Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
zESA,S TROUBLES.

ooh, ! fink it is the drcilleSt word
never saw" sighed little Iena Halstead,
from her low seat in the bow-window.
Sister jessie looked up from her sew
ing with q smile half-amused and half
perplexed, but said nothing.
"Please give ne another piece OF
cake, JESSIE" continued the child, aft
er a pause. you only gave me the
l~ittleist, s%hriveled-up piece no bigger n
ny thumb, and 'twon't hurt me-not a
mite -ior papa said this morning that
fruit was healthy; and it's full OF fruit
this cake is-don't you see It's, Jessie
Halstead? P'raps vou don't know much
as papa does bout it"
'sWhen mamma went away to take
care of poor sick auntie, she said you
must be a good little girl and do as l
thought best" said sister Jessie.
"But, Jessie, ] should fink folks could
have what was their own, and Cousin
Lottie SEM me this cake, al! myself,
sides I'm hungry most starved''-
persisted Zena, land mamma wouldn't
want me to starve to DEF, most likely"
elf you arc hungry, you may 90 down
and ask Nora for some bread and M Tx,
or q molasses cooky," said Jessie, quietly.
80, JESSIE cried the disappointed
child, 81 should s'pose you' dtreat your
little sister better'n a tramp, that amt
no relation. but I'most knowif a tramp
should come and ask for something to
eat, you'd tell Nora to give him some
bread-and-milk, and a cooky. l can't
be good no way, else I 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.
so ena," she said. at last, '.if you
only would believe that Jessie knows
best"
Morals a great deal bigger YOU"
said Zena. and sic lets me do as [ like"
SWELL" said Jessie, ''if you had
rather be Morals little girl, you may,
but you must 60 to her for everything,
and do as she says. but if you are mp
little girl, you must do as l say and not
be cross"
Twill l have to eat with Nora?"
asked the child.
"Of course, and have your crib
moved into her room to Sleep" an
swered Jessie.
lena was silent for a few minutes;
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
Nora's girl, jessie"
Every WE'LL" said Jessie, putting her
~o~41v, lo,r, SkV@r oor no RI fI,o
kitchen and stay. You must not come
up here at all, unless Nora sends you,
now remember"
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, 81 want a great
piece of fruit cake-all 1 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 what I like
you'll let me, won t you? / know you
will, SO please give me the cake"
"Sure. I'd rather take care of q
.O''A OLSiAO, uuSACu CuC SOOu-ud
tured Nora, "but here's your cake; sit
down there on the suyar-box and eat it. y
1t was a very small piece. but ena
did not ask iora any more, for somehow
it did not taste so very nice after all.
"What will l do nowp' she asked,
when the cake was all gone. "Guess
I'll make some little biscuits to play
sup er with ifyou'n give me some dough
will you, Nora?"
So Nora CAV, the little girl some
dough and a thimble, and she tried Ia
think she vas very happy, for this was
ore of the forbidden pleasures which she
was always longing for, but seldom al
lowed, for Jessie always said: "Nora
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 Jessie
reached the door for the same purpose.
80 Zena.' cried Jessie, run into
the kitchen; quick; your face is all
covered with flour"
The little girl started to obey, but
changed her mind and slippedin behind
the door as Jessie opened it.
"Whv, Cousin Alice" cried Jessie,
Il an so glad to see you. Come T. CHI
up stairs. | hope you've come to spen(
the day."