Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-01
PEGGY'S TRIAL.

Pcggy was Ottt in the orchard picking
up apples. Thcy were summer applcs
yellow. crisp and so ripe that they
would crack open inst as easy! And
some IT them had grown so fast and So
freshly after the late showers. that they
were iull # water NJ the core! Fine
juicy apples and a clear. bright morn
ing are enough 10 make any little Girl
nappy. No wonder Peggy sang. And
I1Sgy could sing very well. indeed.
ShhS hqd never been taught. but that
uldn seem To make any difference.
she began TO sing even before She could
talk sort OF pleasant little humminp.
that would make her grandma SAY.
" She viii make n cheerful womnnr'
hut Peggy was getting To be- quite n
young lady; and in the morning when
our story opens. she was singing gnylv
u pretty little song she had learned nj
school The happier she became the
louder she sang; and her voice rang
out through the sunny orchard until the
shadows Of the leaves ON the c,ross
actually seemed 90 dance about with
pleasure, and chase each other. first This
way and then that. sometimes bitting n
golden apple, sometimes darkcninp The
rose in % ClOycr-hcad. sometimes NAL
ing ht'le mask ON Pcggy's upturned
,aC'' 1iiu'st as they would like TO kiss
her white forehead. supuosc n w,s
zoe brc'1e sweeping softly among the
branches that made the shadows lance
So hut u seemed rs il they danced To
ieggN : singing. She had nearly filed
her o"-Se'' md was about To pick up
the last tempting-looking globe. when
shc saw something sparkle very brill
hntly IN the grass. STOPPING quickly.
but not ccasing in her song, She picked
up the shining thing. and looking at IL
IN amalement, became dumb with sur
Ppsc. 10 was n lovely diamond rinpi
ieggy counted the sparkling stones.
Onc, two, three, eight glowing, bewitch-
ing bits OF color and shine, roliectiuo
the trees and the sky, the apples
ana the clover. She could see every
shade OF the rainbow In the precious
Jewell and she was almost wild with de-
night. She slipped II ON her finger.
Tossing nj I first in this way. and then
IN that She could hardly take her eyes
from u. "Well. sail she. 81 an, 40
gladl just then, "Pcggyl Peggyr'
came pleasantly from the house. Z" I
must 80. said she To herself Grand
ma Is calling. What will she sav'to
thisP Why. shc will say u il not mine
anil that must net Keep r.; knew
she viii But 10 ~ mine. found n in
our orchard. anil | know II is mine. I
VIII Keep IT, l never had 40 lovely n
lhing before. aud mean a., trrp Il ~
Peggy said this To- herself out loud. and
shook her head hard. Then sbe nnt
the ring In her little pocket. and. nick.
ing up the basket. started for the h1use
VIII not tell her yet" she said to
herself II will think Il over
when she .got 20 the grcat. breezy
Nc hen. hvr tlenr Crandna was . up to
hrr ehr in dourf - ~ ~. Aersell
would have expressed making pirs.
"Ohi said she. with CHEEKY laugh.
when Pcggy came in. tugging the
heavy basket along in both hands, "my
little help has arrived. \ am prfnr
To mako n turnover for my helm
But, Peggy, what Is the mnttcrP Wba,
has hapPcnedP Are YOU unhappy.
mo, ma'am," said Peggy. rather
sullenly, = I'm not And then ,shc
blushed. She thought TO herself: II
wonder II Il shows right in nv face.
that Grandma can soc something Has
happcncdP don't believe am very
happy. either Idon't feel so glad as
did" So :
On the first opportunity she ran up
stairs and hid the ring in her own little
chest. 10 had till i'm it-iust the cun-
ningcst place To hide any little object
When she tucked IL away. she again
almost kissed the beautiful stones-they
were so like icicles and sunsets. and
everything pretty and fairy-Tike she had
ever dreamed Of. -
She was eleven years old. and had
been quite n reader. She knew that
diamonds were very valuable, and had
even rad In her ''Child's Philosophy of
Little Things of what they were com
posed, and how difficult n was Ia Obtain
thcm: have n fortune of nv own
now, she said 10 herself. as she shut
down the cover Of her chest and turned
the Key. II am n rich lady; and h I ever
want to sell my beautiful ring / can buv
ever so many beautiful things with (,
books, and pretty dresses. and even
necklace like Cora Mav'sl Hunt \
guess II the girls knew what have on,
thcy would not put on so many air.
over Their little gold-heart rings and
coral chains. I should lust Ike h
show my lovely diamond oncer'
Then she began TO sing. but in ths
very FIRST Inc Of the song she stopped
she turned little pale. and stood look