Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-30

-,ol.. "AAooIiy TOWARD q small
s,;nsSa house standing quite alone. and
clilnped upon q ledge OF rock beside it.
d nm feachlhs the level Of an open VIM
She looked in for a moment, then
Leaned her short plump arms UPON the
Sill and put her head inside.
Inc o was filled with rows of
aeehs and benches ana sturdy-lookiny
h"ys and girls. The teacher was stand,
ing at the blackboard on the small
raised platform. A rustic Increasing to
general confusion made her turn in snr-
prise.
"Why, Bobette!!" she cried, her ewes
sparkling with amusement. what in
the world are you doing THEREOF
Bobette was only too glad TO oet into
conversation. She replied politely:
Chow do you do? What I'm DOING
is watching Harvey. He's MAKING thu
rudder for our ship"
This raised q shout of laughter, and
all eyes turned toward a fine-looking
boy whose seat was directly in front Of
Bobette.
"Well, Bobette," the teacher said.
kindly, "you see you are disturbing us
now; we are not accustomed to such
gay little visitors. Get down and run
away"
"But I must speak to Harvey! I
can't go away till l do that" said b.
bette.
Harvey, you may go to the door for
two minutes to see what Bobette
wants" said the teacher, discreetly.
When Harvey appeared outside. he
gave a low whistle of surprise; but Bob
cite welcomed him rapturously. "Har-
vey!' she cried enthusiastically, "when
are we going to sail that ship? Now?"
"This is schooltime, Bobette!"
"But let's go now, Harvey-they
couldn't catch us, and I'm lonely to-day.
lcouldn't stay at home, though thought
about what you said. 1 did try to be
good. But 1 should die if I tried any
more, and what would you do then,
Harvey? Wouldn't you be sorry you
said | must!?"
The boy was four years older than
Bobette; he smiled a little, then un-
clasped her hands which were tightly
holding his.
"Poor Bobette! Well go to the pond
and sail our boat tonight. Where'n
you be? Are you going home now?"
asked the boy.
"Oh, moi" the child said, decidedly;
''nobody knows where I am! Mamma
was asleep, and Betsey up in her room,
and Anthony was out"
When Bobette was left alone she wan
dered on, her head turned to watch her
sweeping skirts. She was passing the
little weather-beaten stone church when
she ran against the rector, and both
stopped in bewilderment.
Mr.. Albert was a quiet, scholarly lit
tie man, with a clear pale face, and
kindly, very nearsighted eyes.
He had been reading as he walked
and did not at first recognize in this gay
apparition his small friend Bobette, but
there was no installing her merry laugh.
After a few explanations, Bobette slip
ped her hand into his, and they walked
gravely away together to the rectory.
Bobette established herself in a deep
armchair by the table, and looked over
the great illustrated Don Quixote for
the fiftieth time, while Mr.. Albert was
writing.
"Come, now, Bobette," said he, when
at last his letters were sealed and
stamped, 'slet us 60 out, for I think the
sun is going to shine. How is mamma
to-day"
"Oh, mamma"-the child began
doubtfully; 'you know this is a very
bad day for us. Mamma is not ever
we'll on this day."
"Not well?" MI. Albert repeated,
stopping short at the garden gate.
perhaps I had better step up and see
her?"
"Oh, MOI" cried Bobette; .'don't you
know what day this is?"
The rector looked puzzled: ''This is
Thursday, I believe"
"Ah," said Bobette, shaking her head
impatiently, cts papa's deaths day
the day when he didn't come home. I
hate it," the child cried, p%assionately;
81 wish papa had not gone away! 1
do"
"And now it is wei three yearsr!'
said the rector, absently, after a pause.
"Yes, three years." replied Bobette;
81 can not do it any more years. You
don't know, so you think me q very
naughty girl. But see how it is. This
morning, when l was fast asleep in the
dark, mamma came into my room and
said it was dear papa's day, and I must
jump up quick and not wait for Betsey.
And my bath was so cold it frightened
me awake. Mamma was crying, and
that made her pull my hair and tangle
it with the comb. Then the chapel was
SO dark and lonely! While 1 kneltthere
beside mamma, I saw a wee fairy, all
in white, playing under the curtain at
the door, and when mamma prayed
that papa would come home again, and
not be dead, 1 screamed, because then
the fairy became a ghost. Betsey said
it would come if l did the least wrong
thing. That frightened mamma, and l
had to eat my bread and milk alone,
because we must fast all to-day"
"But did you pray, too, Bobette?"
asked the rector, looking thoughfully at
the child.
Eyes; 1 prayed God to please bless
papa, and take good care of him if he is
alive, and if he is in Heaven to please
make us forget about him and not be
sad any more. Mamma read prayers
in the chapel with Betsey and Anthony,
49, H. rx 1,,-- u~ wa