New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
SIGH A LITTLE THING.
HOW THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE RAN
SMOOTH.
nv MRS T. a. wALFoRD, AUTHOR OF COUSINS"

nv MRS I. B. wALFORD, AUTHOR OF "CoUSINs''
THE BABY's GRANDMOTHER" ETC.
" was not little thing to them; it was the
greatest event that had ever happened to Jcm
and Molly in the course of their lives. 90 ,-or
Jem was six, and Molly was four, and II you
imagine that either of the two was not old enough
or wise enough TO think very deeply over pro-,
ect that had once been presented 10 Iheh, YOU
are very greatly mistaken: lhey were reHecSNe
earnest serious minded little couple, tenacious OF
their privileges scrupulous In regard TO properyi
tender Of conscience, anu aoo; all Wiling anu anu
ready martyrs to nursery discipline. Iiow Wy
came 10 be so may be told In lew WORDS ~
10 within six months of the present umc unaI
disci pline had been of a nature to make cowarus
Of the m and Sad 5eSss U 'hI the old with
her red face, stormy voice, and strong and ready
hand had disappeared and in her place there hio
come cheerful affectionate young woman, VINO as
If by magic had thrown food Of sunshine over Sl
The whole nursery routine. Thenceforth lttle lar
haired Molly had toasted her toes, eaten h 1er
sumner and lisped her evening prayers with smiles
instead OF tears, while Jem had learned TO forget
that formerly his nightly tub had been S mus
solubly connected with an uproar Inc cons
Each Heh0' warm arm little heart now overfOwed With
their own Ann, their Ann who was so
kind to them ana mo u lnUqsn' to please
them, became everything, and to OBEY her was
matter of course. -,
To Ann was due the glorious suggestion which
now filed both little curly heads
1t was Christmas time, and Ann had decorated
with holly and laurel the large, pleasant DAY,
nursery which looked out upon the park, ana
on all the beautiful country surrounding 1ne
little ones home She had, moreover, hung
fresh pictures from the Christmas papers on
the walls, and covered the mantelpece with
her own as we'll as Jem and Molly ChflSthas
was assembled for my tiny hero ana heroine
were the Youngest of a family of ten, ana had
brothers and sisters of nearly all ages ana sizes.
Two or three of these indeed were quite grown up;
hut the majority were wild, romplng boys aga
girls in their teens, who were kind enough 10
the little ones 10 their way, hiking very well 70
be invited once in while to the nce, bright
nursery tea, where Ann was sure to nave
hot cake, or pot Of fresh JAM, or something
else equally good and when little Jem, eager
To do the honors, would inform everybody as
10 what Ann allowed and what Ann did not allow
during the meal-they thought this good enough
fun, as have said, when nothing better
oIered,-but il is perhaps hardly surprising that
in the engrossing nature OF their own pursuits,
and the multiplicity OF their own a1alrs they
were too busy and too important to remember
always that such very small persOnages as their
little brother and sister existed
In old nurses time the nursery had indeed been
almost altogether avoided, while Jem and Molly
had been abandoned to their fate, but reform
had been wrought and under Ann benehcent rule
il was now almost pleasant 10 Fred, or Harry,
or SOphy, Ethel, to spend an hour III the checf-
full apartment with its blazing fire its fower-potS
and It's singing canary bird, as 1t was TO the PROUD
little proprietors to hail them IN.
II was this willingness to accept Der invitations
that nut into AIMS head the notion OF the mighty
undertaking which she presently submitted to the
little ones They never did use TO come" JeIn
had informed her, with shake OF his wise pate
expect they Hike TO come now you are here, ne
had added sagaciously; and what did Ann propose
in consequence of this What, but that they,
they three she, Jen, and Molly, should issue an in
vtation 10 the whole sch0olI0om party, the BROTH
ers and sisters and cousins of their age who had
come TO assist in the misrule that regned in the
absence of the legitimate sovereign now
holiday making, and should formally invite
everybody up to a grand tea in the nursery, and
provide Tor their entertainment not only a tea
with cakes and JAMS and biscuits, but a blazing
Christmas tree to stand in the centre OF the t3oe,
glittcrng with candles and hung with all kinds OF
pretty things? Ann was sure they could manage
IT, She knew all about a tree, and how il should
be dressed and she had often before helped to make
the smart little knicInacks which look best dang
ling from the branches. They would have no
help from anybody; they would do 1t entirely by
themselves; buy the articles in the village, tie
them with string seal them with sealing wax, and
Jem and Molly should their very own selves aix
them on 20 the tree.
Two little pairs of eyes opened wider and wider
as she spoke.
Suppose said Ann, suppose we ask Mr.
Tomkins," Mr. Tomkns was the head gardener
10 give us nice young fir tree. quite small one
from the plantation-I don't think he would
refuse-and then suppose we go down to the
shops as fast as We can 60 and buy a box
of red, and blue, and green candles and glass
balls, like those you saw in the window the
one you wished for Miss Molly and some pretty
boxes of sweets with pictures on the toD and
gold and silver paper to pin up into bags and -
And have the money for it, cried Jem,
have indeed. Ann. l have that whole hali-sov-
ereign that grandpapa gave me, besides my five
shillings from papa.-and Molly has hers too, you
knOw-you have got hers and-and-oh! how
beautiful Oh how del ghtful i-oh, Ann, there
the dearest Ann in all the world. tell more a
great, great deal more about the splendid, beauti-
full, delightful tree"
Every day Ann had more to tell and every day
the two found more to ask. The invitations had
avidity. so all was settled in that quarter. Ethel,
as ce-commander-n-ch had herself fixed the
day, and the attendance Of the whole merry,
noisy, riOtous party had been promised. " 1t will
be quite lark" Fred said and something TO dc
in the dull time Of the day." his sisters sublOined;
Between and Z o'clock was what they looked
upon as the dull time Of the day" The grown
up people were yawning in the drawing groom, and
looked askance upon any invasion from with,
out especially if the weather had been TOO bad
for riding or driving, and If the sportsmen had
not come in 10 enliven the stay-at-homes with
fresh faces and fresh voices. There was no amuse-
mcnt 10 be bad thefe-none at least for restless.
tempestous enerveScing tombOyhood; so that
AIMS nursery party was in its way quite wind.
fall as promising change OF scene and chance OF
mirth and frolc.
Jem's important little face would beam all
over when he found himself being Intercepted
process and what purchases had been made
"They are so melted" he would inform Ann
thereafter. they are so melted you can't think"
whereat he, and Ann, and even little plump Molly
would be even more melted" than before them
selves. and enter into the spirit OF the thing with
more zest than ever Ann had the real work 70
do, of course and night after night the kind
creature would sit up late stitching and cutting
30 ar 10 have ready some pretty present really
worth Offering TO each of the young ladies', and
something new for her small confederates TO re-
gale their enraptured eyes with in the morning
Nothing else was ever conversed s1out during
breakfast. dinner and tea. Ann encouraged con
versatiOn at meals. provided Jem found himself
able 10 drink his milk and water, and sci down thC
mug afterward without Spllhng any OF It's con
tents and that Molly did not seize the opportunity
for hiding her crusts under the rim Of her plate
30 that &c pair knew ther" would be no bar pu
upon their discussion and questions and endless con
lectures and they would be in such hurry L
begin that they could hardly get INTO their chair
end say their grace fast enough. Molly would no
ask TO 90 down stairs afterward. If Ann thong he
too weary and sleepy, provided Ann would taxi