St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-07
OUR QUARREL.


1t happened many years ago, when
we We're both little girls, nearly the
same age; but insure that we never
forgot it.
We were spending the. day at Farmer
Browns, a place we dearly loved to
visit We liked the walk, a mile and a
half, through the rool, shady woods,
leading from the little town in the val
ley to the farm ON the hill. We liked
the big, old apple orchard, just to the
right of the house, where we often
played all day. Then the oldAfashioned
rooms, having great windows, with
their broad sills, and the long kitchen,
where we took our meals at a table
laden with bounties, were added charms.
And oh! the days, when they knew that
we were coming, that Miss Jane made
us ice-cream-more of q rarity to chill
dren then than It is now.
This morning, in particular, bade fair
to give us special delight. The sun
shone brilliantly. We each had on
pretty, new calico dresses. Best OF all,
Farmer Brown had promised us a ride
home in the erening-for the woods
grew very dark, and when we walked
we had to start earlier than we liked.
So we sauntered along, as light-hears-
ed as the birds and the chipmunks,
stopping to gather ferns happy when
we found a stray tuft of maiden-hair.
/ had in my arms Kitty's doll. Mine
was dressed exactly like hers, except
that Kitty's, being a black-eyed beauty,
wore pink sash over her white dress,
while my fair Seraphina had a blue rib
bon. But ah! luckless me! We were
seating ourselves on great stone by the
roadside, when MY clumsy fingers let
fall the doll. Oh! her beautiful china
head split through the nose, from crown
to chin.
At first, was thoroughly contrite,
and with a quick sense of justice was
about to say: 80 Kitty! TIM SO sorry!
you shall have Seraphina;'' and, had
that not been enough, would have
added: 1'Yes, and my little gray pussy,
too.' Surely could do no more. But
/ was too slow. Before could speak,
quick, impulsive Kitty jumped up, gave
me a push, and called out angrily:
go you horrid, careless girl! You're
always breaking something. I'll never
play with you again, and I'll never,
never speak to you. So thereH'
Leaving Seraphina, and snatching the
wounded doll, She ran off without me.
I sat awhile, sobbing bitterly, for a
sense of injustice ranked in my mind.
/ resolved, firmly, that, if Kitty did
want to make up with me, as often hap
pened, after our quarrels, would not
answer her, and would punish her by
making friends with another cousin, as
Kitty was always afraid / would. Dry
ing my tears went on, too angry to
think Of any shame in meeting Miss
Jane and Miss Susan.
As soon as / got there, Kitty having
told all the story, and been easily con-
vinced that she had been too hasty,
rushed out the gate. and threw her arms
about me with 'tOh, I'm SO sorry! |
oughtn't to have been so cross, for you
didn' mean to do it,
But was too stubborn to yield, and
stiffiy withdrew myself, and walked
past her into the house. Kitty fol-
lowed, her blueS eyes full of tears at
the repulse. I hade good morning to
Miss Jane and Miss Susan. They,
wise ladies, treated us as usual, con-
cluding that it was best to leave us to
ourselves.
We went to The apple orchard, but
somehow the favor had gone out Of
the day. Seraphina required more
than usual amount of punishment, and
even the wounded came in for her
share. After a while, Kitty wandered
away, and was left alone.
Suddenly it grew very dark, and,
looking up, I saw that the sky was
black with cloyds. I ran quickly to
the house. There, busy about the noon
dinner, the darkness had obliged Miss
Jane to light the lamps. Seeing me
come, she thought, Of course, thst
Kitty was following. but l had not seen
her for some time. The heat grew
sitting, the airs was filled with elec-
tricity. The clouds hung low, and
each moment grew more threatening.
To increase MY terror, no rain fell,
and, childishlX. I feared the world
might take isc and burn up-and
where was Kitty?
Blacker and Stacker grew the clouds,
and darker Il more lurid grew the
day. looked snxiously out of the win
dow in the direction where Kitty had
gone; but nowhere did see any traces
Of her. Every moment expected to
see her hurrying along to the house;
but the moments passed without bring
ing her. At last I withdrew from the
window, and seated myself hopelessly
on my faYorite chair. Where could
Kitty be? Would l never see her againp
The thought brought CONSERVATION to
my childish breast. l cast aside my
doll, and burying my face in my hands.