The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-17
TABITHA, THE BED.wRENCH.

ing-frame, stood an old-fashioned wood
en bed wrench leaning against beam.
1t was about twelve inches high, and
had two round arms stretching straight
out each side 1t stood on two stiff feet,
and when Janet came in sight of it. it
struck her that it looked tired and dis
pirited, as if it never had good times.
"You poor thingr" she exclaimed,
chow lonesome you look! 1 do believe
you are sort of dolly. May be you
were grandma's doll when she was lit
tie, and you've been here ever since. 1
mean to play with you myselfr'
So she lifted the queer wooden shape
up tenderly. busted it off, Rugged it a
little, and then began to think about
dressing it.
There were plenty of pieces of old
calico m grandma's rag-bag, and little
Janet was learning to use scissors and
needle, so there was no reason why she
should not 90 to work az once.
She ran for her little basket, and
coming back sat down by the garret
window, where a dusty sunbeam slant
ed over her shoulder.
There she cut and fitted, and with
long uneven stitches sewed her work,
till before long her wooden doll was
clothed with a white petticoat and q
green calico dress.
"Oh, how nice you do lookr' said
Janet, rapturously. Tomorrow I'll
make an apron"
Then finding stub of q lead-pencil
in her pocket, she laboriously marked
eyes, nose and mouth, on the side she
had chosen for the face.
Nov, I'll make you house." said
Janet. ''up here in the corner of the big
clock, and it shall be my secret play
house. And I'll name you a real old
fashioned name, dolly, II name you
Tabitha, after grandma"
So she found an old stool for table,
ard arranged little home for Tabitha,
who now stood very straight and proud
in her tinery, with quite an expression
on her face.
10 you darling Tabithar' exclaimed
Janet. al do really love you, you are
so nice! I'll come up here every day to
play with you, and bring cookies and
apples, and have tea-tablen'
Tabitha looked very smiling, and
when she was laid to rest on sofa
folded shawl in box, certainly ap-
peared quite different from the forlorn,
awkward creature of a few hours be-
fore.
And now she became little Janet's
most cherished pet and friend. She
had a checked apron made, and q
woolen bonnet, and was assisted to walk
about on the parret floor
1t was she who was told when Janet
discovered where grandma kept the
raisins; and it was she, Tabitha herself,
who was allowed to stand at the garret
window and watch the neighbors come
up the path when grandma had the sew
ing-society.
1t was Tabitha alone who was told
when Janet found where the cat had
hid her kittens, in the waste-paper bar
rel. and when a few days later two of
the kittens were missing, and the hired
boy Jim was seen coming from the di-
rection of the river, it was TO Tabitha
that Janet rushed for sympathy in her
first burst of childish grief.
But Janet had never taken Tabitha
downstairs. She was her secret treas
ure in her secret playhouse, and though
grandma and the aunts knew that the
little girl played up garret good deal,
they were too busy to be curious about
her quiet amusement.
At last, however, it was house-clean-
ing time, and bells were taken down,
windows washed, and carpets shaken
Janet was sitting in the kitchen with
her spelling-book, when grandma called
out:
"I'm ready to tighten my BEDFORD.
Where's the bed-wrench? Janet, run
up garret and bring the bed-wrenchr'
Janet ran up garret willingly, but as
she did not know what a bed-wrench
was. her search was hopeless one from
the beginning, and she went down with
out it. rs-
Don't know bed-wrench when you
see itr' excla med Aunt Sue. impatient
", and she went after it herself.
But she was gone so long that grand
ma grew tired waiting, and sent Uncle
Silas TO hurry her.
Uncle Silas was young uncle, not
more than sixteen, and whenhe reached
the garret where Aunt sue was moving
things about. his black eyes soon caught
sight of Tabi,ha, standing smiling by
the tall old clock.
"Han' he exclaimed. "Those armsi
that head! have seen them before o.
sue, Sue, don't you know bed-wrench
when YOU see itl'
He caught Tabitha up, and taking her
downstairs, whirled her triumphantly
in the air.
Here's your bcd-wrench, mother,
dressed for partyI'' he said, merrily.
''WeIl, l neverr' exclaimed grand
ma ..Do take off all that trash"
But Janet had heard. Janet had
turned around, and she 5prang forward,
catching Uncle Silas arm.
Its my own dolly" she cried. ''It's
Tabitha. Don't hurt her, Uncle Sii :,
don't touch her elothes''
"Well, there nowr' said grandma.
Uncle Silas Has a tease. but not an
unmerciful ons. and he knew how to
steer his wa among difficulties
"Your Tahitha seems ike a very
strong person." he said to Janet. Sup
pose you hire her to do this job for us
I'll pay her a penny for wages"
"Well," said Janet slowly, s'only be
careful, and don't tear her dress"
So Tabitha's strong feet were planted
in the bed-cords, and Tabitha's strong
arms turned about till the work was
done. and then with 8 long sigh of re
def Janet received her in her own arms
again. and took tee penny.
cit II buy you and and me stick OF
peppermins. " she whispered to her pet
as she took her up stairs, and rsbitha
smiled serenely.