Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-25

| Z.
Bessie stared from one to the other.
whats the matter?" she said.
"Well !" said Aunt Jemima, as soon
as she had breath enough to speak, = if
you're not the forwardest child l ever
saw! Asking the Deacon, as pert as
you please, to give you ride, as if you
didn't know he was the richest man in
town, and didn't see him every blessed
Sunday passing the plate"
"Tm astonisned 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 I can't
think"
If she was my child, she should go
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 had any bringing up.
Now, Bessie, eat this piece of bread and
90 to bed"
But Bessie couldn't eat. She was
very unhappy, and all she could say
was, " had a very pleasant ride, man.
ma"
As this didn't end matters she picked
up her bonnet and went up stairs At
ter being in bed few minrtes JACK
came in and sat down. The sun was
Just sinking and the sky, which the
children could see through the window,
was streaked red and gold , 1858
What made you do it. Bess p 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, 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 that it was, "
said Jack. ~z E=r.Fz
cts very queer" said Bessie. az
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"
ooh, no, said Jack, sagely, mot at
all. That would have been very differ
ent. Why, the Deacon's worth thou
sands Of dollars, and father wasn't
worth anything at all" .#
HE was, too" said Bessie, sharply.
&c He was worth ten deacons-fifty dea-
cons-a hundred deacoRs- there,
Jack BLY, p 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.
"Get up, Bessie" said Mrs. Bly,, land
dress carefully. [ have something for
you to do this morning"
Bessie had forgotten all about the
night before, and skipping out of bed
proceeded to dress herself and go down
stairs in the best 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 go to the Deacon's and apollo
gize"
What's that, mother ?" asked Bessie,
| 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 it again; and now
that you have finished yodr breakfast,
go right along, and be sure you speak
prettily."
Bessie put on her bonnet and started
towards 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 house-keeper appeared in an
swer to the ring and demanded what
she wanted.
81 want to see the Deacon" said
Bessie, timidly.
He is at his breakfast" said the old
lady, cycling Bessie somewhat in sus-
| piciOuS manner. $500
"Never mind" said Bessie, "Ill go
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 before in her life, and there, at
one end Of large table, with his break
fast before him, sat the Deacon all
alone.
"Good morning" said Bessie, stand
ing timidly in the doorway, with her
bonnet in her hand. 81 have come
to see you"
The Deacon looked up greatly sur
prised, and then he laughed as he had
laughed the day before, a short, queer
laugh. IA"
"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 a plate with all sorts of good
things. ~
Do you always eat your dinner as well
as your breakfast all alone % she asked
at last. Haven't you any little boys
or girls-not one"
mot one" .aHs...
eff / had known that" she went on,
looking at him wistfully, 81 would have
brought my breakfast with me in pail
and eaten it with you" g.
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 and the Deacon ate
their breakfast together, she at the head
of the table and he at the foot
=" L am very sorry you are all alone"
| began Bessie, after moments silence.
Wouldn't you like a little girl like
me?"