St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-14

Pu.sahAwA.
ssOh, dear!"
Mamie uttered an exclamation fdis-
may - she stood on the lower step os
the broad stairway and looked up at the
tall old-fashioned clock which was tick
ing solemnly away ON the landing, just
rs It had ticked every day of 4amie's
short life. Ten minutes Of nine. and in
Just ten minutes more the clock would
strike. and mamma would call; ..lt II
time for your hali-hour's pSctieb
Mamie"
And she did 90 want to finish TIA
new dress she was making for Arabe.lA
OF course. it could be finished after
ward. but she wanted to complete it
now. and put it ON 80 that her waxen
ladyship would be all ready for her to
take out for . walk. II only that per-
sistent old clock would stop for . few
minutes! but no. It Hcked steadily or.
and while Mamie stood on the stairs ;t
gained minute. % now she had only
nine minutes left Grandpa had just
been winding the clock. and with care
lessness that was very unusual. he had
forgotten to lock the door Of the tall
case. Mamie's quick eyes spied that
twas ajas. and perhaps it was this that
made . sudden temptation fash into
her mind.
Why not push the hand backward.
and gain time to finish Arabella's
dressP It would not really be much
harm; for she would have to practice
her half-hour just the same. argued
the tempter; and though Mamie knew
better than to believe that il was no
harm to deceive. she was only too will
ing to yield.
She ran to the hat-rack and got
grandpa's umbrella. and, going mp
stairs. listened. fearful, for . moment
lest some one should come along tho
hall and see what she was doing; then.
opening the door Of the clock. she
reached up and with the handle Of
the umbrella pushed the large hand
of the clock back twenty minutes.
Wiz . hsefing AsaEt she hastily
clessd ~ dor - rstnrooa ~ ~
ksella 70 = pleeA nee 81 Neat ret
. = d6il5 di151 - l'~sss'
6osusAow N ths pleasure ha6 tan-
ishe1 ffun hsr tGsk; Cd wheD -
5ouo1r - I'D sUwe1 - 6lssvsg q
wrong side up she pat away her hstle
work-box without trying to repair tho
mistake.
The stolen twenty minutes seemed
tho longest that Mamie had ever
known. and il was relief to her whes
At last the nine strokes sounded. She
went to the piano without being re-
minded, and practiced scales and exer.
cises with unusual care. trying By ex-
ceptional diligence to make up for her
wrong-doing.
Before tho half-hour had elapsed.
mamma came in with smile of ap-
proval
"You have practicsd very faithfully
this morning. Mamie. and now I have
. pleasant surprise for you Uncle
Herbert sent me word that he win b
on the train that stops 1t the station
here At quarter past nine. and he wants
to take you home to spend the day
with Aunt Bessy; then he win put you
ON the evening train. and papa will
meet you. Won't that be nicea Now
you have plenty Of time to get dressed
and walk quietly over to The station
before train-time. and will excus:
you from practicing the other ten min
utica"
All Mamis's Troublesome thoughts
vanished at the prospect Of this unex-
pccted pleasure. and her face was -
bright - . June morning while she
prepared for the little trip Suddenly
the shrill whistle Of the approaehing
train made her look up in dismay.
'1Oh, shall b later she cried.
Mamma, isn't that The train whislling
nowf'
1T sounds like IL, bat il must b
special for it Is twenty minutes ye
before the train II due. Just locke
1t the clock." !" answered mamma.
Twenty minutes! Mamie suddenly
remembered how she had stolen that
twenty minutes BY pushing back the
hand Of the clock. and - she realized
that she had indeed missed the train
sud her anticipated pleasure, she
threw herself on the door IN . passion
Of tearA
Her wroog-doing had brought its
own punishment and it lad been .
hard one; for Mamie counted visit to
Aunt Bsssy among her greatest pleas
urea
With her tear-stained face hidden o
mamma's shouldse. sho confessed tAe
truth; and no word q rsproof was
needed to add TO her seFrow.
The little girl had k1gned the lesson
that every one has to lsarn sooner Or
latsr-that sin brings ies own yqnish-
ment though Il may not alwsCBOane
- swiftly - Il did to 0nb Shat
bright summer mosning.-1tpsts =
Lsassy. - s. & 1Ssea
-HigAwaynan--HoA up yosr handsl;
ban, cover him with that 'ere gun.
Nov, sir. shsll out Ga1bogs (wise
hollow lasgA)-My dear fellow. rvs'
bssa hsrs 1osr weekA Dfm On -
hashss)- Let hin paaa Jia He any
rot nothin' valuAh1s aboae ht0-@
W1ahiselss Ctjaie
-s.ehurs," aaid GsoAaGDA whsa -
Sosnd - eesla sse ssash ~ haae
~ -