something that looked like
smoke. She had to walk over Il great
many stones and crock chips" The
way seemed long and toilsome; but she
did reach the schOol-house at last, with
her little companion.
But alas. alas. they were late. The
second class was up" and they could
distinctly hear Amos Ransoms drawing
tones. Worse than all, he was reading
the very words which, somehow, had
been in Sallies thoughts all the morning:
:" Children-must-lear
She had half a mind to run home again ;
but she didn't dare.
The teacher looked up as the crestfallen
little figures entered. They went TO the
desk and stood there.
"How did this happen, Mamie?"
"Blastin' rocks, - replied Mamie, family.
Couldn't you have come the other
way?"
Il wanted to buy" began Mamie; ;
but she stopped very suddenly. All!
how utterly insignificant seemed whole
Jar full of 1.-THE mixed" in comparison
with the disgrace losing her place
She began to cry
The teacher was very, very sorry, she
said; but Mamie must !" go down one" in
her class and stay ten minutes after
school Then she turned to Sallie, look
ing pityingly at the fat cheeks down
which the teardrops were rolling fast.
Tell me all about it, Sallie."
BliStern' bricks" sobbed Sallie. Il
on't-like-schools! l want to go home.
Oh.-I-want-to-g o-home-"