Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-02
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
SOMETHING FOR THE DEAR
YOUNG GIRLS.
A Thousand Little Imps TroopiDg
Upon the Walls, Mantel, Vases,
and Everywhere.
Oh, mamma, please, please let me

your bright eyes would LOOK heavy n duli
in the morning if l let you stay up so late,
and tire yourself out. You would not be
fit to go to school,
al hate school, and l hate study" said
Lulu pettishly. Il think its selfish of you
mamma. to go off and have such a good
time, and make me stay at home"
Mamma looked troubled, but made no
answer, for she knew it was no use. Lulu
would find complaints enough with which
to answ anything she might say, and to
fill the whole evening if any one would
listen to her.
"Good-by, dear" she said. "Study your
arithmetic for half an hour, and then you
may sit up for another half hour to read
your story book. Then go upstairs, and
go to bed without disturbing the little
ones"
Lulu went into the library, taking care
to bang the door in time for her mother 10
hear it before the closing of the street door.
She went to the window, and could easily
see in the streaming gaslight the pair of
spirited horses and the sleigh filed with
white, furry robes, in which her father and
mother and her two grown-up cousins
were going to see the ice palace and the
~toboggan slides. She thought of the cleo
trio lights and the glitter and simmer of
the ice, the gay, merry company, the band
music and the ring of a thousand sleigh
bells, and all the other delights of the
scene, as described by her brother, who had
been there the night before.
ut is mean and hateful of mamma not
to let me CO. she cried, stamping her foot
as she walked toward the sofa and threw
herself upon it, finging her book upon the
floor. She says | shall go to things when
/ am old enough, but what good does that
do me now? / want to go now. | won't
study. l don't care if l don't have a single
lesson tomorrow. She'll see I'll have
worse lessons than if she had taken me-"
Lulu knew in her very heart that her
mother was far from being either mean or
hateful or selfish, but it pleased her to con-
slider herself a ~sadly-abused girl, as she lay
there sobbing and thinking over her griev-
ances. Polly Prague's amm let her go
everywhere, and never made a fuss about
her sitting up late, or about eating all the
candy she wanted, or rich things for sup
per. It was such a bother to be always
talked about taking care of your health
and your teeth and your eyes. She hadn't
a doubt that Polly was out this very night,
and would be allowed to stay at home from
school tomorrow if she wanted to.
mo, | won't study a mlte-not a mitel
"Nota mite p seemed to echo near her,
and she looked around in amazement.
All about the sofa were gathered a num-
Der of black-looking little creatures, some
Ting likeimps she had seen in the pictures
in fairy story-books, only far uglier. They
were astride the back and head of the sofa,
seated upon the stool beside it, and some
perched even upon the pillow where her
head had lain.
"Who are you?" she asked, angrily. To
her great surprise, she seemed not at all
afraid of them. Why do you come
crowding about me this way"
"Oh, we belong to yos,' said n OF the
imps. There are plenty of US always
about you"
"What a story p said Lulu. "Inever
saw one of you before, and I'm sure | don't
want to again, for you are the ugliest things
l ever saw"
"Hol no! hol What a joker They
all laughed together.such a hideous, snarl-
ing, discordant laugh that Lulu put her
"If you don't know us, your friends all
do" said one, at which they laughed harder
than before.
II don't believe a word of it, said Lulu.
i've never heard anybody speak about
you"
Are you sure?" said one of the imps.
Wait till l tell you who we are. We're
your frowns."
Ny frownsf' said Lulu, scarcely under
| standing what was meant.
Yes, your frowns. You'll find us all
| over the house. And tonight there are so
many of US that you couldn't help seeing
us"
Lulu looked raore closely at them. What
cross, scowiing, hateful-looking little crea-
lures they werei And their voices, a
mixture of snarl, grunt, and whine, were
as hateful as their faces.
Were exactly like you, aren't WEI"
said one of the Notwithstanding frowns.
Lulu had never seen her face when she
frowned. But she could not help admit
ting to herself that their voices sounded
something like her frowping voice.
mo, you're not" she said, half crying.
II wish you'd go away. If you don't go, l
will"
ut will be hard to find a spot where you
| have not left some of US" said one of the
frowns.
Lulu got up to go, but stopped before the
CRATE at sight of one of her visitors seated
on the poker.
Don't you remember the day your
mother didn't want you to poke the fireP'
he said, with a grin at her.
She heard a croak from the mantelpieee
and looked up.
The figure of old Father Time on the
| clock looked almost smothered by the
froWns which crowded about him. They
were climbing over his arms, and perched
| upon the whole length of his scvthe. Lulu
could almost fancy he was casting upon
her q repreachful look, sc if to remind her
of the frewns she had let loose upon him
at school time. She turned hastily 10 g
table in the center of the room on which
stood a tiny vase with Q half-blown rose.
A frown sat on the edge of the vase, hold
ing on by the stem OF the flower. She re-
membered going TO the conservatory that
afternoon to bring, q bud for her mother,
and getting very cross because her cousin
begged her to take a "bon silence instead
of a "J~acqueminot, as she wished to wear
the latter tomorrow evening.
Almost every article on the table had its
attendant frown.
How do you think we look ~ asked the
crossest-looking frewn among them.
You look horribly" said Lulu. I'm
glad no one ever sees you-at least she
! corrected herself, when | am away"
You are mistaken" was the answer.
When you leave us we stay, and | know
people see us, for many's the time I've
seen your mother look sorry as she looks
thls way.
It was a startling thought. Could it
really be so? From the moment in which
she had first caught sight of the dreadful
little creatures she had been resolving
within herself that she would never frown
again. But what if she had left such mem
cries of her frowns all about her that every
sweet and beautiful thing in her home
would bear the ugly reminder TO those
whom she loyed2
What's this?" she said, bending down
to look at something she had never seen
before.
A tiny, graceful figure was hiding be-
hind the vase, and looked up at her with
bright smile.
l am ono of your smiles" it said.
Dear mel what a pretty thing you
arep' exclaimed Lulu. "Are there any
more of your And why don't you come
out where folks can see your"
Pm afraid of him. she said, pointing
- 80 A. f1-- w., 7 tls,E tharQig