Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-08-05
FINDING MAMMA.
How Susie Searched for Her, and
Where She Found Her.

"As for man, his days are rs grass.
As the flower of the field so he flour.
ishcth; for the wind passeth over it,
and it is gone; and the place thereof
shall know il no more.
"Mcn go to sea, and never return.
1t may be the prince of a nation that
the ocean wraps in its chilling waters;
it may he an unknown stowaway, dis
owned and dishonored. Death comes
to all alike. His stealthy tread adj.
vanccs often unhcraldcd. 1t there
fore becomes US all, in whatever age oil
rank of life we are, to be prepared.
AS for man, his days are as grass, "
repeated the minister.
Would he never stop? Susie knew
he had been talking for at least three
hours. In reality, the poor man had
Just commenced his sermon; but there
was no denying the facts, that il was a
very warm day, that the pew had a
very hard seat and a very stiff back,
and that Susie was Il very little girl.
Her feet didn't come near the floor. In
fact, the scat was so high that it was as
much us grandma could do to touch
hers. Grandma sat in the corner and
Susie at the end of this old-fashioncd
pew. They always went to church to-
gethcr since mamma died and papa
went away in the great ship with the
patch on the sail, that Susie and
grandma watched out of sight.
Grandma let Susie sit in tie end be-
cause il made her feel so important,
and sometimes had the effect of keep
ing her still. But to-day poor little
Susie didn't know what to do. She
looked around the little church. Ii
seemed as though nearly ali
the old folks had gone to
sleep, hut, of course, they hadn't
il only looked that way. Then
she watched the grandfather long-lcg>
on Deacon Dodd He crawlcd slowl,
up The dcacon'S stifily ,tarchcd Sunday
collar. The dcacon's hair, stiif and
straight with Sunday oil, Just met the
collar; so Sir Long-lcgs had little
trouble in mounting to the dcacOn's
bald spot, in the center Of which he
stopped to rest. Susie thought that il
his body were only little larger, and
his legs n great deal longer and spread
out evenly over that shiny bald place.
he would look just like the black lace
crown of Mrs. Deacon : white bonnet
He didn't grow, however, although
Susie watched him fer fully minute.
So she turned her attention to Elder
Brown. Why did he nod so slowly
and rcycrcntly at everything the min.
lister said. and then jerk his head back
suddenly and look around at the con.
gregation? Susie thought that it was
very considcratc in him 10 nod assent
so aflably To all the minister said, and
concluded she would do it too. So she
wagged her little head slowly and
solemnly forward and back. But what
was the use? 1t made her dizzy; be.
sides, did minister notice such little
girl as she?
She glanced out the window. O.
the blue sky. the golden sunshine. tho
green grass, and the many-colorcd
flowers outside! A rose vine, Chamber
ing up the old church wall. pccpcd
saucly in, and shook two pink roses ri
Susie. II seemed as though they
blushed and smiled at her alone, and
the leaves were just so many fingers
bcckoning her to come outside. away
from the sleepy deacon, the tircsomt
sermon and the stiti-backed pow.
IF | could only go, thought Susie.
81 don't believe the minister would
care. don't believe he cares anything
about little girls Mt all. He isn't talk
ing to me, anyway. He says: Men ar,
like grass I'm not man. dom
believe I'm like grass. either. My dcal
mamma never said so. She called m,
"A butterfly II rosebud and her 'owi
sweet birdie. q, mamma! mamma
why did you die and leave me al
alonep"
Two great tears rolled down Susie.
cheeks, and left two spots on her sun
day dress. A gay little bird lighted OF
tree near by and chirped, and whistle,
and flew away. Susie heard him, an,
could see through her tears that tn,
roses were still blushing and bcckonin,
more smilingly than ever. She glance,
at grandma. The old lady was fas
] asleep.
"Shc won't care, anyway" though
Susie. .'i'll meet her ut the door whci
church is out, and il will be all right j
/ take her hand and walk home will
her."
Down to the floor slid two little feet
and tip-tocd noisclcssly up the aisle
while very short distance above then
shonc two bright eyes, glancing quickl.
from side to side. But no one saw tn,
little girl, and in moment she stoo,
on the church steps in the free air an,
sunshine. Having come thus far. sh
did not care about going farther, bu
sat down on the steps. and listened in
dreamy way to the minister's voice
which was only faint murmur whel
IL reached her. But just as her hca,
was drooping in sleep a littl
dog came down the street. He was
funny little dog, with yellow
and white coat, bright black eyes,
short. stubby. independent tail, and
general air Of importance. lie stoppe,
in front of Susie, waggcd his tail
barkcd in friendly manner, and trot
ted briskly away. lie did not go far
however, but came back and repeated
his attempts at making friends.
do YOU want me 10 come with you
doggy" asked Susie. Doggy barke'