Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-04
Only Fifteen.

-lSallie JOY White.
Only Fifteen.
That was rather cruel, unfeeling re-
mark of Mr.. Earle to his daughter
Sadie, or Sarah, as she now wished to
be called, because "at least.she wasn't
. baby"
"No, sis, you're neither little girl
nor q woman, but Just between hay and
grass as one may say"
Sarah gave an extra push to her al
ready we'll tied back muslin overskirt,
and started for school with shoulder
ing spark in her eye.
:" It's true what father says" she So
ioquized, as she walked along. I'm
too old to wear my dresses short, and
too young to wear them long; too old to
let my hair 60 loose and comfortable,
and too young for frizzes, puffs and
coils. Aud as COWS in the spring when
hay is gone and grass not well grown,
have to put up with odds and ends, so
/ have to take all Hats and Jen's cast
off dresses and hats; or if there is any
thing awfully unbecoming to them, I
get it, whether I like it or not. Then,
in the work, what have is Just what
everybody else hates to do, like wash
ing the dishes and cleaning the lamps
just what nobody gets credit for, either,
only blame for not doing we'll"
BY this time this ambitious girl of
ours had reached the school-house; but
tho teacher had an engagement, so the
card attached to the door-handle told
the scholars. Sarah started at once to
retrace her steps, for it was two mile
walk, with only here and there few
old apple-trees to shield her from the
SUMS glare.
As she walked, her thoughts reverted
to the mornings conversation, partly,
perhaps, because the scent of the new
mown hay greeted her. Like any girl
of her age it struck her as a queer,
backward sort Of comparison to speak
Of childhood as the time of hay.
"Oh, yesw she exclaimed aloud, as o
thought struck her; I see how it is! ,
and she at once resolved to write the
next weeks composition on that very
subject.
"I1l say" sine soliloquized, "that
childhood is cared for by tho general
love of father and mother. That's the
hay, You seel But, at last, the youth
goes ont into the world and gathers
lore for himself. And shall give il
neral turn; for, somehow, / think
young people ought not to be selfish,
even II I am so, but ought to gather
love by loving"
"What ID the use of talking, though
It ] really wanted to be useful I
couldn't. Who'd ask me to sit up with
nick people, for instance? I couldn't
even keep awake all night. wish
could be sure I'd be the right sort of
woman, and then, seems to me, il might
be beautiful to be wrinkled or gray;
for by that time, one is sure Of ones
self"
Then she suddenly stepped down
from her mount Of moral enthusiasm
"a feat, alasl so easily accomplishe i,
20 hard TO account for often.
Before get to be good and gray
I'd like some nice times and some nice
things. This muslin overskirt and
waist are nice, and, for once, new, but
why-what-l"
She spraDg quickly out of the road in
sudden terror, for she thought loose
horse was plunging furiously down the
road behind her. She had not
scrambled half way up the steep bank
before he came in sight, but to her re-
Lief he was not riderless. Squire Waits
boy refined him in with difficulty, just
within view, and turning in his saddle,
shouted ct the top Of his voice, evident.
~ to some one in a neigbhoring field:
If DR.. Binslie amt to home whatll
dor"
Sarah could not hear the reply, but
the boy appeared satisfied, for he
quickly settled himself in the carriage
applied the whip to the horse, and was
out OF sight in an instant.
Sarah hurried up the bank, and
looked over the wall at the top. At nc
great distance she saw a man lying on
the ground and three more standing BY
him. In moment she saw who it was
and as she ran toward the group she
guessed the truth, which was, thai
Squire Wait himself had received al
the hands Of one of his laundering
Workmen severe cut in the leg with 8
scythe, while moving.
The bright arterisl blood was pour
ing from the wound. deathlike pallo1
had overspread the sufferers face, ani
his eyes were already half-closed.
Sarah whisked her muslin overskir
over her head like fash.
Help me tear q broad bandage on
Of this!" she cried.
The men were dull-looking, ploddinf
laborers, but one of them seemed en-
couraged by her air of determination
and in q moment from the back of tn,
skirt breadth was torn. Withou
any words Sarah tied strong knot il
this breadth. Then she stopped down
and with one grea. heart-sinking, on,
CRY OF the. flesh against the spirit, sh'
Lifted the rent garment from the gapini
wound to see just where it was; thel
she pressed the knot Just above til,
wound with all her strength.
John" said she, steadily, " tie tbi
band under the leg, and one of 70,
others go as quick as you en- Tor
stout, short stick"