Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-02-28
a GREAT TROUBLE.


for and was Cured of Her Cal eless
Habit.
''Oh dear, have dreadful trouble!''
sighed Dolly Sweet. cit seems as if [
couldn't bear it. Nobody knows how l
feel.''
What great wave of sorrow has
rolled over you now, PussP" asked
brother Ben, looking up from his
Latin. 'Isyour cake all dough-"
'You know I haven't any cake.
You are laughing at me, You'd think
it was trouble!' sobbed Dolly.
Tell me all about it," said Ben.
.Who knows but can find way out
of it?''
There isn't any way out of it, :"
said the little girl. 'You see mamma
has got the idea that am careless.
'Tisn't so; I'm just as careful, but
some way my things get out of sight.
Last week one of my rubber over
shoes got lost, and then I couldn't find
one of my new red mittens, and my
handkerchiefs are always losing; and
so mamma said if [ lost any thing
more, l should have to earn the money
and pay for it. She said 'twould teach
me to be careful -
"Your mother is wise; it's a good
plan," laughed Ben. ''But I would
not cry yet"
"You don't know the worst" said
Dolly. This morning l borrowed
mammals pearl-handled pen-knife, and
tonight put it in my pocket just as
careful, and 'tisn't there, and mamma
says I'll have to pay dollar"
''Did she know you borrowed it?"
asked Ben.
Dolly hung her head.
81 asked her if I could take it to
sharpen my pencil ~ she said, very low;
''but may be she didn't know how l
wanted to take it to school,"
Il should think not" said Ben. But
how will you earn the money!? I've
got little could lend you.
Mamma says Iv'e got to earn it. "
said Dolly. She'll pay three cents
every time 1 wipe the supper dishes,
and four cents if I go without dessert
for dinner How long will it take to
earn a collar!
Just about two weeks" answered
Ben, eff you don't miss any days"
There were signs of another tear
shower, which the kind brother hast
ened to avert.
Il don't see as I can wipe your
dishes, or divide my pudding with
you," he said, ''for in that case l sup
pose you couldn't earn your money,
but I'll do this: whenever you wipe the
dishes clean and bright, without any
tears, or frowns, Til give you a ride
down the long hill on my traverse
Will that help any, Puss?"
"Oh goodyr' cried Dolly, the tears
giving place to smiles.
''And I'll give you the first one
now," said Ben. ''Put on your wraps,
and we'll have jolly slide"
Whep Dolly came back her face was
so bright you would not suppose she
had ever had any trouble.
For two long weeks she wiped the
supper dishes, and went without des-
sert for dinner 1t was hard and they
all pitied her, but there came a day at
last when Dolly stood before her moth
er, with bright face.
There, mamma, I've earned the
dollar to pay for the knife" she said,
land I'm so glad"
II am glad, too" said mamma
''And think, little daughter, that you
are improving. You haven't lost any
thing for a week-have you?"
No." said the little girl, ''only a
lead pencil; but / most lost button
off my cloak. Will you please sew it
on? put it in my pocket"
81 don't find it," said mamma, look
ing in all the pockets.
Il surely put it there" said Dolly.
"You said you put the knife in your
pocket, but-why, here's holer'
Mrs. Sweet ripped a larger hole. and
put her hand between the outside and
lining, and took out two pencils, three
chocolate-creams, the missing button
and lost knife.
''Oh! OH" cried Dolly. 81 did put
1t there, mamma, and now I've paid it
besides"
well, DEAR" said mamma. there
is a little notebook I will give you,
and you shall write it down whenever
you lose any thing, and. also, what
you earn by extra work. or self-denial,
and we will balance accounts once q