The Van Buren press., 1875-06-29
Crying for the Moon
BY MARI KYLE DALLAS.

There was little girl, once, who want
ed the moon 1t was so bright and large
and beautiful that she fairly broke her
heart yearning for it. All the toys in the
world were nothing to that round, gold
en- thing that shimmered and shone so !
and she begged everybody to get 1t Tor
her. First her papa. because he was so
tall that if he went out on the roof he
could surely reach it But he declared
that the thing could not be done, and ad
vised her TO be contented with doll, a
bic one with blue eyes, that opened and
shut, and real, yelow hair-a doll in
stead of the moon--but he did not I'M
derstand She could not make him see
| that it was the moon she wanted, not
| doll
Then she went to her mother. Best and
dearest mother. who would do anything
| for her. She was kind. She said she re-
mcmbered wanting the moon herself; bat
no one ever got it for her 1t was beau
| tiful moon. If one had it one could 60
about lighting up the places where one
went, so beautifully; but as 1T was, 1t
shone very prettly. Could she not look
at it, admire it, be content, and have in
stead ever so many pieces OF blue and
pink and yellow silk, and needle, and
make some patchwork or bohnets for her
doll.
Mamma was kind, but she didn't quite
Understand either. Oh, no.
Then there was her big brother, who
Icrinncd and teased her, and her big sis
ter, who begged her not to cry, and gave
her a great, sweet sugar plum. The moon
was not to be had they said; but she
knew better.
That night when she went to bed, she
asked the nurse, old Dinah, whether 1t
was true that she could never, nevcr,ncv-
er reach the moon and Dinah consider
ed under the red and yellow turban like q
email conlagraton, and after consider
ing, she said:
"Well, honey, reckon you can't reach
de moon, no way--specks dats impossi'
BILE; but | tell ye what; when dat yar
moon gets ready, it will come down to
you. Yes, chile: de moon will come, down
to YOU when it gets ready. SO GO to sleep,
and don bother no more"
The little girl was happy, and said her
prayers and went to sleep on her little
white pillow, thinking of the happy time
when the moon should come down to
her
Late in the night, after every one was
sleeping she awoke The moon had gone
behind the house, and she could see it
no longer.
What if it has come down, she said
"The moon has come down of its own
self" and she danced for JOY. Then
! knowing way out of the house, she
crept down stairs, not even waiting for
her shoes, and out into the still garden,
where all the flowers bloomed and the
grass was wet with dew. She went down
the path and opened the gate, and ran
down to the pond. Far out in its very
center the moon that had come down to
her iloatcd on its back.
Come here,' said she, but the moon
did not come.
"Dont you here me p she cried. The
moon made no answer.
There was nothing for it hut 10 wade
out and bring it in She tucked up her
and started.
! The moon smiled at her. She waded
in. Her feet were wet; now her little
/ knees but she almost touched the moon.
She took one step more; it was on wa.
ter As she went down, she caught at
the golden simmer with her little white
hands
Moon, / have got you - she cried (;
and thea her head was under water.
Somebody in the house heard her
scream, and came out in terrible fright,
! Papa, big and strong, walked out into the
water, aud brought the little girl ont
She was choking with mouthfuls Of dirty
water. She was all over mud aud mire
Oh, her pure white gown, the little baby,
maiden dress, how dirty it was The ii
ny feet were as black as Dnah's, aud in
the small dimpled hand were clasped
two or three long pieces Of very rank, i'll
smelling water weeds and she was near.
ly dead but as soon as she could speak,
thfs was what she said
"The moon came down to me, and /
went to get it; and then she pulled me
down and drowned me, and drted me, the
nasty, wicked moon"
MoR-L. All the strong-minded little
girls that want the moon, beware. You
cannot reach her, and if she docs come,
down you'll have TO wade through dirty
water to get her Your feet and your
white garments will be soiled, and you
must touch evil weeds, and, perhaps, you
will be less lucky than our little girl ;
! foI no one may come to your rescue; and
YOU may be quite crowded, not only par
TALLY SO by that wicked, trcachkrous
moon.
BIJAu's ADyiCE--AN OLD GIRL --" II
were in your place, Bjah was saying
to a gaunt, woe begone woman. 81 nev
er'd foller him rod further. lf ! was a
woman and my husband should run
away with my cross eyed sister, |
wouldn't even walk to the corner to see