Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-08
THE LITTLE WHITACRES
How They Were Taken in, and
the Gain They Brought.

"Now, you are sur you can find the
xay9" SAID Mrs. Whitacre. inquiringly,
10 the two midgets who stood cloaked
aud hated ready to go out.
Course, mamma. Why, we've lived
here Il month. could go anywhere in
this town." replied Fanny, the self
confident, adding: GIVE seen the school
lots of times. It's a big house marked
SCHOOL, with steps up to it."
The description was not definite, but
the child seemed so sur that her moth
g, was satisfied there could be no mis-
take. and sent the two children off with
a kiss and an injunction to be good
When they had gone she turned to
the sick man lying on the bed with the
words: The children have already inn
b;bed the spirit of the place, Henry.
They are just aching to do and dare"
Her husband smiled family, saying
only: 81 hope they'll come to no harm;
wish YOU could have taken them.
Nell"
"They'n get along we'll enough, and
Icoulln't think of leaving you when
YOU'RE suffering so. They looked quite
respectable. didn't they? I'm sure they
were as well-dressed as the majority of
the children who go past here to the
public schools. You knowI made those
I;tlc cloaks out of your ovcrcoat, and
their shoes are still good; but their
dresses are certainly very shabby. All,
we'll! better times must be in store for
us"
Henry was about to say, ''They
couldn't well be worse" but he had
not the heart to put an eXtinguisher
over such q sunbeam rs Nell, and so
lay quiet. The two children, in the
meantime, were walking bravcly out
oi thoir own poor but respectable
nnighborhood into one bordering on
Tie fashionable residence part of the
city. Tall houses, with brightly pol
ishel ratings, high stone steps and
shining platc-glass windows lined the
streets. Before some of them carriages
Were standing, and from the doors of
these portly, well-drcssed gentlemen
issued, bultoning their gloves and Civ
iNs last directions to some invisible
nyent within the door before they cn-
N'NN W. S'hAA1SSS w w OIASS uSWA
town to business. ~
AZ last the spirit of doubt began to
7cN She m.nl Of little Katy, and she
looked up at her sister with inquiring
eFc>, asking: ''Isn't you forgot it, Fan
NY You mustn't get us lost, mamma
said"
No. indeed; it's only a little bit far
sher. DO you see that white sign?
Well, that's it."
And therc it was, to be sure. "Miss
Barnari's Private SCHOOL, but the last
word was AL Fanny knew. The two
eagerly mounted the steps, Katy cling
lng tightly to Fanny's Land, and rang
tar bel. \ ncat-looking girl appearcd
and uslered them into 4 small room,
furnished with chairs, pictures, q clock
and Il w:ittng-desk. As G O as the
DOOR opened Fanny had begun her lit
Tie speech:
We're Mrs. Wh,tacre's little girls,
ahu we want to 90 to school hc:c.
BIT The girl only smiled, and said;
VAT Il minute" and went out.
This don't look a bit like q school,
'osS it," said Fanny; and Katy 10
Don't it? / never was in a school
house,
"nb. so you wcren't-what was
thinking of!' exclaimed Fanny, witt
"}Sni'led amusement. well, it dom
not at all. l don't see any black
%poa''ls. o amy desks nor books; ant
'oa see any scholars, but us, MOI
any teacher"
just then the last lack was supplied
,or a teacher entered, Miss Barnard
herself. She was y rather tall. we'll
nu''t woman OF %thirty-iiye. or there
aoout, with keen eyes and = tirn
mouth. She looked at tho children
''fInas!y. but with Il smile.
"i.o You wish to sec mc?" She asked
yes. please We're Mrs. White
@'' ) little girls, and VIZ want to com
S'h"ol here. Mamma would hav'
.o':' witt! us. but paya's sick, III.
WY, *ouidn be anybody't all to sta.
with hin!."
a.; po You know WHIST kind Of q schoo
",,s' Wa the l,uy's next question
VA so'tso Surmiscs presented tbcm
bs:'es TO Fanny at this. Could :Ar.
NV, S.s gotten into y boys school b,
"",s1aSc? Was it 4 boArdinsy-schoo
EEi..te'e tho scholars wsro all grown
1ri |'s ol these suppos;:ions Wa dread
fos 4sa y WAS with 4 hnnxs that saal
sh the first time that morning tina
aSScd, s',nittiy: What kind is IL?
~ i Nndergartcn." was the an
"S'; and as Fanny sad ..Oh!" in
'o''" Intended Ia so,nd ui,avsd. Ia: