The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-15
WHAT Myrtle LEARNED BY THE
FOUNTAIN.

| - ALWAYS Hillng ones pitcher ana al
ways finding it empty-that seems to be
all there is left of life"
Myrtle Austen set her pitcher down
with bang" that 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 of her impa-
tient temper, yet as she picked up the
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 to
learn if one only had time; such great,
wide world to know if one could get out
into itn
| 1t had been a 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 ii
ought to do. Davy had walked over the
clean floor with muddy feet as he gathered
his tish.lincs and bait from their hooks
and corners. Sue had stumbled over a
pot of geranium slips that Myrtle had
been watching month, and the baby
! Well, if baby chooses to behave ag-
gravatingly it can succeed in most Won
| derful manner! He had pulled Myrtie's
| hair to begin with. Then he had crepk to
the corner of the cloth hanging over the
breakfast-table and dragged at it until a
cup had fallen and UtlluIs ncarIy IolIoWeu,
a few grains of salt had got in his eyes,
and Il goblet of water had wet his clean
| dress.
! Kitty Give had walked by with roll of
music in her hand on her way to her
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 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
gaumbed softly in this wise:
Il won't go home in an hour. Then
nobody can call Myrtle. MyrtieH every
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 l was bird; don't l, thought Moth
ing to do but fly and sing and drink and
have good time. l wish / 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''
Myrtics face had puckcred 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 queer little voice kept saying:
Better go home! better go home!"
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 chiped louder than ever
Better go home! better go home!"
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
stiffness.
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
of g Deaths" mother, Susie, Davie, baby
and all.
rlEr And then there came quick remem-
/, brance of the tender mother-love that had
: | SnOOtIleu iouSh Pi"SSS ioi ii>i
daughters feet, toiling on so patiently day
!. after 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
and loving ways, Of baby's shout and crow
of welcome, that she must miss forever
more. And over all the dreadful sorrow
that she had parted with them in anger
and now could never say how sorry and
, ashamed she had grown. Gone-all gone
. And then she grew so frightened and
6 distressed that she gave one great cry
/ "Oh, mother! mother! come back for one
c moment-only one'' but the cry seemed
; to die in her throat and become sob
+ Then the house seemed to totter and rec
G about her
a And Myrtle awoke!
: For all this was only dream. Myrtle
/ looked about vainly for the little ole
/. woman and could not find her anywhere
+ A brown clipper was hopping about In
8 the tree branches above her head and the
: fountain was gurgling its same old song.