The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-08
Wee Little Nora.

Idon't mind taking care of Agnes one
bit, for she runs around and is real good
natured.
But Nora can't walk yet, and have
to carry her everywhere, and she cries
the whole time.
And the crosser I am the more she
cries.
know I'm cross, but don't mean to
be so.
Well, last Sunday Jimmy Jones'
grandfather promised me ten cents if I
picked cherries enough to fill two pals
for him, and Sam said he would help me
to do it.
Sam is my brother. He doesn't often
help me.
We did not want to take Nora with us,
so we slipped out of the back door, me
and Sam and Aggis.
But Nora saw us going and began to
cry, and mamma said l must take care OF
her, because she was going to town.
So I lugged Nora across the street,
while Aggie carried the pals and Sam
went on ahead. and made fun Of me for
being so slow.
MY! how hot and dusty it was!
Sam was real good when we got to the
field, and went up the tree quick as
flash and picked lots of cherries.
Aggie was good, too, and helped me
ever so much, but Nora was as naughty
as could be.
She fretted and cried and swallowed q
cherry stone, and nearly choked to death,
and then she upset the pail that was all
filed!
The cherries rolled all over every
where, and was so angry I just slapped
her!
Ibid!
Oh dear! 1 am so ashamed when l
think about it!
slapped our poor, dear, precious lit
tie baby, that 1 ought to be SO good to!
The minute did it 1 was 80 ashamed.
and ran off by myself and began to cry.
I was so sorry and so angry, too, that
1 cried and cried till fell asleep.
The first thing knew q great drop of
rain fell on my nose and woke me up.
1t was pouring and tn andering and
lightning, and the wind was blowing and
there was an awful storm.
ran home and never thought of baby
till I saw Aggie in the hall.
How'd you get homer" I cried.
me runned," said Aggie; And see,
me fixed your cherries ali NICE"
where's Nora?" I cried.
Dunno" she answered, shaking the
pals.
"But where's SAM"
"Dess he gone to Simmy Jones grand
fathers garnet to play"
l threw off my hat because it was a
new one, and ran back to the field, for l
thought poor little Nora was all alone
out there in the storm.
It rained so hard il seemed as If my
bones must be wet right through my
skin.
thought l could hear Nora crying
but she was not there.
looked under the ackberry bushes
and everywhere, and called 1T the top
Of my voice, but nobody answered.
There was big black COW in the pas
ture, and thought perhaps she might
have eaten her. Oh, do cows ever, ever
eat little girls:
Or suppose an eagle had flown away
with her. the way an eagle few away with
q baby in . story read once.
I was svfully frightened.
killed her.
What would mamma say?
was most crazy.
Then it flashed across me that Sam
might have taken her with him.
He never does take the children any
where, but thought he might have, this
once.
So I rushed over 10 Jones' and up their
garnet without stopping for permission.
The garnet was empty.
As ran by the stable, saw Sam 3 feet
sticking ont at the window in the hay
loft, and climbed mp the ladder, With
my heart going fipity.hop, 20 could
hardly breathe.
And there, oh joyl there was Nora. ait
ting on the hay, ~ good - kitten.
Sam says ought to have known be