Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-02-08
Kites Conscience.

Kittie's Conscience.
Kittie Parker was visiting at her
grandfather's big, old-fashioned farm
house, far away from her city home.
Cool green orchards Of apple and
plum trees nearly hid the old red house
from view; and over its gray and moss
covered roof blue wreaths of smoke
curled away from wide, red chimneys
into the clearer, deeper blue of the sky.
You may think Kittie was sometimes
very lonely, living so far out in the
country; but the quiet life was new to
her, and, aside from the outdoor attrac-
tions, there were many objects of inter-
est within the house.
The low, wide attic was filled with
relics of the olden time, quaint pieces
of furniture and deep chests full of gar
ments spun and woven by her grand
mothers mother. There were large
rooms and small rooms, with little steps
to go up and little steps to 60 down;
great, deep freplaces, unused in sum-
mer, into whose depths Kittie often
gazed in awe and wonder.
And the best of all, Kittie thought,
was closet filled with glass jars
and curious blue pitchers, hold
ing jellies and old-fashioned preserves
of various qualities. She had often
been told never to touch any of the
sweets without permission; but one
afternoon, just at twilight, Kittie found
herself alone in the room.
Grandpa was at work in the farmyard,
grandma was busy in the kitchen, and
only the ticking Of the tall clock in the
corner broke the stiffness. The temp
tation was so great that she walked
softly to the closet door. Placing chair
in front Of the shelves, Kittie climbed
carefully upon it, and reached for the
smallest jar on the top shelf.
Just as she was taking it down, from
the window at the left of the closet came
the strangest voice she ever heard, and
it said:
"Katie did, she did,"
Kittie jumped down, and so quickly
that she fell to the floor, but she was
not hurt; and as the house was still
quiet, she softly closed the closet door,
resolving never to go there again.
Who had called? That was a puzzling
question. The voice seemed to come
from the window; but on looking
timidly out, she saw nothing but the
honeysuckle leaves and blossoms, fresh
and sweet in the cool evening air.
"How foolish I was" she thought;
"there is nothing here. No one will
know if I take the jelly"
Hardly was her hand again on the
door, when once more came the voice,
sharp and clear, like that of an awak-
ened conscience, katie did, she did,"
and this time with success; for Kittie
replaced the chair in the corner, and
left the room.
Grandpa and grandma wondered why
their merry little girl was so silent all.
the evening, but did not question her,
thinking she was tired with play; and
Kittie was thinking of the strange voice
and wondering who had called her, vet
dared not ask about it, for then the
story Of her disobedience must be told.
That night, while Kittie was asleep
and quietly dreaming of hours of happy
play, something few away from the
honeysuckle leaves to the limb of a
wide-spreading apple-tree near the sit
ting.room window.
The next morning her grandmother
said: "Kittie, will you carry this basket
of lunch to grandpa? The men will
need some refreshment before dinner.
Be very, very careful and not let the
basket fall. And remember, do not
open the basket, and grandpa will give
you something nice when you get to the
field"
Kittie promised and walked SLOWLY
down the lane, carrying the basket very
carefully. The morning was quite warm
when she reachsa the end of the lane.
A short distant from the swinging-gate
was little grove of plum trees, around
one Of which her grandfather had made