The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-19
0qe Life'S PAIN.

eagerness regarding some anticipated pleas
ure; and the mother who had raised he
head from her task of seeing pan o
neatly moulded tea biscuits into the spa
cious brick oven, ut the sound of the ligh
foot on the threshold, now cast a sharI
look into the face before her.
"Well, she said at last, as she shut thu
iron door with a bang and wiped he
heated brow on her checked apron, "sc
you've come, have you? A pretty one yor
are to send on errands. A body nigh
stnrve for food before you'd get back
Couldn't you have hurried trile I'd like
to know?"
"Why, mother, I came as fast as my
! feet coull carry me" was the pleasant re-
joinder, as the girl set down a pitcher OF
foaming milk on the dresser close by and
took her hat from head of smoothly
braided brown lair. "You sent me earlier
than usual, and you know Farmer Will
son never begins milking until six
o'clock"
"And it isseven now," retorted Mrs May
hew, glancing up at the tall eight-dly clock
quietly ticking in the corner, so don't tell
me you didn't tarry at Robinson's on your
way home"
The girl laughed tride uneasily, while
the color flushed the rare face - for it
was a rare one-but she answered truth
fully.
''You are as keen as ever, see, mother
and you are quite correct. / did stop
awhile to talk with Bessie Robinson about
to -morrow's picnic. She is going to wear
white, and she hailed me to know if had
anything new, and to talk it over, for girls
do like to talk, you know, mother" faltered
the sweet voice, ''and Bessie and I see
each other so very seldom"
''You meet as often as it is good fer
you" " snapped Mrs. Mayhem, sharply; but
seeing the mischief is done, I'll pass it over
this time; only mind, I'll have no more
such lettering When Isend you for milk
it is milk l want, and not to stop for a
gossip with that white-faced, idle Bess
Robinson. Come, flip round now and lay
the table, for it's long past supper time,
and Pm hungry"
'But, mother, the picnic comes of to-
morrow"
Mrs. Mayhem paused in her act of tax.
ing the biscuit from the oven to stare
with astonshed eyes at the girl before
her.
"To be sure it does," she said coldly,
"aud I think ought to be aware of that
fact, for you have talked of nothing else
for these past three weeks. But what
OF t?'
Nothing, only, mother what can 1
wear?"
"Wear9 Why, your white dress, of
course. What else have you? Now, Dank
Mayhem, don't you go to putting on airs"
cried the mother, 'for 1 shant hear word
to it. If you go you'll wear your white
frock, and if you are too proud to do thut,
you Can stay at home"
"But it's SO DID," objected the girl
timidly. II had much rather wear my
new calico than that"
And tear it on some of those pines on
High Top mountain Indeed you won't
do any such thing, l can tell you. Now
stop your tantrums and eat your supper,
then of to bed with you, for if you intend
flick ring round tomorrow on the noun
tain, you must he up early and help me
before you leuve."
Thus admonished, Dank Mayhem sat
down to the meal before her, after which
she assisted in clearing awny, and then
taking her candle she went up to her low
rooted chamber to dream of the coming
morrow and festivities.
Dank Mayhem was only sixteen, with a
sweet face, merry disposition, and lov-
ing heart. Those who knew her cherished
her tenderly, and took no note of the
singular cognomen which sounded SO oddly
to strangers. Margaret" was the name
she had received at the baptismal font, but
o loving father soon changed the long
name into the shorter and sweeter one of
Daisy" but the baby lips refusing to ut
ter the hard word, "Dank" supplied its
place, and Dank Mayhem had grown up to
girlhood christened as it were by her.
self.
For years she had lived with her mothe,
in that old farmhouse, her father having
died when she WAS in her third year, and
her circumstances were humble,
she enjoyed life despite her mothers fault
finding, aud dreamed her dreams as all
girls do, notwithstanding little petty diff
culties. But this evening her face was
clouded, and when the door of her room
was shut her bright eyes grew trifs dim
lis they fell on the dEspised white frock
lying on the little bed. How badly she did