The National tribune., 1882-12-28

take the welcome money and begin to pour on
their thanks.
Half an hour afterwards she saw the LITTLE
afghan going of the arm of Hiss Duttou
| and smiled as she thought how dellCiouSly
warm her old down Coycrlet would Zee! wheT
she remembered her investment in blanket,
that day.
Kitty's trial came on the Inst night of tho
| far, and seemed very hard one at the time
| though afterWard she was ashamed TO have felt
| it such an afflction. About nine o'clock heI
mother came TO her, saying anXi0usiy:
THE carriage is here, aud | want YOU to 20
| right home. Ereddys cold is so bad I'm afraid
of Group. Nurse is away. and Mary Ann knows
nothing about it. You do, and | can trust you
to watch ana send for me if he grows worse. ]
/ cannot leave yet, for all the valuable things
on my table must first be taken care of. Now
! CO. like good girl, and then / shall feel
/ easy"
( ooh, Mamma, how can /? We are to have
supper at eleven, aud / know something
nice is t. happen-buuquets from the managers,
because we have held out so well. Mary Ann
will take of Freddy, and we shall be home
by twelve" cried Kitty, in dismay at losing all
the fun.
Now Kitty, don't be disobedient. I've no
time to argue and you know that dear little
boys life is of more Importance than hundreds
of suppers. Before midnight is the time to
watch, and keep him warm, and give him his
pellets regularly, that he may not have
another attack. | will make it up to you, dear
but | shall not have moments peace unless
you go: Mary Ann is so careless and Freddy
minds YOU so well. Here are your things
Help me through tonight, and don't think |
viii ever undertake another fair, for I'm tired
to death"
Kitty took off her little cap and put on her
hood without word, let her mother wrap her
CLOAK around her and walk with her to the
door Of the hall giving last directions about
draughts, spongIa, wet bandages, and hot
bottles, TIL she was shut out in the cold with
thanks and kiss of maternal relief. She was
50 angry that She had not dared to speak, and
nothing but her love for her little brother
made it possible for her 30 yield without open
rebellion. All the way home she tretted in
wardly, and felt much i'll used; but when
Freddy held out his arms to her, begging her
TO "Tuddle me. cause my torp is so bad she
put away her anger and sang the restless child
10 sleep as patiently as if 10 disappointment
made her choke Il bit now and then.
When al was quiet and Mary Ann on guard.
Kitty had time TO think Of her own trials. and
kept herself awake imagining the pretty supper
the vote of thanks, and the merry breaking up,
in which she had no part. 4 clock striking
ten reminded her to see ii Freddy had taken
his medicine, and stealing into the nursery, she
saw why her mother sent her home. Careless
Mary Ann WAS sound asleep in the easy-Chair, q
door had swung open. and draught blew over
the bed where the child lay, with all the clothes
kicked off in his restless sleep, and the pellets
standing untaken on the table.
Il don't wonder Mamma felt anxious, and
it's lucky | know what to do Mary Ann, go
to bed you are Of no use. / have had expert
ence in nursing and | will take care Of Master
Freddy
Kitty vented her vcxation in good shake
of the girls stout shoulders, and sent her off
with an air Of Importance funny to see. Then
she threw herself into her task with all her
heart, and made the baby so comfortable that
he slept quietly, in spite OF the cough, with
his chubby hand in hers. Something in the
touch of the clinging fingers quieted all impa-
ticncc, the sight of the peaceful face made her
love her labor, and the thought that any care
lcssncss might bring pain or danger to the
household darling filled her heart with tender
fears and a glad willingness to give mp any pleas
urc for his sake. Sitting So Kitty remembered
Grandma's letter and owned thatsbe was right,
for many things in the past week proved il,
and Mamma herself felt that she should be at
home.
d" / shall not get the pearls, for haven't done
anything good, unless | count this, said Kitty,
kissing the little hand she held. Grandma
won't know 1t, and / didn't keep account of the
silly things / have left undOnc. | wonder if
Miss Dutton could have been watching US.
She was everywhere with her ratiie-book, and
smiled and nodded at us like dear old man
DARN every time we met"
Kitty's mind would have been set at rest on
that point if she could have seen Miss Dutton
at that moment, for, after chat with Mamma,
the old lady had trottcd oil to her own table,
aud WAS making the following singular entry in
her raflc-book:
"G. No. ,. Ordered home; went without
great disappointment; much inn
proved in dociiity: evidently tried hard all the
week to obey. Good record"
No one else saw that book but Grandmamma |
and she read in it three neauy-kept records of
that weeks success, for Miss nutton had quick
eyes, cars feet and wits. and did her work we'll |
thanks To her pecP-hole, and the careless
tongues and artless faces OF girls who tell
secrets without knowing it.
j. On Christmas morning, each of the cousins /
looked auXiousIy among her many gifts for the
red case with the golden on it. None of them I
found it, but Kate discovered the necklace in I
b0n-hOn box far finer than the one she lost:
Cathy found the pretty afghan pinned together /
with the cross: and on a treskCr nOSegav than /
any the managers gave their little maids, Kitty /
saw the earrings shining like drops OF frozen .
dew. 4 note went with each gift, all alike, +
and all read with much cOntentment by the +
happy girls, as they owned the justice OF the /
divided reward:
MY DEAR: The trial has succeeded better /
than | thought, for each has done well; each .
deserves little prize, and each will, l think, .
take both pride and pleasure i'll her share of .
love and Grandmamma's .
pearls" st Nicholas.