Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-10-19
TWO LITTLE FOES,

IT was one charming afternoon IN
| springtime that little Jessie Grey came
out of the garden, with her apron full
of leaves and flowers, and hurried
down to her favorite playground by
the creek; evidently bright anticipa-
lions 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
| ful style. Finished and spread out at
the great trees base, Jessie'S stock was
garded it with proud content. eff
they are only leaves with flowers stuck
in 'em, " she murmured, ''they' re dear,
sweet hatsy" and then bustl1ngIy
turned to welcome her imaginary GUS
| toners.
Walk III, ladies, and judge for
yourselves. You'll find the latest
styles; no fXed-oyer ones from last
year. And so very-high, did you
say? Well, yes, trife 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 a girl
of about her own size and age, not an
Unlocking child, yet unpleasing be-
cause of her scornful air. At these
words she stepped forward, and I'M
tremendously sat down in close prox-
unity to the gay little shop.
"Shan'tr' she replied, with a glance
at the bonnets that BODIED 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 d series Of misunder-
standings, had come to look upon each
otter as foes; Sinnie, especially, tax
ing every opportunity to provoke
Y ct to others she was fair little girl;
with Jessie, mainly, the evil in her
nature cropped forth.
There was 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, eff you won't go, I'll move my
shopp'
"And I'll helpp' 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 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.
q don't lie," she calculated; "she's
a mean thing-and, besides, if Il
hadn't turned / wouldn't have known.
| don't see."
A sudden crash and cry put stop
to these foolish words, and sent Jes-
sic, shrieking, back to the waters
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 fig
ure, with face so white and still that |
that Jessie thought surely that this