Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-12-27
ELSIE.

peflence, tnOugn LIle LESSONS lnAL she
teaches us are often bitter ones.
"You will never learn caution, my
boy, till you do yourself or some one
else a mischief" Mr.. Foster had said
to his son Norman, a hundred times.
Norman was always doing some
wild and reckless thing-climbing some
OF the highest trees in the garden, at
the risk Of breaking his neck; wading
in the river beyond his depth; riding
barebacked on his fathers horse;
playing with the fierce old watchdog
that snarled and showed his teeth at
every one who tried to caress him.
Norman had no brothers, but he had
a little sister named Elsie, three years
younger than himself, of whom hewa
very fond. There was nothing that he
liked better than to have Elsie, as he
called it, call to himself" and though
he was so wild and willful when alone
or with other boys, yet it was pretty
to see how gentle and kind he could be
when Elsie was his playmate, and how
he could give up his own wishes to do
the things she asked him, and never
speak a rough or impatient word to
her.
Norman is always good when he is
with Elsie" his mother often used
gladly to say; and she only spoke the
truth; and yet it was Elsie whom Nor
man hurt on that sad day of which l
am going to tell you, when in his bold
play he did thing that he never aft
erward forgot, or forgave himself fer
as long as he lived.
The two children had been sitting one
morning with their mother in the din
ing-room, talking, and lookingat pict-
ure-books very happily, till, after a
good while had passed, one of the SER
wants came to the door, and told her
mistress that somebody wanted her.
"Then ] must send you up stairs,
my little Elsie. Mrs. Foster said.
But at that moment Norman ex-
claimed, "0h no, let us stop here. I'll
take care Of Elsie"
And he had taken good care of Elsie
so often that his mother almost at
once replied, Every well. Amuse her,
and be kind to her, and dare say
shall be back very soon" And rising
up, she went away without the least
anxiety, and left the two children
alone.
They were nearly always happy
when they were together, and so they
began to play, and for little while
| everything went perfectly well.
They played at being horses at first,
and Norman let Elsie whip him to her
hearts content; then they played al
/ being bears, and that game went quite
tremendously, too; and then Norman
! said he would be soldier. and as Elsie
was always very much delighted wher
Norman made himself q soldier, she
sat on the floor and laughed and
clapped her hands with pleasure, as ht
marched up and down the room, with
the poker held like a gun against hii
shoulder.
"Only it doesn't make good gun
it's not long enough; I'll get father
real gun" hesaid, presently. "1knov
where il is. Just you stay here {
minute till ! fetch it."
And he ran out of the room, an(
returned almost Immediately With 1
long revolver, which he trailed afte
him on the floor.
ooh, Norman, it will shoot mel
cried Elsie, rather terrified at tn
sight.
| But Norman explained to her, witt
such an appearance of knowing al
about what he was saying, that gan
never went off by themselves, AM
that, indeed, it needed very stron
hands to make them 60 off at all, tina
Elsie, who always believed whateve
Norman told her, and, besides, wa
not naturally timid child, soon fol
got her fear, and laughed and clappe
her hands louder than ever rs he bt
gan to strut up and down the roor
again, leveling his revolver and pr,
tending to fire at one enemy after al
other.
"Shoot! Bangl" cried Norman a
the top of his voice. "Shootl Banl
There's another down. Now I'm con
ing to you. ShootW
But there his voice all at once ceaset
for as he shouted that last wore
pointing the muzzle oil his gun at Els
suddenly a terrible explosion shoe
the room, and as the shock threw hil
to the floor, such a cry of pain an
terror rang in his ears as he never b
fore had heard, and as he never afte
wards forgot.
In n moment he was on his feet agail
} with his face as white as death. I
course, he knew quite well what he ha
: done.
"Elsiew he tried to gasp; but the
came no answer. Hsddled togeth
1 on the floor, in a little heap, quite sti
and with the red blood that oozed OF
on the carpet already brgiAning