The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-08-06
a WELL-MEANING LITTLE BIZ.
REBODY.

They say ! am full of mischief, but they
don't speak the truth Maria is the only
one that knows, and she says am bu
sybOdy- Mamma hugs me tight and says
] viii be a great help to her when l am
big, but papa losses me high up to the
ceiling and says ! won't wait to grow up,
and that make the very best use of my
time now. lie knows as much as Maria,
for that's Just what dol use my time.
] did 50 much work yesterday that 1
nearly got tired. First, mamma said she
was going TO Cousin Alice's wedding. I
knew she was, for / saw her best bonnet
out Of its box on her bed. So, while she
Was talking TO Katy in the kitchen, l
climbed all the way up stairs and dragged
II down TO her myself
don't know what they'd have done
without me yesterday, for, after mamma
Lad gone, Maria was careless She left
the basin Of water on Nelly's little table.
She forgot all about it, SO l went, like a
good little girl, TO put it away for her,
cause / was afraid mamma might come
lack and knock It over on the carpet 1t
wasn't nay fault that it slid out of my
hands and broke itself I was careful,
and Maria said nobody but just me would
have thought of putting it away for her.
Ny sister Bessie don't try half so hard
10 help people. She sat in her little arm
chair all the time, tying up Susan Hop
Tser's joints. She thinks Susan is the best
q all our dolls, but don't. Her joints
are ali loose, and her legs rattle. Bessie
isn't 50 much use as / am. She kept out
q the way, tending to Susan, while Ma
IA had 20 change every one of my clothes,
caused the naughty water sloshed and
Bessie didn't even pick up the broken
pieces Of basin for poor Maria Maria
told her not to touch 'em, for fear of get
ting her feet wet and cutting her fingers
Afraid They're afraid of everything
The very minute Maria had me dressed
again, began to pick up the pieces for
her, and didn't cry, even when did cut
my hand, and the bleed got all over my
nice, clean apron. / don't think it was
very polite of Maria to set me down 80
hard on the sewing machine, and tell me
not 70 move till she'd cleared up the
floor.
Bessie is bigger than am, but she
ISN'T busybOdy al all She only plays
Willie there's work going on; and only
zee bow much work Pve done this morn
ingl I've fixed up mammals work-basket
Tor her, and I've stuffed all the rags and
little pieces Of our new dresses that were
piled up on the machine into papa's collar
drawer Then cleared up whole lot of
mus after Maria She went to answer
the dOOr-bell, and while she was gone /
took paps's clothes-whisk and swept up a
bag pile Of dust she left on the hearth,
and dumped it, where nobody can see it,
N dark corner Of the closet, under man.
mas dresses.
Il vas real luck went to the closet,
100. for ! found the waist Of mammals
beut Walking suit. ] heard her say one
day that she was going TO change the
trimming On the sleeves, 50 took il out,
and goa needle and thread, and I'm going
20 don my own self for her. Bessie's darn
M \ stocking that Maria gave her. and
III st night in front Of her, 80 can see
how she pulls the needle through. The
ends q the lace get right in front of the
nssdle, though, and / don't know but
EhEt I'd have TO cut some Of it of, 20 as
20 ssW & better. / am going TO hurry fast,
and see II ] can get It done bsfore mamma
fs0mes boma from market.--Ms. Z. q.
MOvse, ~ Ha,pe's Young People.