Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-01-07
Maggie's Toothache.


Maggie Morton was a very fine little
girl if she aCas tomhoy. She could
ride "any horse $50 she said, bat her
experience had been limited thus far to
a couple of aged specimens who plowed
corn for hving), rake hay, hoe corn,
fish, "pull off shoots" which, trans
lated, meant firing off her brother Har-
rvs gun-and sundry other accomplish
ments we have not space here to men,
ton. But You never heard this little
lass boast of work indoors. Indeed no.
She lived in the open air great por-
ton of the time, and it could not be ex-
pected Of her that she should take care
of Dame Nature and her mother, too.
So she ran wild, and was healthy and
happy.
Now, with all her health and good
nature, Maggie had one fault. She
told very large stories, and was apt to
deceive when IL served her purpose /;
and this sketch is to explain how this
little girl was tripped up completely by
a rope of her own stretching.
One fine spring morning her uncle
Amos stopped as he was passing the
house, and called to Maggie, who was
very busily engaged in building mini
allure leaning tower out of brick-so
much of q Gaming one, in fact, that it
managed to fall over when it got half
the required height. She heard the
call, and In flash was standing by the
side of the carriage In which her Iela-
tive was seated.
CA present for you, Maggie" he said,
as he dropped wee black puppy into
her apron, which she had instinctively
held out after hearing the first two
words.
"Oh, thank you, uncle. What good
one he is, isn't he? 1 expect he will
grow up to watch me and bite folks !;
don't you think he wlll?"
81 hope not, replied her uncle, as
he drove away 81 expect to make
few calls during the year myself ; and
if he is ungrateiul enough to bite one
who saved him f,om drowning, 1 shall
be sorry for my efforts in his behalf. F"
Maggie wendell her way toward the
house in silent contemplation of the an
imal that scrambled around in her
apron, now and then giving vent to a
spiteful yell in finding himself in such
close quarters.
"Oh, mamma" she cried, on entering
the house, "just look here! Such a
real, blessed little puppy He's mine.
Uncle Amos gave him to me. Hear him
scream for milk. Please will you skim
a mess, so he may quit and wag his
tail ?"
"Not now, DEAR" replied the COM
posed mother, as she opened the oven
door and withdrew a loaf of snowy
bread. 81 Will see to him by and by.
1t is time for you to get ready for
school. John and Harry have already
gone.
The tears sprang into Maggie's eyes.
enjoy the companionship of her beau
tiful pet. She abruptly left the room.
After some ten minutes had passed, he1
mother stepped to the door and called
her. No answer. She called again.
Then faint voice:
CT don't bTeve can go to school
to-day. ma"
"Why, my dear?'
"Tve got the toothache, oh, ever SC
bad"
"How long have you had it?"
go, good long while but it came
on harder since"
"Since the dog came, suppose 2
added her mother.
"No, it wasn't the puppy did it. Il
Just came on.
Now it so CHANGED that Mr. Clinton
the teacher, had called at the house
the evening before, and confded tc
Mrs. Morton and her husband genu
inc and delightful surprise for the
whole school. Mr.. Gibson, the owner
of beautiful place near by, had In
vited him to bring his whole school OF
the following day for a good twelve
hours recreation = strawberries ani
cream in abundance, and good time
generally. Mr.. Clinton also stated tina
this gentleman had kindly furnished
boats-he lived across beautiful rive
that ran by the chool-house-and oars
men beside. $50 l shall merely cal
the school to ORDER" he added, and
after telling them where we are going
pack them off for my friend says b
wants to greet them in their very-da,
school garb-not dressed up for the oc
casion."
Of course Mr.. and Mrs. Morto
promised to keep all this to themselves
but they both had enjoyed in anticips
ton the store of genuine pleasure 70
their three children. But here wa
Maggie with made-up toothache, ash
ing to remain at home, utterly ignoran
of the sacrifice she was making. Wit
q half sigh her mother assented to he
staying, with the added inquiry as {
which particular tooth it was ths
troubled her.
"Don't know" replied the little Gu
prit, trying to cry, 81 bl'eve it's all {
'em."
"Come here, then. shall rub pair
killer around esch TOOTH"
s' Oh no, ma" exclaimed the youtbfr
invalid, suddenly alive to the danger
Of having the toothache all around
ST guess it's only q little front on,
Don't put it on any but the front ont
please, and I viii get over it real soon.