The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-28
ssI had twenty-five cents to spend, too

81 had twenty-five cents to spend, too,
that earned myself raking the yard.
Danny can't, he's 80 little. Well, |
couldn't keep still till it was time to
start, so I TX ed mother if 1 couldn't go
down to Kate Stevens's. and they could
take me in when they went by. Kate
Stevens's houses is that big one you can
see down the road.
"When got there, Kate said: why,
Susy Van Nechten, are you going to the
Fourth in your blue gingham2 I've got
a new dress.
That spoiled my good time all in a
minute, and my throat got big lump in
it. Queer, i-n it9 Does your throat
choke up when you want to cry, Aunt
Anna2 don't see where the choke comes
from. But l didn't want her to know
felt badly, 50 I answered right off:
/" I'm not goingto the Fourth at all,
and that is why I've got on my blue ging-
gam
"And it was true, for I wasn't. I had
Just made up my mind. Mother said
afterward that it was not quite true, for
| had it wrong end foremost. | couldnt
90 with that choke in my throat. Well,
Istayed around till our folks came, and
then went out quick and told mother
that did not want to go to the picnic,
and if she'd please give me the key, I'd
go back home.
"Mother looked astonishcd for a
minute, but Kate Stevens came running
out, and called her to see her new dress,
and then l think she knew, for she did
not look surprised any more, but only
sorry. She gave me the key, and told
me that there was some OF all there was
in the basket left at home, and that l
could have it for my dinner.
"Then she whispered to me that she
had a book for my rthday, and that 1t
was under the sheets in the lower bureau
drawer. | did not care onespeck for the
book. I was thinking so much about
Hates new dress; but went and found
it the first minute got home, and then
l forgot all about everything. Itell you
nv mother knows so much!'
at was all about those old Greeks
and Romans. That's why called my
pony Pegasus. named him first The
Flying Horse of the Prairie, but now |
call him Peg for short.
II read on and Oh, and never thought
of the picnic, but ! was hungry by
eleven o'clotk. I always do get hungry
quicker when there's something good to
eat; don't YOU. Mother won't let me
bring q book to the table, but had a
good time that day, for just rocked and
ate nv sandwiches and read about
Achilles.
"Whea l was a little girl used to
wonder whether l would rather marry
man who KEEP: candy store, or one who
kent book store. / couldn't make up
nv mind. Which would you2 And 1
thought if I could only find one with
little confet oner's shop back of the
books, 1 would be perfectly happy; but
I'm not so silly now.
"Pretty soon 1 happened to look up,
and saw a blue smoke over the corner
of Mr.. Stevens's corn barn. And |
thought Of tire-crackers, apd the city of
Portland, where Prudy Pariin's house
was burned UP, and | knew Jim Stevens
hal his out there that morning.
Then rau! The woodshed was Just
blazing, and the kitchen had caught a
little on one corner. And then thought
of Davy Stevens!'
"Who is ,hat' You have not said
anything about him before, asked Aunt
Anna.
"Oh, it's their lame boy. He can't
walk q stcp-not one step. At least ne
couldn't; he's getting better now. Just
as quick as opened the kitchen door, he
called out that he was so glad Id come,
and what was that dreadful smoke! And
there he was lying on his cot by the
kitchen window, and Just choking.
.'He told me to run down the road
and get some men, but l said had to get
him out first; and he thought couldn't,
and did not know as l could, but |
knew that kitchen would burn before l
could 60 to the grove and get back
again.
81 began to push the cot, but it was
too shaky, and thought of the wheel
barrow. wheeled it in and put it right
at the end of the bed. 1t was one of this
kind like q cradle, sidewise, you know.
laid pillow in it, and then just pulled
him straight on. I suppose it almost
killed him. He helped himself a little
with his hands, though"
81 wonder how you dared try it, Sue, "
said Aunt Anna, quietly, but with
sparkle in her eye. -
"Dare | didn't dare. I was as afraid
as could be. But there wasn't any
thing else to do, auntic. 1t was a wide
door, but hurt his foot dreadfully get
ting him through, and he tainted. How
he looked with his head hanging down
on one side and his feet on the other! l
lust put him on the other side of the
wind. so the smoke wouldn't choke him,
and ran down the road as fast as could
60. Aunt Anna, l was never so hot in
my life!
"Wheu cot there, there was & maa
speaking and throwing his arms about.
In minute saw Mr. Stevens on the end
Of bench. SO I told him as still us /
cou ID that his house was on fire. But he
inst shouted and rushed for his horses.
and everybody followed him.
s:Mrs. Stevens said something real
quick about ravy. and ran too. The
man that was speaking came down, and
Aunt Anna, who do you think it was2
;sThe governor.
81 thought he would be drcadfully
angry with me for making such dis
tufhance in his meeting, but he wasn't,
and got in fathers wagon and rode with
us down to Mr.. Stcvens's. When we got
there, there was whole line of men
from the well to the house, aud they
were pumping water and handing pals