Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-02-12

to wear out tonight. Can't you, just
to please me?n
Edie flushed angrily, but remained
silent.
''Do, now, miss. 1t is so easy for
you to annoy, and for me to cut off a
rose. See, here are some scissors all
ready. have only to give one tiny
snip and the flower will be mine. May
I?' Anna went on banteringly, trying
to work the child into a fury
The scissors were very close to the
tree, and with one hand Anna held
fragrant bud. Unable to see her plant
so menaced, Edith started to her feet,
crying passionately:
How dare you? Let my tree alone
or | will tell mamma You shall not
cut it, nor will [ give you permission
to touch it!''
Anna shifted disdainfully, and
swished her brush vigorously about
Either by accident OF on purpose
which Edith never knew, though she
suspected the latter-the brush got en-.
tangled in the leaves, and in an instant
the fragile pot fell with a crash to the
ground, in broken heap at Edith's
feet.
''You have broken my flowers, you
horrid girl! How dare you?" the
child cried furiously, and scarce know
ing what she did, she flung book at
Annals head.
Fortunately it missed its aim, but
Anna, glad Of this opportunity, darted
towards the fallen plant, and deliber-
ately cut off every blossom.
+biC 1o,Or,an+ hI,s iSIa who bod
heard the noise, came hastily into the
room.
''What is it? What are you doing,
Edie, and you, Anna?" sternly.
Edie sobbed out the story in few
brief words, but Anna, determined not
to be behindhand, interrupted her In a
loud tone:
Miss Edie, ma am, threw a book at
my head, so, as you told me, l cut off
the roses.
You were quite right, though l did
not say ALL" with a sad glance at the
stripped tree.
"But, mamma, she should not have
broksn my pot. She did it purposely,
/ am sure, Edia said mournfully.
Indeed / did not. It was quite an
accident" the maid cried sharply.
Mrs. Lisle was perplXed; she did
not know who to believe, so she gently
babe Anna gather up the fragments,
and drew her child away.
When they were alone she only spoke
a few words, seeing how deeply Edie
was grieving for her broken tree. She
knew she had been punished severely
enough without her reproaches, even
if she had been in the wrong, which
the mother was not quite sure of.
After that, Edith seemed a changed
child; no one was more thoughtful or
considerable towards others than she
was; a gentle sweetness had replaced
the old obstinate mischievousness,
making her altogether a lovable girl,
instead of an unamiable one.
Nearly year passed away, and on
her birthday Mrs. Lisle sent for her to
her own room, and after kissing her
tenderly, drew her towards the table,
on which stood tall rose-tree in full
bloom.
This is your present, Edie, and do
not think | could have given you a
better one: Do you remember your
old friend?"
Eulo nuSncQ with eager Joy.
'Is it really true, mamma? Can this
possibly be my own dear tree? 1t is
like it, yet mine was broken,'' she
cried quickly.
1T is your own cherished plant, dear
est; for, knowing you loved your god
fathers gift, could not see it sacri-
feed like that. By replacing it by one
similar, both punished and corrected
you. Now, seeing how changed you
are, have no reluctance in giving it
to you again. Take it, darling, and
never forget the lesson it has taught
you