Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-11
"Well, Bessie said her mother, who,

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been thinking of you all the afternoon.
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 alive! sister," she cried, "Bes-
sizes been driving with the deacon, and
he handed her the basket with his own
hands"
"With the deacon ?" repeated Mrs.
BLY,. swell, Bessie. what an honor I
hope you thanked him prettily. What
ever made him tifink of inviting you p
"He didn't" said Bessie, untying her
bonnet and sitting down; 81 invited
him." Mrs. BLY, let the tea-kettle al
most drop. Aunt Jemima held up her
hands and sank speechless into chair,
and Jack standing in the doorway gave
vent to whistle as shrill as small To-
comotive.
Bessie stared from one to the other.
whats the matter p she said.
"Well ~ cried Aunt Jemima, as soon
as she had breath enough to speak, eff
you're not the forwardest child l ever
saw +! Asking the deacon, as pert as you
please, to give you ride, as if you did
not know he was the richest man in
town, and didn't see him every blessed
Sunday passing the plate"
I'm astonished at you, Bessie" said
her mother, reproachfully. cit will be
all over town next, and what the neigh
bors will say of you I'm sure [ can't
think"
''If she was my child she should go
to bed without any supper" continued
Aunt Jemima.
"Why do you act so ?" said her moth
er. "Any one would imagine, to see
you, you hadn't had any bringing up.
No, Bessie, eat this piece of bread and
go to bed
But Bessie couldn't eat. She was very
unhappy, and all she could say was, II
had very pleasant ride, mamma"
/
AS this didn't mend matters she pick
ed up her bonnet and went up stairs.
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 win
dow, was streaked 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, Jack %
"Why, ask for ride
Bessie raised herself upon her elbow
and looked anxiously into her brother
face.
"Was it very awful p
"Aunt Jemima thinks it was," said
Jack.
"It's 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 all grown people are
alike"
"Oh. nc" said Jack, sagely; "not al
all. That would have been very differ.
ent. Why, the deacon's worth thousands
of dollars, and father wasn't worth any.
thing at ALL"
'He was, too." Bessie said, sharply
"He was worth ten deacons, fifty dea
cons, a hundred deacons-so there, Jacl
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. '.Get up, Bessie,
said Mrs. Bly,, and dress carefully.
have something for you to do this morn
ing"
Bessie had forgotten all about tn,
night before, and skipping out of bee
proceeded to dress and 60 down stair
in the best of spirits.
Bessie" said her mother, as she en-
tered the kitchen, s'you cause me grea
deal of anxiety. have been thinkin,
of your behavior of yesterday, and
have made up my mind that you mus
; go up to the deacon's and apologize"
whats that. mother 2" asked Bes
sic, frightened out of her wits.
"That means to ask his pardon fo
, your rudeness of yesterday. You mus
say you regret your behavior very mucl
f and will never do SO again; and nov
you have finished your breakfast, g
right along, and be sure you speak prct
tily."
: Bessie put on her bonnet and starte
towards the big house at the top of tn
hill. She was good deal frightened
for ''apologizing" seemed to her an aw
r full thing to do. and the deacon muc
more formidable than the day before.
E Nevertheless, her mother had told be
l to go. and she did not stop until sh
pulled the bell at the deacon's door. Tn
old housekeeper appeared in answer t
r her ring and demanded what she wanted
\ II want to see the deacon " said Res