Litchfield enquirer., 1878-04-18
[Edith Haywood, in Christian Union.l BESSIE AND DEACON FOX.
HOW TO MAKE A REAL NICE APOLOGY

l Deacon Fox stopped his horse and pered
 round the side of his buggy. On the road spod l little girl, the top of her head about ven
 with the wheel of the deacon's carriage, and | by her side was big basket much too haVy | for her small arms.
 ''Whats all this, what's all this ?" What
 are you stopping me on the road for, eh !'' Il thought perhaps you would give m a
 ride" said the little girl, looking rather fright
 ened We are both going the same way, ind
 my basket is awful heavy; just lift it and SC. 7 1 The deacon stared. l May getin." she continued scrambing
 up basket and all, and taking the emp | ty seat beside him.
 1 And never a word did the deacon say, M1 he gave old Dobbin, who had been placitly
 switching the flies off with his tail, such !
 sharp touch of the whip that away they wea I rattling along the road. and almost bounon.
 out of the carriage. Then the deacon turnas
 and looked at his little companion, beginning
 with the pink sunbonnet, and confiding bllG
 eyes beneath, and ending with the little dusty 1 boots that were resting on the lid of the bas- | ket E
 ''Hum p said the deacon, ''are you on of
 the school children ?"
 ''Yes," said blue eyes looking up, 'I an
 Bessie Bly, Don't you remember 1 missedin
 the multiplication table when you examind
 us But knew it; it was only because Yu | hurried me so."
 | "Well, well, we'll" said the deacon to him
 self, things have come to pretty pass, andhe
 shook his head sadly. 'I wonder what his generation will be up to next" You see the deacon had no little girls or
 boys of his own, and the school-children gn. erally crossed the road when they saw hm coming for they all felt an awesome dread of Mr. Fox It was he who examined them at the end of school. It was he who punisled the naughty boys, andreprimanded the naush- ty girls and it washe who always asked tfEm terrible questions when he came to call ulon their mammals. So it was a strange sight to see the old deacon, with his keen eyes twnk- ling beneath his bushy eyebrows and his sern, hard face, driving, in his old buggy, with one of the school-chiIdren and a market baslet by bis side. They drove along Some little dis tance in silence, and then the deacon fdt his sleeve pulled by gentle and rather timil fin gers He looked down and two large blue eyes met his. 5
 Are you cross, said Bessie, ''cos I asked for ride ?"
 Tut, tut child" said the deacon.
 ''Then, if you ain't, why don't you talk to me 2" continued Bessie. ''and ask me who
 
 that"
 ''Then it is to be hoped you know by this time," said the deacon. Do you go to Sunday school, child 7" n "Oh, yes," said Bessie, folding her hands and crossing her thumbs as though she were about to repeat lesson.
 ''What do you learn there ?" asked the dea- con.
 q learn to do unto others as I would they should do unto me-" replied Bessie, glibly, ''and to love my neighbor as myself"
 ''So you learn all that" said the deacon. ''Well, that's something and who is your neighbor {: Does he go blackberrying with you?'
 'Oh yes," said Bessie laughing, ''but then he is my real next door neighbor, you know. It don't mean am to love him, for of course, should do that, but it means l am to love everybody. Even you"
 "Well, "said the deacon looking down at her, 'hew are you going to manage about that ?''
 'Why, must love you, of course" replied Bessie Do you mind very much?"
 We must do as the Sunday school says, "re- piled the deacon, andthen he laughed though what there was to laugh at Bessie couldn't for the life of her think, On they went, old Dob bin, Bessie, and the deacon, now up hill and now down, till they came to tiny cottage standing under the shadow of big house.
 Heres where live," said Bessie briskly, land there's where you live. Isn't it conven- tent ?'' and she kissed her hand to the deacon and skipped down. He handed over the bas- ket, and Bessie, opening the gate and calling out, good by,' walked up the little path that led to the door. 4
 On the step sat boy, little bigger than Bessie, whistling to himself Turn around, he said to her as she drew near. II want to look at your wings"
 Wings ?" repeated Bessie, her eyes wide with amaZement.
 ''Yes, wings. Havn't you been riding with the deacon expected no less.
 'I have had very pleasant ride, said Bes- sic with dignity, and she passed by her broth er and entered the house."
 ''Well, Bessie" said her mother, who, tea kettle in hand, was busy making the tea, Fl am glad to see you back. have been think ing of you all the afternoon, walking so far with that heavy basket sit down, child, and rest" --...
 But before Bessie could answer Aunt Jemi- ma rushed in with cap-strings flying. She had been sitting in the window, and saw the bug gy drive up.
 ''Sakes alive sister," she cried, ''Bessie's been driving with the deacon, and he handed her the basket with his own hands"
 with the deacon P repeated Mrs. By. ''Well, Bessie, what an honor l hope you thanked him prettily. What ever made him think of inviting your"
 ''He didn't" said Bessie, ,untying her bonnet and sitting down ,'1 invited him. Mrs. By let the tea-kettle almost drop. Aunt Jemima held up her hands and sank speeches. into 8 chair. and Jack standing in the doorway gave vent to whistle as shrill as 8 small locomo- tive.
 Bessie stared from one tothe other, 'What's the matter p she said.
 "Well 1" clied Aunt Jemima, as soon as she had breath enough to speak, if you're not the worst child 1 ever saw Ask ing 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 that plate"
 .'Pm astonished at you, Bessie" said her mother responsibility, It will be all over town, next, and what they'll say of you Pm sure can't think"
 If she were my child she should go to bed without any supper" continued Aunt Jemima.
 "Why do you act so ?" said her mother. "Any one would imagine, to eyou, you hadn't any bringing up. Now, Bessie, eat this piece of bread and go to bed"
 But Bessie couldn't eat. She was very un- happy, and all she could say was, I had very pleasant ride, mamma"
 As this didn't mend matters she picked 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. 1te
 ''What made you do it, Bess ?' said Jack, who was whistling softly, and looking first at the little face on the pillow and then at the bright sky beyond.
 Do what, Jack p
 ''Why, ask for ride"
 Bessie raised herself upon her elbow and looked anxiously into her brothers face. Was it very awful ?" she asked.
 ''Aunt Jemina thinks it was," said Jack.
 its very queer" said Bessie 'I don't think any little girl would have been afraid to ask father for a ride when he was alive, and all grown people are alike"
 ''Oh, no" said Jack, sagely; mot at all. That would have been very different. Why, the deacon's worth thousands'of dollars, and father wasn't worth anything at all"
 ''He was, too," said Bessie sharply. ''He worth ten deacons, fifty deacous, hundred deacons, ,-so there, Jack Bly," and Bessie turned her fare to the wall and wnuldD't say