The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-10-19
TWO LITTLE FOES.

--Wids.ArGke.
TWO LITTLE FOES.
IT was one charming afternoon in
spring-time that little Jessie Grey came
out of the garden, with her apron full
of leaves and flowers, and hurried
down to her favorite play ground by
the creek; evidently bright anticipa-
tions ahead, for, dropping her fragrant
burden in a great trees shade, she eX-
claimed, eXultantly, a very fine day
for trade, | think. Ladies will be out
early; | must hurry and make up my
stock and, in her Old-faShioned,
womanish way, she snuggled down
amid the tree-rOots and began her
work.
Some of you little folks know how
to play bonnet-shop, and can i'm
agine Jessie's intent. Very industri-
ously for half an hour she worked,
shaping deftly her leaves. adjoining
them with plumes of ribbon-grass and
buds, trimming all in the most taste
full style. Finished and spread out at
the great trees base, Jessie'S stock was
truly charming to behold, and she re-
garded it with proud content. IF
they are only leaves with flowers stuck
in EN-, she murmured, "they' re dear,
sweet hatsr' and then bustlngly
turned to welcome her imaginary Gus
toners.
"Walk in, ladies, and judge for
yourselves. You'll find the latest
styles; no tixed-Over ones from last
year. And so very-high, did you
say? Well, yes, trite dearer, per-
haps, now, but you see
Suddenly loud laugh burst upon
the air. The little milliner started;
the sunny expression of her counte-
nance gave place to an ugly frown.
go away" she said, sharply. Be
tween Jessie and the creek stood girl
of about her own size and age, not an
ill-looking child, yet unpleasing be-
cause of her scornful air. At these
words she stepped forward, and m
tremendously sat down III close proX
unity to the gay little shop.
"Shan't!' she replied, with glance
at the bonnets that boded no good.
To Jessie, Sinnie Moulton was truly
an odious guest; she had long regarded
her as the torment of her life. With
no Just reason for dislike, these little
folks, through series of misunder-
standings, had come to look upon each
OTHER as foes; Sinnie, especially, tax
ing every opportunity to provoke.
Yet to others she was fair little girl; !;
with Jessie, mainly, the evil in her
nature cropped forth.
There was a moments silence, dur
ing which, | regret to say, wee Jessie
twisted her feathers into one of those
ugly marvels known to children as a
"face," which salutation was re-
turned with interest by her apprecia-
tive guest. Then she exclaimed, an
grily, "If you won't go, I'll move my
shopw
"And I'll helpr' chimed in Sinnie,
and leaning forward, she seized hand
full of bonnets, and sent them sailing
down the creek.
This was very aggravatlng, to be
sure. Fortunately, Jessie was too
angry to speak a word; with cheeks
blazing, she seized the remains of her
hat-shop, and turning her back upon
her enemy, went rapidly down the
road.
Some impulse made her suddenly
pause and look back. Just below the
site of the bonnet-shop was a little
foot-bridge, and upon this she saw
Sinnie Moulton, on the point of trip
ping across. Instantly Jessie remem-
bered that she had heard their hired
man say, the day previous, that the
bridge was unsafe, and that no one
should cross till it was fixed.
She doesn't know, <was her first
thought, and her impulse, was. to call
out. But the anger, still raging, kept
her dumb; resolutely she turned and
walked on.
"Idon't lie," she calculated; "she's
a mean thing-and, besides, if l
hadn't turned / wouldn't have known.
| don't see."
A sudden crash and cry put a stop
to these foolish words, and sent Jes-
sic, shrieking, back to the water S
edge, there to find the bridge-plank
broken down, and poor little Sinnie
Moulton struggling helplessly in the
creek.
Jessie's shrieks brought to the res
cue her fathers man, who speedily
bore out of the water a dripping tig-
ure, with face so white and still that
that Jessie thought surely that this
was death; and cried herself to SLEEP
that night, despite mammal S assurance
that Sinnie had only tainted, and
would probably soon be well and
strong.
"If l hadn't spoke so sharp she
sobbed, "and made that horrid face
And to think l knew and didn't tell
Oh, dear-oh, dearp
The following days seemed to Jessie
dreary time; for Sinnie did not i'm
mediately get well and strong. The
accident produced a fever which
preyed on the little frame, and hin
dered impatient Jessie from the con
fession she longed to make. But th'
opportunity came at last. Sinnie
looking up one day from her pillow
was startled to see Jessie Grey's blu'
eyes smiling sweetly down into hel
own. gt1n - 1EuE gttzgss *
I She blushed crimson, and would have
turned away, but Jessie caught thu
thin little hand.
| "Oh, Sinnie," she murmured. "cal