Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-29
HOW AUNT HELEN WAS MISUNDER.
STOOD.

STOOD.
They had come to Aunt Helen's to
live. Cora and her little sister Milly.
Aunt Helen was mammals own dear
sister, and next to being with mamma
herself, the children could think of
nothing nicer than to be with auntie.
Mamma had gone to Heaven.
One morning there was great deal
If work to be done. Aunt Helen had
lew girl who did not know how to
make bread or dress turkey, or, in
act, do much of anything but break
dishes, and what should Uncle Dick do
but send up note that he would bring
three business friends home with him to
dinner. Aunt Helen wished that she
1ad two pairs of hands She wished
several other things besides. One was
about Cora's hair, the long fine hair
that looked in the sunshine like spun
gold, and tangled easier than gold
would have thought of doing.
"Oh, dear!'' said Aunt Helen, twitch-
ing at the comb as it tangled in the yell
low threads. "What perfect nuisance
this hair is. wish it were no longer
than Milly's; it would look great deal
neater, and not be such u trial to take
care of.
Poor Cora. If Aunt Helen had not
been so busy, she would have seen the
great tears in the little girls eyes. She
did not care so very much about the
yellow hair herself, and it was a trial
to have it combed, especially when peo-
pie were in a hurry, and pulled; but
dear mamma had seemed to love each
separate hair, and it made Cora cry to
think of losing it. Still she thought
about it a great deal; all the morning
indeed, while she ran of errands for the
busy auntie. 1t was not until nearly
twelve o'clock that she found Milly
alone in the nursery, and came to her
with the great shears.
''Now, MilSy," she said, eff l should
sit real still, do you suppose you could
cut my hair off even and nice, SO 1 could
comb it like yours, before we go down
to dinner?''
"Why, Cora Parkerr' Milly said, in
dismay. You mustn't cut off your
hair. Aunt Helen wouldn't like it,
Then did Cora turn on her astonished
eyes. Didn't you hear her say that
she wished it was cut off short like
yours? And you know she has trouble
combing it, and of course she wants it
off, or she wouldn't say so. You don't
think Aunt Helen would tell what
wasn't true?"
''Why doesn't she cut it off, then?''
asked wise little Milly.
''Why, guess may be she thinks /
would cry and feel badly, and she is
sorry for me. And / have cried two
times this morning, and l feel pretty
badly; but for all that I've made up
my mind. Didn't papa say we must
try to give her just the leastest speck of
trouble, and that it was very good in
her to take us, when she had three bows
to see to! Oh, know it is right. and
Eve made up my mind; SO Milly, you
just hurry and cut
And Milly, little barber rs she was,
stood on tiptoe and went about her
task. Snip, snip, snip, went the dread
full shears! Only minute or two, and
the spun gold lay in great waves on the
carpet, and Cora's head looked as neat
and smooth as Milly's; only, 1 am
obliged to say, sthe hair was not very
evenly cut.
Cora could not see that, however, and
smoothed her hair with great care, and
was ready for dinner, just as the bell
pealed through the house. Poor child,
she had no idea of the uproar she was
going to create! Aunt Helen having
seated her guests. was just looking
around for the children when they
slipped in. Instead of seating them, she
stepped back in great dismay why,
Cora Parker!" she exclaimed. "What
have you been doing? 0. Lewis, what
a fright the child has made of herself"
And then, actually, Aunt Helen burst
into tears! What time they had,
Uncle Dick tried to explain to the
guests, and comfort his wife, and ques-
ton the children, all at once. Finally
poor Cora cried so loud that he sent her
away, and Aunt Helen, much ashamed,
sat down at last.
'The child gave me such a start, y
she said. ''She doesn't look in the
least like herself; and to think that she
has spoiled her beautiful hairr'
''What possessed her?n asked Uncle
Dick.
I'm sure l don't know; l suppose
the naughty little thing was spunky, be-
cause | said this morning that her hair
was luOTt JTOuDle IMAM MlIly :. Il re-
member, now, that she has been rather
gloomy all the morning / didn't think
she was such naughty little creature. :"
Now it was Milly's turn; she had
been very quiet and sober through all
the uproar, but just here she burst into a
storm of tears, and kicked her mad lit
tie feet against the table. g You're
naughty" she shouted; 81 don't love
you bit, don't. Cora is good; she
did it to please you; she cried dreadful,
snd she said her hair gave you trouble
and you said you wished it was short
like mine, and it must be short to please
you; Ind she is good All this, before
she coulf be hushed or carried from the
room.
Well. don't you think, that evening,
when the storm was all over, two peo-
pie asked to be forgiven; one was Milly,
for speaking such naughty words to her
auntie, and one was auntie, for saying
in her haste what she did not mean. But
that did not make Cora's hair long
again.
Never mind" Aunt Helen said, lit
will grow long some day; it shows you
were an unselfish little girl, if not very
wise one, and were used to being with
people who meant what they said. 1t
has taught me lesson. '-Pdnsy
Annie's HOmesickness.