Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-02-10

sGood evening, Mrs. Baker, said
the smiling Mr.. Martin, advancing &c
meet them as they entered the store
which answered as market. grocery
drug store and postof1ice. What can
I do for YOU this evening"?
sMr. Martin" said Mrs. Baker, look
ing into his shining cOuntenance With
out a responsive smile, Il want to know
WHY YOU did not let my little girl have
the Yeast | sent her for to-day. DO
YOU not know me well enough to trust
me to that eNtent?"
"Certainly. ma'am. certainly" re-
piled Mr.. Martin, "but she asked me
to give her two cents worth OF yeast
for one cent; and as all the children
make a practice of doing that, l have
had to nut stop to it. Not that l
mean your little girl, Mrs. Baker, as
he saw Annie's unhappy face. ''for
she never did it before: and it being
your little girl. ma'am, who is always
very quiet like and respectful. lwould
have let her have it this time and said
nothing about it il there had not been
two others with her who come a little
too often one penny short. L would
not think it of your little girl, Mrs.
Baker. she never taking no liberties as
other children do: but its my opinion
the others spend it for candy and such
like. and tries to make me pay the diff
ference. But it's no go any more" and
the voluble Nh. Martin paused for
want of breath, and wiped his bald
head with his ample bandanna.
s.You are quite right, Mr.. Martin, y
said Mrs. Baker, when she was allowed
to speak. Il will take the yeast now,
if YOU please" handing him the re-
quired change, land you may be sure
| this will never happen again.
| Nothing more was said until they
reached home. and it was a very for
lorn, unhappy-looking little girl whom
Mrs. Baker lifted onto her lap when
she had laid aside her bonnet and
seated herself in the big rocking-chair.
Nov, Annie, l want You to tell me
all about it. > she said. mamma knows
this has been very unhappy day for
her little girl, and she is more sorry
| than she can tell; but | am sure you
will not try to hide anything from me
any longer
Armies voice trembled as she began
! in low tone to tell her sad story, but
she told all there was TO tell, without
leaving out a single fact.
! When she was near the store she
met the two little girls going on the
samh errand, and they walked along
together. Around the corner from tie
store stood d small shop. in whose
window was displayed the most Won-
derful array of attractions for the juve-
nile taste that the confectioner's art
could suggest and old Aunt Polly
could concoct. There was a whole
menagerie OF remarkable animals.
whose counterparts were never seen in
| the most extensive and complete
natural history: there were small
cakes in all manner OF shapes, that
made many a young mouth water as
the small nose above it was hattened
against the window-pane; not to men
ton the innumerable toys of all indies
criable variety. Small wonder is ii
that the :. three little girls paused
on their way to this favorite resort, and
examined the display in the window
how-Annie could not tell how-some-
one-she never knew which one-sug-
gested that they so in and spend one
penny for candy and get the yeast
with the other. Carrie and Hattie
said that they could, for they had
done it before. So they went in and
soon came out. each with a little choco-
late mouse. with red eyes and white
, tail, i'll one hand. and only one penny
/ held fast in the other. And before
they reached the store there was moth
ing left OF the mice but the white
strings that served as tails a mouse
is such a very little thing and then
after all. Mr.. Martin sent them home
without the yeast
1t was a long story. told with many
pauses, but mamma listened patiently
until it was all told, ana as Annie
ended with, "Oh, mamma. | am sorry;
/ | will never do it any more" she
folded her III her arms and kissed hen
tenderly. Then She said:
Il am shure this unhappy day has
been punishment enough to make my
little Annie remember in the future
never TO take what does not belong to
her. or TO tell mamma What is not true
to hide Il naughty act DO you not
think so, dear
oh, yes. mamma sobbe,l Annie.
! AeNei VIII lolScl. tllH mas DttI
such a dreadful day
And remember, said mamma
"tlat every wrong deed not only
causes you unhappiness, but me also
Mamma has felt very sad all day
Annie.
"Oh, mamma, l am SO sorry.' crieG
Annie, throwing her arms. around hel
mothers neck.
And, continued mamma. in ;
gentle voice, sit makes the Lore
Jesus sad, too, when he sees one OF
his little ones break his command
ments. Will you remember this?"
eyes, mamma, l will" said Annie
And she never forgot the lesson hel
wise mother taught her that day.-Th'
Interior.