The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-12

| hospitality, as Dolly tptOed tmIdly
across the floor. Didn't have bothera
ten enough with your own, l s'pose
They're ready for mischief, know by tn,
looks of their eyes.
''Sno sHch thipg!" sputtered Debby
whose temper was all nettles in Neelie'
neighborhood. owe was going to be-
Come and look at my aquarium, sale
Aunt Gertie, holding out a hand to Deb
by, who followed unwilIingly, much pre-
ferring chad her wishes been consulted
to stay and fight it out on tina line will
Neeiie
She's just as hateful as ever!" mutter
ed Dolly, consolingly, tucking a soft LITTLE
hand into Debby's clenched fist.
just" said Debby, "Old Neelie!
wouldn't kiss her-not never!"
Poor Neelie!' said Aunt Gertie, soft
"Why?" said Debby, noticing tina
Aunt Gertie's eyes were full of tears
shouldn't think anybody'd cry abou
Neelie!'
Give only knew each others hearts,
began Aunt Gertie, sorrowfully, as she
drew them ali three down beside her on
the wide lounge.
But Debby hung down her head.
" Didn't fink twas goin' to be leck-
SIR
"WelI, 1t WON'T" said Aunt Gertie
laughing. 'I'll tell you the story, anc
then you can find the moral for your
self.
SIS it much of story?" Debby, who
hadn't much interest in any story with
| Neele for the subject.
"You may not think so" said Aunt
Gertie.
"Please tell, auntie!" said DEFY, nest
ling at her feet.
''Neelie and | were schoolmates," said
auntie, with far-of look in her eyes,
eyes, it was long ago, and | was never
with her very much, because - we'll
chiefly because Jack Bison generally
was. He always took care of Neelie
when she was little girl; and as she grew
older and taller it was Jack, Jack, always
and everywhere. Then l was married
and we lost them. But l wondered
sometimes. People come together
strangely; and once when your uncle and
l were riding, we stopped at a pretty lit
tie cottage to ask for a cup of cold water
how surprised | was to see my dear old
Neelie! What a kissing time we had!
She was rosy and happy. 1t didn't seem
to make her bit envious or unhappy,
then, to see that wore silks while she
looked dainty and sweet in cheap muslin
dresses. I've got as much as you;" and
then she would look at Jack and cuddle
the fat baby with the happiest face in the
world o no, darlings, Neelie WASH t
fretful or unkind in those days!'
" Was her name Neelie, them" asked
Dolly.
eyes, certainly"
"Dely said folkses names was difrunt
when they married other folks"
go, yes; but only the last name. 1t
was Dunning before, Cornelia Dunning
-Neelie for short. OF course it is Bis
son now"
"Please tell, auntle!'' said DEFY, fold
ing her hands on Aunt Gertie's lap and
looking up in her face with a most fiat
tering attention.
"Well, where was L? After that, for
year or two, your uncle and used to
ride out there and take tea; or, perhaps
he would leave me there whole long
afternoon, and Neelie and I would talk.
Such long woman talks! About every.
thing, bat chiefly about the people we
loved. And sometime the people,
there were only two, you know-would
come in and lean over our chairs, and
pretend to laugh at US. Sometimes the
talks were very sober; at least on Neelie's
part. Jack was a sailor; and a sailors
wife must often be a sad woman. AS
my boys grew larger, had less and less
time for such friendly 'gadding.' And
then-and then-your uncle died, you
know, DEFY"
''No matter about telling US, auntie, ;"
said DEFY, giving one OF Aunt Gertie's
hands sympathetic squeeze.
But Aunt Gertie went on.
$50 the visits ceased altogether. But
one day, long afterward, | saw a little
paragraph in a newspaper, with poor
Jacks name in it. His ship had gone
down, and all the crew lost I hardly
saw any one then: and l didn't like to
see happy people-but Neelie l took
the old road one day, and stopped at
Neelie's door. 1t wasn't the old Neelie at
all; though she was glad to see me. Not
rosy and happy now, but more like the
Neelie you know Jack had been gone al
most two years, and Neelie had learned
to fret for him. Poverty and anxiety
are hard things. I think we eomforted
each other better than if either had been
happier. said at last, hoping to lead
her to happier thoughts, Where is
your baby, Neelie? He must be such a
comfort to YOU Aud she pointed with
out word to little white stone on the
hill side, half hidden already in flowers
and moses"
What made her lose baby?" asked
Dolly, whose eyes were dim with suspi-
cion of tears.
''She was so very poor" Aunt Gertie
said "And she had to leave it 30 long
and so often. Even when it fell sick,
she could not nurse it az your mamma
does you, Dolly"
did she come with you then?" asked
DEFY.
Eyes; and stayed ever since. She
does my work and ] pay her for it; but
she is my friend. can almost forget
that she is fretful and grabbed when I
think how she has suffered"
But l thought-papa says-that
trouble is to make people BETTER" said
DEFY. timidly.
80 it ought. dear. But we can't