The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-03-01
FLOY'S REWARD.
What is it ?" asked Papa Bisbee.
What IS it ?" echoed Mamma Bis

Wnat Is IL! ecAOed Mamma Bis
GO What Is it ?" chimed in little Floy.
Dora Blsbee had just unfolded the
evening paper, and her low cry of 10y
and surprise, as her eyes glanced over
its columns, caused the little group on
the back porch to ask the above cues
ton.
Mr.. Bisbee laid down his newspaper
his wife paused with hands In the
dough, and little en-year-old FLOW
rested her brown hands on the top OF
the churn-dasher, which she was moying
up and down, to listen to her sister
read:
1.-The celebrated German musician.
Carl Fraulander, will give one of bis
matchless entertainments in this CITY
this evening, at Maxwell Hail. AS the
professors fame has long preceded him,
it is unnecessary to say that he will
meet with warm reception and crowded
house. Let everybody come. Such o.
portunities are rare"
The Bisbee family lived uson farm
ten miles from the city Of C, and
consisted of father and mother and four
children. The Oldest girls were twins
Cora and Dora-aged seventeen, and
possessed of more than ordinary beauty.
They had been petted and well nigh
spoiled by short-sighted parents and
friends, and were looked upon as very
superior beings by their younger sister
Floy. For had they not been away to
boarding-school, aud taken music les
sons, and learned to do up their hair in
helatest style?
ave must CO." said Dora, laying
down the paper.
"Of course we must" added Cora.
who had appeared in time to hear the
announcement.
don't see how we can all CO." re-
marked Mr.. Bisbee. "The two. seated
buggy that l lent yesterday to neighbor
Thomas has lost bolt and can't be used
until it is repaired. The carriage can't
seat but three, and that not very com
fortably; SO somebody will have to stay
at home"
1t was plain case-some one must
stay. Dora looked hopefully at her
mother. Mrs. Bisbee came promptly
to the lascue.
could not think OF going with the
baby" she said, $50 will stay for one. -
"And 1 will stay with mamma. "
said Floy, who knew she would be ex.
pected to make this sacrifice; but she
looked straight down at the frothy ring
of cream on the churn cover as she said
it, that they might not see how hard she
was trying to keep back the tears.
Musical little girl that she was she did
not know that there was greater charm
IN the simple ballads she sung to the
baby than in the operate airs her sis.
tiers spent SO much time in practising to
sing when they had company. But she
oId know how she had longed to
hear the German gentleman sing, and
how she had read everything she
could find In the papers about him, and
the other fine singer with him. And
now he was coming and she must stay
at home-or somebody must-and she
had offered to do so herself, and with sc
little show of reluctance that the Others
never guessed what struggle it haC
cost her.
That's darling!' cried Cora, kiss
ing her. "We'll bring you some candy.
AS If candy could make up for it,
And SO it was arranged that Mir. BIS
bee and the twins should take an earl,
tea and drive Topsy, the fiery blacl
pony, and reach Gin time to secur,
good seats in the hall, for it would b,
crowded, Cora said; and Dora said i
she could not get seat near the plat
form she woHld not go at all.
Floy watched the preparations witt
almost feverish interest, noting no,
careful Cora was to arrange her hai
becomingly, and Dora to place tn
1nhk OF
wondered If, when she grew up to be
"big girl, she would have "such mic
time" as they were going to have. An,
when they were tucked up into tn
carriage and Totsy spun away out 0
sight, We do not wonder that she dic
shed few childish tears of lisappoint
ment, and wiped them away with tn
corner of her calico apron.
By and by the twilight began t,
gather, and with it tokens of comm,
storm. The supper dishes had beer
washed and put away, and Floy wa
teaching babe to "patty cake" whel
the curly head of ueighbor's little DO,
was thrust IN at the door, and piping
voice exclaming:
please, Miss Bisbee, could yo,
come over and doctor mother a bit
she has got an awful tack nooralgv, an
says for you to bring ever some OF you
nervine powder. She is very bad,
added the boy, as he detected the doub
II Mrs. Blsbee's manner. That gooC
lady looked at her children, and then al
the gathering clouds.
"Wiil you be afraid to stay alone E
little while, Floy? / shall come back az
soon as possible.
"Oh, no; shall not be one bit afraid.
Baby and l win have nice time while
you are gone-won't we, darling?" she
SAID, shaking his string of spools glee-
fully at him. whereupon Freddie laughed
and crowed; and Mrs. Bisbee, kissing
them both. went out into the gathering
darkness.
tIoy amused her brother until he be-
gan to grow sleepy, and then, like a
little mother, she put ON his nightgoTn
and rocked him to sleep and tucked him
IN the clib. Meanwhile the rain that
had been threatening began to fall In
large. warm drops, which increased in
number, until at length it came pour
ing down IN torrents, with gusts of
wind that bent the old elm in the yard
and strewed the ground with branches
from the neighboring trees.
Little Floy, white snd frightened, but
with her usual presence of mind. closed
the chamber windows first, then those
below, and watched the violence of the
storm, which the binding flashes of
lightning now and then revealed. She
thought of her father and sisters, and
wondered if they or any one else were
out in this dreadful storm.
just then, as if in answer to her ques-
tloninR thought. there came knock at
the door SO loud aid determined that it
started her. She thought of tramps, of
robbers. of neighbor-but no neigh
Dor would knock like that. QUaking