The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-03-23
ZENA'S TRIALS.

"Oh, l fink it is the dreff1est world I
never sawr' sighed little Zena Halstead,
from her low seat in the bow-window.
Sister Jessie looked up from her sew
ing with a smile half-amused and half
perplexed but said nothing.
''Please give me another piece of
cake, JESSIE continued the child, aft
er pause. You only gave me the
littleist, shriveled-up piece no bigger n
my thumb, and 'twon't hurt me-hot a
mite-for papa said this morning that
fruit was healthy; and it's full OF fruit
this cake is-don't you see tits, Jessie
Halstead? Praps you don know much
as papa does bout it.
"When mamma went away to take
care of poor sick auntie, she said you
must be a good little girl and do as |
thought best" said Sister Jessie.
"But, Jessie, / should fink folks could
have what was their own, and Cousin
Lottie sent me this cake, all myself,
sides Pm hungry most starved =
persisted Zena, ''and mamma wouldn't
want me to starve to def, most likely"
''If you are hungry, you may go down
and ask Nora for some bread and m TX,
or amolasses cooky, said Jessie, quietly.
go, Jessie " cried the disappointed
child, II should s'pose you d treat your
little sister better'n tramp, that am t
no relation, but l most knowif tramp
should come and ask for something to
eat, you tell Nora to give him some
bread-and-milk and cooky. i can't
be good no way, else | can have what |
want
"Come here, Zena," said Jessie, lay
ing aside her work. Then she took her
little sister on her lap. and pushing back
the shining rings of golden hair, kissed
the white forehead and red pouting lips.
go Zena,'' she said. at last, s'if you
only would believe that Jessie knows
best." 6sn
Morals a great deal bigger you"
said Zena land sic lets me doas like. T"
"Well," said Jessie, if you had
rather be Morals little girl, you may,
but you must go to her for everything,
and do as she SAYS, but if you are ma
little girl, you must do as | say and not
be cross"
"Win l have to eat with Nora?''
asked the child.
'.Of course. and have your crib
moved into her room to s.eep," an
swered jessie
Zena was silent for a few m nutes;
then she made up her mind, as many
older people do, to accept the present
good without regard for the future, so
she said, very low: 81 guess I'll be
Morals girl, Jessie"
Very WE'LL" said Jessie putting her
gently down. "You can go to the
kitchen and stay. You must not come
up mere at all, unless Nora sends you,
now remember
g Yes, I'll remember" said the little
girl, as she skipped away, and two min
utes after she put her small face in at
the Kitchen door.
Nora she said, II want a great
piece of fruit cake-all l can eat.
''Who said you was to have it?
asked Nora, Surprised at the unusual
demand.
Nobody DID," answered the child,
"but you see Pm going to be your lit
tie girl now, and do just .whatI like
you'll let me, won t you? / know you
will, so please give me the CAKE
"Sure. I'd rather take care of a
steam engine,'' laughed the good-na-
tured Nora, ''but here's your cake; sit
down there on the sugar box and eat it,
1t was very small piece, but ena
did not ask for any more. for somehow
it did not taste SO very nice after all.
"What will ] do now?'' she asked,
when the cake was all gone. "Guess.
I'll make some little biscuits to play
SUPP er withif you'll give me some dough
will you, NoraP"
So Nora gav4 the little girl some
dough and thimble, and she tried 10
think she was very happy, for tbs was
one ofthe forbidden pleasures which she
was always longing for, but seldom al
lowed, for Jessie always said: mora
must not be bothered"
But now she was soon tired of it, and
was very glad when she heard the door
bell ring. She slid down from her lit
tie chair very quickly and ran into the
hall to see who had come, Just as Jess e
reached the door for the same purpose.
80 Zena" cried Jess e. run into
the kitchen; quick; your face is all
covered with flour.
The little girl started to obey. but
changed her mind and slipped in behind
the door as Jessie opened it.
"Why, Cousin Alice" cried Jessie,
81 am SO glad to see you. Come ght
up stairs. hope you We come 10 spend
the day."
NO said Cousin Alice, Il must
not stop at all. l am going shopping,
and ! called to see if you could 60 W tn
me.
81 shall be delighted to co. said
Jessie. s:Pll. be ready in minute.
Cant I go. too, Alice?" asked Zena,
coming forward.
WHY, who is thisp'' asked Al &c, as
she caught sight of the little girl, with
patches Of -four on her blushing face.
'.Oh, that is Nora girl, " saddle ssie.
mo. dear, you can't go--of course not!''
''She is dear little girl, anyway"
said Alice, catching Iena up in her
think Nora could spare her an hour?''
''Oh, no. said Jessie. carelessly, sit
wouldn't be proper for her to go with
US. Now, Alice, believe am ready"
Poor Zena was nearly heart broken.
She had hoped until she heard the hall
door closed behind the two girls that
Jessie would relent and let her 90 too,
but when she found that they had really
gone, she ran into the parlor and hid
her face in the sosa, and SHED some
very bitter tears. ~
Finally she concluded it was no use to
cry any longer, SO she wiped her eyes
and went back to the Kitchen.
''What can do nowsn she aske of
Nora. Il should s'pose you'd try TO
muse me, if I'm your little girl-Jesse
always does =