The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-08-15
LITTLE NELL.


LITTLE NELL.
Her shopping Expedition to the City, and
How She Was Lost.
| Nell went to town on the nine O. clock
train, but she didn't go alone. Nell
was only four years old. Her mamma
was going shopping-going TO buy a
hat for her. and cambria for dresses,
bingham for aprons, buttons, ribbons,
neutrality-suspicious. everything was to be
for that little girl. No wonder she was
delighted to go and help.
'.Now listen. my DEAR said mamma.
as the train was moving into the sta
ton; ...whatever am doing, wherever
we GO, You must keep close to me. -
Course l will, said Nell, stoutly.
and she surely meant to do it. But
this is what happened.
First of all they went to the mlliner's
on State street The big shop was
crowded with ladies and children, for
the warm, bright days of spring had
come, and everybody and eyerybody's
little girl must have new hat There
were piles of hats, and glass cases full
of lovely flowers and feathers and birds
and ribbons.
All the clerks were very busy. BY
and by one came to wait upon them.
and Nelrs hat was bought and wrapped
in brown paper with pictures on it.
Then mamma rose:
"Oh. want to select some ribbons"
she said.
Just step this way, if you please"
said the clerk.
Mamma glanced at Nell. She was
watching two little girls who were buy
ing their own hats; So she stepped
across to the ribbon counter One mo-
ment later she looked around. Nell was
not there! She hurried from one end
of the shop to the other-no She
looked behind the counters, ran to the
door and gazed up and down the street
no such child was in sighl.
"She must have gone into the trim
ming1room," said the clerk, and with
fast-beating heart mamma fastened
back again. Everybody looked sorry
when they heard that a little girl was
lost. But she was truly gone!
Now where do you suppose NeR
was? M
just as her mamma turned away. an
OeAASA Aostys VIII WOiC ~ uldCh Sin uItSS
and long cloak, just like her mammals,
started towards the door. Nell saw
the dress going, and didn't look up to
see what woman was wearing it. So.
with her eyes still lingering on those.
wonderful little girls, she followed a
stranger out of the shop. She walked
pretty fast. and Nell thought: Mamma
has to hurry; she have so much things
to buy for me! Wonder when she'll buy
the candyr'
And all the while she kept close to
that black dress and cloak, but her eyes
were on show-windows, or the lame
boy, or the fruit stand on the first cor
ner round which they turned. BY and
by, tired of the silence and the speed,j
she pulled the cloak with one little
hand, and looking up, and said:
Mamma. don't go SO fast - OH
where is my mammal"
Poor little Nell! How frightened She
was!
The strange woman looked down at
her and said: what do YOU WANT
chiid?" She didn't look the least bit
like the dear mamma. She looked cross,
and her voice was harsh.
II los'uV msmmsse / thought you's'
my manm6lp cried Nell.
''WaSkhe Stathe milliner'sp- Go back
and you'll find her. That's the store,
around the corner land off went that
unkind woman leaving the little coun-
try child lfalone on the sidewalk.
Nell WAS quite bewildered. Whe she
was with fh&fnma. she had not noticed
the noise. but now all at once strange
men and horses and carts seemed rush.
ing after bSSfrom every direction. Tears
came iitO herr eyes, and when she rave
ly brushed them away she could not
tell which wss the corner where mann
ma was. All the corners looked lust
alike. So the lost child started just the
wrong way. ~ta
stopped again Suddenly a gentleman. &
who was hurrying past. bent over her.
and said, kindly: -, ~ - s
Little girl. where are you goingr
Aren't you lost?''
Il want my mamma sobbed Nell;
and sure enough, there she came lehind
them. running, yes. running through
the city street, and when the gentleman
heard Nell's cry of Joy. and saw her
mammals face he smiled, lifted his hat
ana went on
Oh! how tightly those little arms chung
around ber neck.' Mamma carried her
back ta,flsr milliner's. and into the
quiet back room where the trmmers
were at work, but still Nell cou;l not
speak one word. She only cried and
cried and clasped her mammals neck.
Then what do you think they didp
Why! they got into the bus and rode
back to the station, and took the first
train home. a
They left all the rest of the shopping,
and the promised lunch in the V emma
Bakery. f
But they had bought the hat
II you ask Nell how she likes TO go
shopping, she will say:
ITS no fun. but ! know my mamma