Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-06-28

less than two hours the floor was
dressed IN coat of pretty drab and
looked fresh and neat.
They had such funny time at din
ner on a little round table in the
Kitchen; Lulu clapped her hands and
Laughed and wondered how papa would
like to eat his dinner at their little
table instead of in the great restaurant
down in the city.
After dinner mamma and the little
daughter went out to call on Aunt
Jennie. They had nice time in the
horse cars. Lulu saw a wee bit of
dog with blanket made of blue silk
and white fur border, and string of
bells-little tiny bells-around it's neck.
Aunt Jennie. gave them some cool
lemonade and cake with currants in it.
When they came away she gave Lulu
box and told her not to open it till
she got home, as there was something
that would not keep after it was
opened. What do you think there was
in it? Well, papa took his little girl
on his knee and began to unite the
string and take off the cover, while
Lulu peeped in and sure enough the
box was full of Aunt Jennie's spendid
cookies, good large ones, with sugar on
top.
When bedtime came papa carried his
little girl "pig-back" into the bedroom.
because he was tall and could step on
bits of wood Sampson had laid down
without stepping on the paint.
After she had said her prayers and
laid down to sleep, she drew long
breath. SIS my little darling tired ?"
said papa.
Eyes, I don't want to get up to break
fast tomorrow, I'm so tired and I
ache So"
I'm afraid" said papa, as he went
back to his wife, who was finishing a
white apron for her little daughters
birthday, and took up the book he was
reading aloud, chat our little girl is
not we'll"
| Il guess she is only tired, and will
be all right in the morning." said
mamma in her usual cheerful way.
Papa went on with his reading, and
mamma with her sewing, thinking that
tired Lulu was fast asleep. But they
were mistaken. She was tossing in
pain and trouble about the warm bed.
At last she got up and came into the
sitting-room, and, looking into the par
lor where her papa and mamma were,
said:
ooh, dear, I've stepped on the raw
paint! I didn't mean to, but I'm SO
tired and thirsty. Can't have some
of Aunt Jennie's lemonade?"
Roth NOM o,,I 1,o.o \.
to see their pet SO red and sick. They
did not notice then that when they took
her up and laid her on the bed she took
the paint off on to her feet, but in the
morning they found her footprint in
the paint on the floor, toes and all, and
let me tell you, my children, that foot
print is still there, just as it was that
day. [ will tell you how it has been
preserved by-and-by.
All night long Lulu, poor sick child
tossed and moaned. The doctor was
sent for, and looked sober when hi
felt her pulse and saw how wild sh,
looked.
She talked about the little dog will
the Embroidered blanket, and cried TO
fear the horses would run over tn
pretty dog. Then she struggled t
: keep the same dog from eating up he
cookies.
All the next day and the next sh
grew worse and worse and one bright
beautiful morning the sun looked in a
the bedroom window, and saw poo
papa and mamma weeping over thei
dead child!
They were sad and lonely, and i
took them a long time to get used t.
living without their dead child; bu
they had given back the treasure tina
God had lent them, and they though
Of their little darling as safe in heaven
That was eighteen years ago, and al
this time that little footprint has beer
kept safe from harm. When it wa.
time to put the carpet down the,
bought piece of sheet wadding anc
put it over the spot where the dear foo
had stood the last time.
Every year when the carpet is take1
up papa has taken time from his bust
ness to help put it down and see that
the cotton is put over the place. Very
often the parents spoke of the words
their little daughter said that morning
at the breakfast table: Il shouldn't dc
anything worse than leave the shape
of my little feet on the floor and you
love my little feet, don't you, papa and
mammal"
They did love her little feet, but
they could not keep them. So they
have kept safe the mark the dear little
foot made as she stood there in hel
night-dress begging for water.
Work in Dakota.