Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-06-26

youngest OF the three, said, with slight
twinge of conscience, "Why, Peg has
nothing to wear
"You may have my white Swiss,''
Peg" said Arabella, still answering her
conscience. It's torn all across the
back breadth; but you can darn SO nice
ly and never could and if could,
can't bear darned dress, and you don't
care.'
"Thank you," said Peg, and went
away to rescue Ellie, who had been
tied to the leg of the ironing table by
the old seryant-woman to keep her out
of mischief and to seek her dear old
father, who was wandering disconso-
lately up and down the garden. How the
dimpled face and the wrinkled face both
frightened when their curly-headed
darling appeared and what hugging
went.A,n for at least ten minutes with
out intermission and for the next half
hour with short intermissions!
z They came. The captain, the artist,
the merchant and the festivities began.
The first on the list being a croquet
party given by Mrs. Sparkman in honor
of her son few days after his arrival.
And the very first guests the old lady
had the pleasure of greeting were the
three elder Misses Thrush.
Peg had been invited, for although
Mrs. Sparkman had only seen her when
her sisters had sent her to borrow or
return book--the house boasted a vol
luminous library-she had taken great
fancy to the innocent young face and
had particularly requested that Peg
should be present.
But Peg had nothing TO wear but her
sister Bel1a's cast-of white dress and of
course that wouldn't do for a croquet
party. So Cinderella looked with visit
full eyes, it cannot be denied--for what
young girl delights not in music, ice
cream and merry companyP-a after the
retreating forms of her sisters; arrayed
in their dark grenadines freshened with
knots of blue and lavender ribbons, with
their b-sad-brimmed, quaint-lookine
hats garnished with grasses, buttercups
and daisies, shading their aristocratic
noses, and then tying her old flat
on her head by passing a faded
crimson scarf-one of Aurelia's gifts
1-over the crown and knotting
it under her chin, she took basket on
her arm and went into the back garden
to pick blackberries for supper. Peg
always had the berry picking to do, for
the white hands could not be stained
and thorn-torn and old Lucy had as
much as she could accomplish in the
house. And as she picked the berries
she sang loud and clear-Peg had a
voice like a birds, full of sweet little
trills and shakes
80. Hove you wen, my bonnie maid, my bon
ME maid said he, -z-
And have come, this summer day, to ask
if you will be
My own dear wife, my sweet, true wife.
Perhaps'I WILL said she.o
And stopping suddenly to put a thorn
wounded finger in her mouth, became
aware of strange face looking down
upon her from over the high fenee-a
face with dark brown hair, dark brown
eyes and whiskers of the same color.
beg pardon-hope haven't t fright
ened you.n said the voice belonging to
this face. but may I come in and get
drink from the old well see yonderp
I have been-walking fast and am exceed
ingly thirsty"
) ssCertainly,' - said Peg, with a pain
full consciousness of her extremely short
calico dress and scoop bonnet, and the
stranger came in, hat in hand.
Il will bring you glass" said Peg.
dropping toward the ground in vain
euQ6dVOI u 1SuGJutu ttO ShIu hAA HUI
the pretty ankles.
so no, indeed; this is famousn' drink
ing from the bucket; and then, as he let
it fall again, he added, looking about
him with an air of recognition, Cap
tain Thrush's place, is it not?''
Yes,n answered Peg.
z-..sis he at home? How I'd like to see
the dear old boy! Many dime he's
given me in days gone by. And | Uill
see him, too; though my mother and
sister must be calling me all sorts of
hard names, for they are at this moment
giving party in my honor. 1 went to
the city last evening and promised to
be back to-day two hours ago; but
missed my train, missed the ph@ton
which was to have met me at the sta
ton and missed the road
.sThen you are Captain SparkmanP''
said Peg, who had forgotten the short
dress and the scoop hat in the delight
of hearing the handsome young fellow
call her father ss a dear old boy"
/" The same, at your SERVICE" said
the Captain. &c And may l have the
honor"
80. I'm only Peg-1 mean Margaret
Thrush
:. The little curly-headed three-year.
old 1 kissed good-by the day left this
place to start upon my wild career"'
exclaimed the young man. @'' Is it pos
sibleP But pray, Miss Margaret, why
are you not at my party?'
And now Peg was in dilemma. She
had never told a falsehoodi in herlife, bless
her innocent young heart! She looked
at the Captain and she looked down OF
the ground, and in her confusion bega1
hurriedly eating the berries she hat
gathered. wishing from the bottom o
her heart meanwhile that Effie woulG
cry-but she didn't. The young mai
watched her for a moment and thel
coolly intercepting the berry on the wa.
to her mouth. repeated the question.
| &c I had no dress to wear" at last sait
Peg.
ing. Peg couldn't see. why-it was NJ
laughing matter to her; and his laugl
awakened Pegs father, who was takin.
his afternoon nap in his big arm-chai
on the back porch, and the old gentle
there, to his great surprise and delight
Ger Colonel Sparkman. And instead O
1-S LII 1O1AO3 ttS AC ShOuiu nav
done after shaking hands with his senior
the young man marched into the house
played with Effie, smoked with his host
and looked at Peg for another hour, an
SO arrived at the croquet party just a
it was on the point of breaking up.
And when Mrs. Thrush and the Misse
Thrush returned with clouded faces
the merchant didn't play croquet, an
the artist fiirted abominably with Jenn
Starr and didn't care how he played
and as said before the Captain onl
arrived in time for an Introduction a
around-and learned that their rud
host had actually been, while all Laure
town was waiting to welcome hin
wasting his time with g father, Effit
and Peg.' their Indignation knew n
bounds.
What must he have thought of tbs
pugp' said Amanda, with sneer. An
then the questions came fast and thicl
and in answering them truthful Peg r.
peated the excuse she had offered fl
not going to the party.
O, what rating the poor child go
just think of it! Four highly aqullir
women scolding at once!
=" How can you expect the child
have any pride?' demanded Mrs. Thrus
of her husband, who hadn't said wol
1 4 IL L. <,+I hrrE