American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-24

We tipped 'em, and they ruined away;
And this is why
/ Use habin' Fourth-um-Jyi"
The loyal maid
Here snapped torpedoes in such glee
That was fain to turn and flee,
Yet heard her say:
'1se glad t .1s tipped ;e l. and s run away;
Ise habin' Fourth -umJ'y!"
-, ~. Y. Indepemaent.
WHAT Myrtle LEARNED BY TIL
FOUNTAIN.
"ALwAYs filling ones pitcher and al
ways finding it empf8-that seems to be
all there is left of life.
Myrtle Austen set her pitcher down
with "bang" tint would have broken
its heart if the soft green grass had not
held up tender hands to save, IT,, In mo
ment Myrtle was ashamed other imiia-
tient temper, yet as she picked up tie
pitcher with one hand she brushed away
the hot tears with the other, and stood
listening to the soft gurgle of the water,
as she kept saying softly: $50 much 70
learn if one only had time; such great,
wide world to know if one could get ont
into it." 81
1t had been hard morning in the little
cottage Myrtle called her home. Mother
was worried and unhappy over a batch of
obstinate bread that refused to rise as it
ought to do. Davy had walked over the
clean floor with muddy feet as he gathered
his fish-lines and bait from their hooks
and corners. Sue had stumbled over a
pot of geranium slips that Myrtle had
been watching a month, and the baby
Well, if a baby chooses to behave ag-
gravatingly it can succeed in a most Won
derful manner! He had pulled Myrtie's
hair to begin with. Then he had crept to
the corner of the cloth hanging over the
breakfasttable and dragged at it until a
cup had fallen and others nearly followed,
few grains of salt had got in his eyes,
and goblet of water had wet his clean
dress
Kitty Give had walked by with a roll of
music lesson, and so doing looked like
such happy girl to the watching eyes of
her friend Myrtle, who only sang as the
birds did, and might never learn a note on
the piano.
So when Myrtle found herself in the
cool green nook by the pleasant fountain
she resolved to stay there long time and
gaumbled softly in this wise:
So won't go home in an hour. Then
minute and they can all get along some
how. Sue can look after the baby and
mother will contrive some other way if [
don't do this and that and the other. l
wish was bird don't I, though? Moth
ing to do but fly and sing and drink and
have a good time. l wish l were Kitty
Give, and could have on blue muslin
and be going to take my music lesson in
stead of filling the tea-kettle. o dear!"
Myrtie's face had puckered itself into
an ugly pOut that would have been funny
if it had not been SO wicked and unkind,
as she sat down to enjoy her new plan,
leaning her head against the green bank
and looking up at the bit of blue sky
glimmering in between the branches.
All at once it seemed to her that a little
bit of an old woman in a green cloak and
red cap hoped along the wall toward her
and in a queer little voice kept saying:
Better go homel better go homen,
and plucked at her apron until she ran,
and followed her through great nodding
ferns and tree-branches. She did not re-
member the way at ALL but little Red
hood hoped on before her and whenever
she stopped chirped louder than ever;
Better go home! better go homer
AT last they came out of wooded path
and found themselves close by Myrtie's
own door. 1t looked very lonely there.
There was nothing to be seen of Sue or
Davie on the doorstep, and there was no
sound anywhere; it was strangely still.
In the old kitchen fireplace the ashes
were cold in the hearth. In the upper
rooms the beds were made quite smoothly,
but no living thing was seen. The baby's
cradle was empty and tiger lily she had
tied about the baby's head was swinging
dry and dusty.
She called softly to one and another
% Mother, Susie! Davier" But there was
no answer, and she grew frightened at the
Red-hood hoped about the room awhile
and finally drew Myrtie's attention to the
big Bible lying open at the family record.
And there in great black letters were the
names of all she loved beneath the heading
IF Deaths,' mother, Susie, Davie, baby
ma all.
And then there came quick remem-
Drance of the tender motherlove that had
the rough places for her
iaughter's feet, toiling on so patiently day
,fter day to make the little home a happy
place.
OF David's sturdy, loving arms abouther
neck, and his brown eyes shining like
great stars. OF Susie's timid, quiet voice
md loving ways, of babys shout and crow
If welcome, that she must miss forever
more. Anu over all lne tlFeHuiul sDTrOW
hat she had parted with them in anger
md now could never say how sorry and
ashamed she had grown. Gone-all gone,
And then she grew frightened and
that she gave one great cry:
= Oh, mother! mother! come back for one
onen but the cry seemed |
o die in her throat and become II sob. |
Then the house seemed to totter and reel |
bout her
And Myrtle awoke!
For all this was only Il dream. Myrtle |
ookcd about vainly for the little old
woman and could not find her anywhere.
brown clipper WAS hopping about in
he tree branches above her head and the |
ountain was gurgling its same old song.
Very thankfully did the maiden fill her
pitcher and turn homeward after her dole
ul dream. And oh, how sweet and dear |
he patient mother-face looked as Myrtle |
anne cheerily home with her burden.
low she kissed the baby over and over,
how the empty cradle and
lusty lily looked.
All the doleful clouds seemed to vanish
mt of her sky, and her face was n pleas
mt one to see rs she went to and fro,
this thing and that with dainty
ouches by the way. In the worried days
hat came after that when she well nigh
again, Il memory came back