The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-06-02

When Mamie was five years old, she
called the little school vnere she went
every day 'kitten garden"
The children did not have to study
very much, but they learned colors and
shapes, they marked on states and wove
mats with bright strips of paper, they
sang and went through pretty gymnastic
exercises, built with blocks and played
games.
Nannie's brother Johnny went there
too, but he was older, and could do
harder things.
One day the teacher taught the
younger ones how to prick pretty shapes
on stiff paper, and she told them they
might work some of them with worsted
fer little presents for their parents.
Nannie's heart beat with expectation.
sob, I hope I can work mine! I
hope [ can work mine!" she thought /;
"and then I'll give it to papa"
| She had pricked the outline of a dove,
from an eastern pattern, on her card
paper.
| The holes were little irregular, but
there was the true shape of q dove, and
you could see the bill and the legs
plainly. The teacher passed around
looking at the various cards.
"You may work yours, Mamie" she
said. "What color would you like to
take for it?"
Red |" said Mamie, promptly, with
very bright little face. Oh, how pretty
she meant to make that dove for papa!
She could hardly keep the secret when
he came home that night. She sat in
his lap and whispered
"Do you like doves, papa 2"
Yes. indeed !! 4" 'raid papa, rather alb
sently, and trying to read his paper
while he held his little girl.
Maybe you'll have one sometime"
chartered on the happy child.
"Where could [ keep it ?" asked papa.
"Oh, i'll book! Not a live dove, but
worked on card" and here Mamie
checked herself. ooh, l almost told, and
it's secret, papa !"
The next day in school Mamie began
it. "A needle was given her, threaded
with red worsted, and she learned how
to draw it back and forth through the
holes.
She was so unused to such work that
it seemed very hard to her, but it was
for papa, and she tugged away at it,
with a flushed face and anxious eve.
Three or four times the teacher had to
thread her needle for her, it was so
queer about getting unthreaded, and
once the worsted broke and had to be
mended.
She only made the-b of the dove
that day, it was all she could do.
Johnny was doing something wonder
full. He was enclosing little card
jewel box for mamma. It seemed won
derful indeed, to Mamie, that he could
do it, but after all it couldn't be prettier
than dove, papa's dove.
That night she asked papa as she
climbed on his knee:
"Do you like red doves, papa?
"Yes, I think red doves must be beau
tiful, said papa, and Mamie drew long
breath of satisfaction.
81 know something, papa, but it's
secret" she said happily.
The next day she worked the head,
and the next the fail, but each time
she grew hot and flushed over the work,
for the worsted did not always pull
through easily, and knots came, and
the needle wasn't smooth any more.
But each day the dove looked so much
prettier that Nannie's little heart was
full of happiness.
"Papa's dove is SO pretty, mamma,
she said to mamma, who was in the
secret.
But the next day Mamie came home
from school with slow step and heavy
eyes. To mammals anxious questions
she replied that size didn't have good
time at school, and felt tired, so NAM
ma told her some stories and comforted
her.
The following morning Mamie did not
want to go school, and when mamma
called her to put on her little cap and
hood she began to cry.
care you i'll ?" asked mamma; "does
your head ache 2"
"No," said Mamie slowly. "No,
mamma, but don't want to 60.
But why?" asked mamma, sur
prised.
"The teacher will scold me-" she
said in low voice.
"Scold you for what, darling?" per-
sisted mamma.
"Papas dove" said Mamie with quiz
ering lips. GIVE spoiled papa's dove!
The needle went through so hard, and it
tore the paper along the hole right in
the doves breast"
Didn't the teacher see it?" asked
mamma.
No. mamma, slipped it under the
table when she went by, and then it was
time to put the work away, and I hid it
In the box. But she'll ind it out when
che comes to take the work out to-day,
and am afraid she'll scold. And feel
so bad, mamma, because papa's dove is
spoiled"
q Maybe it isn't" said mamma, kiss
ing her poor little girl. "And l know
the teacher won't scold, because such
things often happen with little children.
Big people know ways to mend a great
many things that little people think are
spoiled, and maybe the teacher can
mend your dove. I'll write little note
for you to carry"
Mamie stopped crying and took the
note, feeling great deal better, but
still sorelly troubled for fear papa's dove
would never be pretty any more.
The teacher read the note with
smile, and helpedrepair damages as we'll
as she could, giving Mamie bright
new needle and fresh worsted.
By the end of week the red dove
was done, and the teacher trimmed the
edges of the card and gave it to Mamie.
Johnny had finished his box for mamma.
and the children planned to lay their
gifts by their parents plates New Years
morning.
They did so, but they could not wait
for breakfast to be ready, and they
coaxed papa and mamma to the table
half an hour too soon, eager to see their
surprise and pleasure.
"Do you think it's pretty, mamma ?"
asked Johnny, as mamma, delightedly,
took up the embossed case.
"And do you think your dove is pretty.
papa ?" said Mamie, eagerly. 81 made
it for you all myself. and you don't
mind it because it's little bit torn, do
you ?"
Mind l like it all the better p
said papa, kissing the sweet little loving
face.