The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-18

char, and Jack standing IN the dOOrwa
gave vent to a whistle as shrill as
small locomotive.
Bessie stared from one to the other
"What's the matter?" she said.
"Welll" cried Aunt Jemima, as 500
as she had breath enough to speak, 81
you're not the forwardest child l eve
saw! Asking the Deacon, as pert a
you please, to give you ride, as if yor
didn't know he was the richest man il
town, and didn't see him every blessed
Sunday passing the plate"
"I'm astOnished at you, Bessie" sale
her mother eproachfully. at will b.
all over town, next, and what the neigh
bors will say of you I'm sure cam
think"
If she were my child she should &C
to bed without any supper" continued
Aunt Jemima.
why do you act SOP" said her moth
er. "Any one would imagine, to SEE
you, you hadn't any bringing up. Now
Bessie, eat this piece of bread and 90 tc
bed"
But Bessie couldn't eat. She was
very unhappy, and all she could say
was, al 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 a 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, wko was whistHng softly, and
looking first at the little face on the pill
low and then at the bright sky beyond.
"Do what, Jack?"
"Why, ask for a ride"
Bessie raised herself upon her elbow
and looked anXiously into her brothers
face. "Was it very awful?" she asked.
"Aunt Jemima thinks it was" said
Jack.
cts very queer" said Bessie; 81
don't think any little girl would have
been afraid to ask father for ride when
he was alive, and ali grown people are
alike
"Oh, no." said Jack, sagely; "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.
He was worth ten deacons, fifty dea-
cons, a hundred deacons-so, there,
Jack Bly," and Bessie turned her face
to the wall and wouldn't say another
word.
The next morning, when she opened
her eyes, they fell upon her mothers
face bending over her. sect up, Bes-
sie," said Mrs. Bly,, sand dress care
fully. | have something for your to do
this morning"
Bessie had forgotten all about the
night before, and, skipping out of bed,
proceeded to dress and go down stairs
in the best of spirits.
"Bessie," said her mother, as she en-
tered the kitchen, "you cause me a
great deal of anxiety. | have been
thinking of your behavior of yesterday,
and have made up my mind that you
must 60 up to the DeacOn's and apollo
gize.n
whats that, mother?" asked Bes-
sic, frightened out of her wits.
"That means to ask his pardon for
your rudeness of yesterday. You must
say you regret your behavior very much,
and will never do so again; and now
you have finished your breakfast, 90
right along, and be sure you speak pref
thy"
Bessie put on her bonnet and started
toward the big house at the top of the
hill. She was a good deal frightened,
for " apologizing" seemed to her an
awful thing to do, and the Deacon much
more formidable than the day before
Nevertheless, her mother had told her
to go, and she did not stop until she
pulled the bell at the DeacOn's door
The old housekeeper appeared in an
swer to her ring and demanded what
she wanted.
al want to see the Deacon" said
Bessie, timidly.
"He is at his breakfast" said the old
lady, cycling Bessie somewhat suspi-
ciously.
"Never mind, " said Bessie, "I'll 90
right in it is very particular"
So the old lady opened the dining
room door, and Bessie walked in. She
had never been in such a big room be-
fore in her life, and there, at one end of
a large table, with his breakfast before
him, sat the Deacon all alone.
"Good morning." said Bessie, stand
ing timidly in the doorway with her bon
net in her hand. al have come to see
YOU
The Deacon looked up greatly sur
prised, and then he laughed as he had
laughed the day before, short, queer
laugh.
% Does the Sunday-school tell you to
do this too ?" he asked.
"No," said Bessie, thinking how she
should bring in "her apologize
"Well, come in, child, come in" he
said impatiently, "and sit down"
Bessie came in, and taking one of the
big chairs opposite the Deacon watched
him'fill plate with all sorts of good
things.
"Do you eat your dinner as well as
your breakfast all alone?" she asked at
last. Haven't you any little girls nor
boys-not one?"
50 Not one"
"If had known that" she went on,
looking at himwistfully, 81 would have
brought my breakfast in pail and eat
en- it with you"
Suppose you try this" said the Dea-
con, handing her the plate he had filled.
Bessie wasn't hungry, but she thought
it would be impolite to refuse. so she
took it, and she ard the Deacon ate
their breakfast together, she at the head
of the table and he at the foot.
Il am very sorry you are all alone"
began Bessie, after a moments silence.
"Wouldn'tyou like a little girl ike me?"
"And what good do little girls like
you do?" asked the Deacon.
'0hl none at all, - said Bessie; 'only
if you had one she could love YOU lots. y
$50 she could, " said the Deacon, with
something like sigh, and after that he
let Bessie do all the talking until the old
housekeeper came to the door and said
the horse was waiting at the gate. Then
what do you suppose the Deacon said?
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