Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-06-03
ONLY A LITTLE THING.
Pictures! PicturesP

Four little girls were on the way TO {
photograph gallery to have their picture:
| taken. 1t was easy to see that it was
something of an event to them. Every
bow and ruffie and looping was nicely
arranged, their pretty hair braided with
great exactneSs, and each little lassie
moved with due regard to keeping such
an amohnt of elegance uDdisturbed.
I'm afraid this wind is going to blow
our hair all rough said Madge.
They always have brush and comb
there, said Ollie, with asuperiOr remem'
brance of having had picture taken
very long ago.
Il know l shall laugh said Jessie.
You mustn't said Madge, very posi-
lively. of all things in this world do
hate to see snirk in photograph
You must try to think of something
solemn said Ollie. That's the way l
always do
4 shall be scared, know said little
Kitty.
Then you'd better think of something
funny, said Ollie. we must look ex-
actly as we always do, or it won't look
natural Cheerful, you know
Then there was pause, during which
each little girl tried to lix her face ex+
actly as it always was. in doing 80 man.
aging to look as unlike herself as possi>
BILE.
How shall we fix our hands?
'Oh, the man will fix them the right
way said Ollie. And our heads, too;
they are screwed up in queer kind OF
thing to keep them still
Kitty felt still more sure of being
scared, and her face tosk on dOleful
look which promised poorly for cheer
full picture.
The day was bright one after mum,
Der of cloudy ones, and they found sew,
eral sitters before them. Others fol
lowed, and they waited for an hour OF
more, among them boy, queer, awk'
ward looking fellow. they thought, very
bashful and ill at ease. He fidgeted and
fused as if waiting was very hard work
for him, and at last spoke few words
to the busy artist, who turned to those
waiting for sitting, and said:
Here is a young gentleman who wants
his picture taken and can not wait. Is
any one willing to give up their sitting
to him and wait longerY
No one seemed ready to do so. A
farmer who had his family there said
something about its being hard for hin
to get them all into town, and one ol
two others spoke of their time being
valuable. So the man beckoned to Madge
and she went to take her place behind
the screen, saying to her sisters: 'Ol
course we couldn't wait
No, indeed, said Ollie, I'VE can only
come on Saturday, and as we're going tG
spend the day with Aunt Annie, il
would make US too late.
But am sorry for the poor boy said
Jessie, looking toward him as he pre-
pared to go. He seems to feel SO badly
about it. LookI there are tears in his
eyes
'Poohl Such a great fellow to cry
about a little thing like that! Look
Jessie, the man wants you next
But Jessie remembered some thing:
she had heard about Christ's little ones
denying themselves in order to do
kindness to others. The four had looked
forward for some time to this thing Of
having their pictures taken. 1t would
be something of trial to wait. But
she felt sure the boy must have some
serious reason for desiring haste. So
when Ollie gave her little push, she
called to him, as he was going out of the
door: 'Stopl You can take my place.
Jessie, what do you mean p said Ollie
mpatiently, as the boy, with a very
bright look of gratitude toward her, went
in to take his sitting. Don't you know
you can't have your picture taken til
next Saturday.
Yes, know it, but never mind.
And after Bridget took such trouble
doing up our best dresses!' said Madge.
And yours won't be nice and fresh
then,' said Ollie.
Jessie could not help feeling that the
sacrifice was serious one, but In few
minutes the boy came to her and spoke
a word of thanks so very earnestly and
in manner so much more gentlemanly
than might have been expected from one
so bashful-looking that she did not re-
gret what she had done.
Ollie and Kitty took their turns, and
then the little party went on to Aunt
Annie's.
oh, Aunt ANNIE said Madge, we've
all had our pictures taken'-'except Jes'
sic. interrupted Ollie-'And she might
lust as we'll as not only there was boy
who wanted his taken first, and Jessie
gave him her turn
] And next week We shall send you