The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-04-26


who Is your neighbour Does he 90
blackberrying with youP"
"Oh, yes" said Bessie, laughing,
" but then he Is my real next-door
neighbor, you know. 1t don't mean
am to love him, for, Of course, should
do that. but il means am to love every
body. Even you"
"Well,n said the Deacon looking
down at her, " how are you going TO
manage about thatP"
"Why, must love you, Of course"
replied Bessie. "Do you mind very
muchp'
1--WE must do as the Sunday-school
says" replied the Deacon, and then be
laughed; though what there was to
laugh at Bessie couldn't for the life of
her think.
On they went, old Dobbin, Bessie,
and the Deacon, now up hill and now
down, till they came to tiny cottage
standing under the shadow Of a big
house.
Here's where l live," said Bessie,
briskly, sand there's where you live.
Isn't It conveniently and she kissed her
hand to the Deacon and skipped down.
He handed her the basket, and Bessie,
opening the gate and calling out, s'Good
by" walked up the little path that led
to the cottage door
On the step sat boy, little bigger
than Bessie, whistling to himself. "Turn
around,r he said to her as she drew
near ~ want to look at your wings"
Wings?" repeated Bessie, her eyes
wide with amazement.
Yes, wings. Haven't you been rid
ing with the DeaconP l expected no
less"
~ have had very pleasant ride"
said Bessie with dignity, and she passed
by her brother and entered the house.
swell, Bessie" said her mother, who,
tea-kettle in hand, was busy making the
tea, 81 am glad to see you back. /
have been thinking Of you all the after
noon, walking so far with that heavy
basket; sit down, child, and rest"
But before Bessie could answer Aunt
Jemima rushed in with cap-strings fly
ing. She had been sitting in the win
dow, and saw the buggy drive up.
Sakes alivel sister, she cried,
"Bessie's been driving with the Deacon,
and he handed her the basket with his
own hands,"
With the DeaconP" repeated Mrs.
Bly,. "Well, Bessie, what an honor.
hope you thanked him prettily. What
ever made him think of inviting you?"
He didn't" said Bessie, untying
her bonnet and sitting down. i" in
vited him." Mrs. BLY, let the tca-kettle
almost drop. Aunt Jemima held up
her hands and sank speechless into q
chair, and Jack standing in the doorway
gave vent to a whistle rs shrill as
Small locomotive.
Bessie stared from one to the other.
whats the mattere" she said.
"Well!" cried Aunt Jemima, as soon
as she had breath enough to speak, ''if
you're not the forwardest child / ever
saw Asking the Deacon, as pert as
you please, to give you ride, as II you
didn't know he was the richest man in
town, and didn't see him every blessed
Sunday passing the plate"
aim astonished at you, Bessie, - said
her mother reproachfully. 1T will be
all over town, next, and what the neigh
bors will say of you I'm sure | can't
Think
III she were my child she should 60
70 bed without any supper" continued
Aunt Jemima.
Why do you act soP' said her moth
or. "Any one would imagine, to see
you, you hadn't any bringing up. Now,
Bessie, eat this piece Of bread and 60 to
bed
But Bessie couldn't eat. She was
very unhappy, and all she could say
was, II had very pleasant ride, mann
ma"
As this didn't mend matters she pick
ed up her bonnet and went upstairs.
After she had been in bed few minutes
Jack came in and sat down. The sun
was just sinking, and the sky, which
the children could see through the open
window, was streaked with red and
gold.
what made you do it, Bess,' said
Jack, who was whistling softly, and
looking first at the little face on the pill
low and then at the bright sky beyond.
DO what, JackP"
"Why, ask for ride"
Bessie raised herself upon her elbow
and looked anxiously into her brothers
face. "Was it very awfulP" she asked.
"Aunt Jemima thinks it was" said
Jack.
!" It's very queer,'' said Bessie; II
don't think any little girl would have
been afraid to ask father for ride when
he was alive, and all grown people are
alike
"Oh, no." said Jack, sagely; s'not
at all. That would have been very diff
ferent. Why, the Deacon's worth thou
sands Of dollars, and father wasn't
worth any thing at all"
:" He was, too,'' said Bessie, sharply.
I" He was worth ten deacons, fifty dca-
cons, hundred deacons-so, there,