The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-10-20
PEARL.

Css papa.
.'Can you take care of mother all
dayp'
s.Of course l can, papa. Are you
going awaypn
Eyes; Sam and / have to go after
those yearlings. And like as not auntie
won't be home till tomorrow.
"What coy time mamma and l
will haver'
..And, Pearl, if should not be home
till late, can you call old Snow into the
stable, and push down a little fodder
for her?'
"Yes, papa, and I'll get the chickens
in, too"
but let everything else 90 for
mother, dear. Always remember
that"
"You know | will, papa"
Her words were as earnest as his own
as she ran after him for another kiss;
and he added, as he laid braid of her
pretty hair against his lips:
IF she's the least bit nervous toward
night, don't leave her moment, my
bird, but let the animals take care Of
themselves.
Pearl lived on the shore of the great
Mississippi, far down, where Jack
Frost never gets very tight grip on
things, and let's go very early, as Madam
Spring comes smilingabout. Her father
was getting poorer and poorer year
by year, as his worn-out land grew less
productive with every season of slack
tillage, until he found 1t hard to wiring
from it living for his small family.
The stock dwindled down to a few
poor ill-kept creatures, which looked as
if forlornly wondering within them
selves whether it were really worth
while to live or not. Pearls father
had something of the same look him
self, which increased as his wife grew
weakly and gradually sank into the
condition of a gentle invalid, content
to be waited upon, without, perhaps,
ever pausing to ask whether she really
stood in need of it.
You may think Pearl must have had
very sad childhood. But she had
never known any other place nor any
other children, and was so happy in
her own bright, unselfish little nature
as never to have suspected anything de-
pressing in her surroundings. Pearl
throye as nothing else on the place
throve, even under the burden of care
which came to her too young-shower-
ing back upon her mother so many
carresses and such loving care that it
would be hard to say which looked
most upon the other as child.
'Tll get your breakfast pet. Wait
till you see what I've got for you"
Pearl skipped about in great glee at
being left in charge for all day, and,
after the usual amount of small fussing,
carried in the tray with face full Of
anticipation of her mothers delight.
1.-The first branch of Grape myrtle.
found it peeping out in the sunshiny
corner of the old pasture. You poor
dear little mamma dozen kisses on
her thin hands-s'if you only could go
with me to see all the beautiful things
But I'll bring you every one. Papa
thought he had found the first mag
nolia bud the other day, but / had seen
it the day before, and never said
word. No, won't take single taste
Of egg There isn't enough for you. !"
s'Just taste, little one"
mot one bit. See what great
strong thing | am! You must have the
good things to make you well. y
The lassie set her foot down, and
mamma never dreamed that there was
something almost heroic in the refusal
of the tempting morsel, the little girl
having just turned away from her own
uninviting breakfast of bacon and
corn-bread.
''The river looks curiously, mamma
DEAR she said, chatting over the wild
flowers she was arranging on the table
as she spread their feast. Il went into
the boat to play, and when wanted to
get out the water was between it and
the shore, SO had to jump.
why, Pearl, are you sureP'
Eyes, mamma; and was afraid 1
couldn't get in it again; SO
1 united it and held the rope till it
floated to the little bayou, and then
pulled it in and tied it. 1t was hard
work, too.''
"Can the river be risingf / wish
they were not al away, daughter
The helpless woman looked out of
the window with troubled face. The
floods of the year before had done but
little injury in their neighborhood, the
land lying much above the river level.
But she knew that this was due to the
strength of the levees many miles
above, and remembered having heard
people say that they never would stand
another pressure Of high water. The
river was not yet as high as she had
seen it, but she observed with some I'M
easiness that it had advanced upon
them perceptibly during the last few
hours.
II don't believe the levee will break,
though she said, trying to encourage
herself and Pearl.
Their dinner was eaten rather more