The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-06-02
THE BABES OF THE PRAIRIE.

Be quiet now, Willie, and you too,
Mary. Sit down on your little stool and
be Just as still as mice. I've just got the
baby asleep, and | want him to have a
good long nap, for he isn't a bit well.
There, take your primers and read your
\ Il C's." And the mother took from
the upper drawer of the bureau the
carefully treasured books.
But I'm so tired of sitting still, .
said the little boy. Maynt we 90 out
doors, ma? Say yes, do. Wen only go
down to the barn. Say, mayn't we go
to zee the two little bossies?' And he
looked up pleadingly into her face.
Little Mary jumped up at the same
moment, and tossing her primer on to
the bed, joined in with "Do, ma, do
there's a good ma. Cause the bossies
are 50 cunning do love to see them"
Yes, 90 a little while-but mind and
be good children, and don't take down
the bars 50 the calves can get into the
garden-do you hear?"
They had been gone half an hour or
50, when they came rushing into the
cabin, exclaiming with one voice: " Ma,
ma, mayn't we have our little pals and
go strawberrying? There's whole lot
OF them right on the gopher mound,
'tother side of the barn, and they're lust
as red and ripe as they can be. Do let
rs 90 and get them. There's enough for
nice shortcake, and pa loves them so,
and they'll taste so good to him when he
comes home from the mill so tired"
The indulgent mother took down the
little pals, and handing one to each, and
bidding them be careful and not stain
their clean aprons, watched them until
their little dancing feet had carried them
to the place they spoke of
How glad they arep' she said to her
self, as she turned from the door, q and
how proud they will be when they get
their pals full" And she resumed her
patching.
Tired she certainly was, and half sick,
though she would hardly have owned
that, and as she sat there now, "plying
her needle and thread" she was sensible
OF unusual fatigue, and in spite of all
her efforts, her patches set awry, and her
darning was uneven. There was
pleasant drowsiness in the soft hush of
the golden summer afternoon, and after
iSwhile she yielded to it involuntarily.
and closed her eyes. Starting up ere she
had hardly lost herself, she ran to the
door. The two little ones sat side by
side upon the gopher mound, and the
echo of their CHEEKY voices was the only
sound that broke the intense quiet of the
prairie.
They are 50 busy, and the baby is so
sound asleep, believe I'll lie down lit
tie while, for my back aches terribly end
my head is just ready to split with pain.
William says | ought to take a nap
every day after dinner, but dear me, |
wonder when the sewing and mendine
would get done if | did"
As she spoke she drew a mosquito bar
over the cradle, and turning down the
neat patchwork quilt that covered the
bed, dropped off her shoes and stretched
her weary frame on the white sheets
The weary woman unintentionally slept
on, and did not wake until the cry of
the hungry babe in the cradle reused
her up.
With quick, nervous movement, she
sprang from the bed and drawing it to
her bosom, ran to the door. To her sur
prise it was almost sunset. Her first
sorrow was, that she should be belated
with her supper, and the thought of her
tired husband coming home and HAVING
TO wait moment for his meal was NOT
TO be endured. With the babv's lips still
cllnglng 10 her bosom, she hurried to the
stove and took off the griddles and raked
OUT the ashes. Then putting the only
nan satisfied child in It's cradle and civ
ing IL crust of bread to bite on. she
caught up her kindling basket and ran
70 the CHIP pile. She had filed il and
loaded her arms with wood whom H.
suddenly remembered she had not seen |
or heard the children yet. She lool,od
anxlously toward the strawberry bod
Their little figures were not visible
For moment she was paralvzed with
fear. Then she recovered herself. and
saying: They have got tired and gone
to sleep in the barn, as they did Satur-
day, she hurried back to the cabin and
built her fire. Then drawing some fresh
water, Size filled the kettle, ground the
coffee, and put down the bacon to fry.
| shall hardly have time to make
them their shortcake-poor things, they'll
be Disappointed, but I'll save the berries
ana make one for breakfast" And Civ
ing hasty but careful look at the stove
70 see that the fire was burning bright.
he threw on Der sun-bonnet and ran to
he barn. There were no sleeping chill
iren there. She looked in the calf pen.
he two little red bossies were nestled t
lose TO the bars, looking out impatiently !