Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-10-03
QUIZ
PART L.

That's what Fred called her when she
first came and the name has clung to her
ever since, although she has really
earned a more musical appellation.
One day when Fred and all of US were
at home, a strange woman, with a queer
little girl about five years old, came to
the door and asked if she might come in
and get warm. 1t twas the afternoon of a
cold windy day in March, and as Bridget
had gone out and the kitchen fire was
down, mamma let her come into the sit
ting-room where we all WERE Fred read
ing, Nell and | sewing, and Willie and
baby Belle playing with the blocks.
Mamma placed a chair by the fire for
tie strange woman and pushed up a low
stool for the little girl, who seated herself
demurely upon it,and then beganlooking
at Fred, who sat next to her.
Pretty soon the woman arose, said she
had a long walk to take, and as she was
soon to return, asked if she might leave
the little girl, who was tired, with us
until she came back.
We lived in small country town, you
see, where tramps were few and far be-
tween, and mamma, suspecting nothing,
consented, and the woman went away.
The little girl sat still for long time
and then suddenly startled us all by ask
ing in clear, childish voice.
"What dat be ?" She was looking at
Fred, and nodded comically at the book
| lie held in his hand.
That's a book" said Fred.
"What be you do it withp"
I'm reading it,"
"What dat is?"
| E,.o1fo ond 10
burst into hearty laugh. The child
only looked at him wonderfully and re-
peated her question with grave earnest
ness.
What dat is you dop"
"Look here, little Quiz" said Fred,
"you must be a savage if you never saw
a book before;" and he tried to explain
to her what he was doing, but at every
step she stopped him with a question,
always, as Willie said, putting the cart
before the horse.
"Well, Quiz" said Fred at last, "you
display marvellous desire for informa.
ton if you don't know much now. Pray
tell us what your name isp"
But for all we could learn from the
little stranger, who could ask questions
far easier than she could answer them
she had no name; so Fred said he should
call her Quiz as long as she stayed witt
us.
The afternoon wore slowly away, anC
still the stranger woman did not come
back. Little quiz stayed with us al
night, and the next morning papa made
inquiries and learned that she had taker
the train for Chicago, and was by thil
time beyond the possibility of tracing.
We were all very indignant whel
papa told us next day at dinner.
Quiz amused us with her odd way
and droll questions, and we thought i
very cruel for her mother, as we sup
posed the woman to be, to desert her il
that manner. And what was to becom
of poor Quiz now was the question w
all asked of papa.
"S'l ose we'll have to send her to th
county house." said papa.
81 guess you'll find out what the res
of the little paupers know in Just NJ
time, won't you, Quizp" said Fred.
Quiz looked at him moment wit
her great serious, gray eyes; then he
lips quivered, and two big tears role
slowly down her cheeks,
"Where be l sleepP" she said, with
little, sharp sob.
, Fred hesitated moment between
} desire to laugh and temptation to cate
+, her in his arms and kiss away her tears
Finally he asked her in a softened tone
Don't you want to go, Quizp"
"I like to 'tay wi you," answere
Quiz, with another sob. leaning her hea
on her hand and her elbow on the tabl
looking the very picture of sadness.
Couldn't we keep herp" asked Ere
, suddenly of papa.
81 don't know; what does moth'
sayP"
"Oh, mamma, dop" said Nell, who
heart was even softer than Fred's.
"Oh, les, mamma, doP" urged lit
Willie.
Mamma thus appealed to locked pc
. picked. Her motherly heart had gol
out toward the lonely little stranger, b
she had many cares and quite childr,
enough to occupy both heart and hand
"I'll help take care of her. plead'
Fred.
"We might keep her awhile, "mamr
said, and so we did.
Willie clapped his hands and cri
''Hurrahw Nell said, "Oh, goody
Fred said, "That's jolly" but Quiz So
} nothing, only took up her fork and we
on with her dinner