The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-23
"BUT THEM"
A Queer Name for = Little Girl, and How
She Came b 1t.

A Queer Name for Little Girl, and How
She Came b. 1t.
1t was a queer name for little girl,
and it was not her real name-that was
Lizzie - but everybody called her ''But
Then"
"Course my real name is prettier, but
then, like the other pretty well" she
said, nodding her short brown eurls
merrilly And that sentence shows just
how she came By her name.
If Willie complained that it was q
miserable, rainy day. and they couldn't
play out of doors, Lizzie assented
brightly:
''Yes; but then, it's a real nice day to
fix our scrap-books.
When Rob fretted because they had
so far to walk to school since they had
''moved to this horrid out West, y his
little sister reminded him:
''But then, it's all the way through
the woods you know, and that's ever
so much nicer than walking on pave
ments."
When even patient Aunt Maria pinned
a little because the rooms in the new
house were so few and small compared
with the comfortable Eastern home, a
rosy face was quickly lifted to hers with
the suggestion:
'EBut then, little rooms are the best
to cuddle all up together in, don't you
think, auntie?o 1914
"Better cal her Little But Then, ;
and have done with itr' declared Rob,
half-vexed. half-laughing. No matter
how bad anything is, She is always
ready with her but them and some
kind of consolation hitched on to the
end of it. -
And so, though no one really intended
it, the new name began. There were a
good many things that the children
missed in their new and ruder home in
the West. Money could have bought
them even there, but if the money had
not gone first, their father would
scarcely have though5 it necessary to
leave his Eastern home. They had done
what was best under the circumstances,
still the boys felt rather inclined to
grumble about it one winter morning,
when they were starting off to the vii
Gage on an errand.
just look at all the snow going to
waste, without our having chance to
enjoy it, said VIII; land the ice too
all because we couldn't bring our sieds
with us when we moved"
but then you might make one your.
self, YOU know It wouldn't be quite
so pretty, but it would be ustas good, +"
suggested little But Then.
Exactly what mean to do as soor
as can get money enought to buy two
or three boards; but hayn't even thai
yet, and the winter is nearly. hal
gone.
IF we only had sled to-day, Si'
could ride, and we could 90 on the
river said Rob. 'It's just as neal
that way, and we could go faster
sit is pity admitted the little girl
with momentary clouding of hel
bright face. but I've thought OF
something-that old chair in the shed
If we turned it down, its back would
be most like runners, and So
''Hurrah! That's the very thingr
interrupted the boys, and the old chat
was dragged out in twinkling ant
carried down to the river Then ava,
went the merry party, laughing ant
shouting, on their smooth road between
the snowy hills, while Gyp followed
frisking and barking, and seeming t
enjoy the fun as much as any of them
''Now we'll draw our rig up her
close under the bank where nobod,
will see it, and leave it while we go III
to the store said Rob, when they ha(
reached the village.
Their errand was soon accomplished
and the children ready to return; bu
Is they set forth VIII pointed to darl
| spot a little way out on the ice.
What that? 1t looks like a grea
bundle of clothes
It was a bundle that moved ant
moaned as they drew near. and prove
to be a girl little larger than Lizzie