Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-01-16
OUR PLAN DIDN'T WORK
BY MOLLIE RICHARDS.

Mr.. and Mrs. Jones were humble
people, in moderate circumstances,
and lived upon small farm. They
had but one child daughter, who
was always called Sissy.
Sissy was about my age, and / was
about six years old, when Father"
Jones adopted me into his family.
When l was about eight years of age a
relative of Mr.. Jones died. To attend
the funeral was big days journey for
his slow horse.
They did not like to leave us with
the sole care of the place on the day
of the funeral, yet they seemed to
think of no way to prevent it. So, for
that entire day we were left in charge
of everything.
They kept one horse, two cows, a
pig or two, and a great deal of poul-
try. 1t was my work from the start,
for the cattle and poultry, and we
quarreled not little over the work.
We shared alike sport as well as
work, and were much together. Some
times Sissy exercised authority over
me, claiming her rights as lawful pos
SCISSOR, This her parents would not
permit when they knew OF 1t.
The work assigned for us to do was
to water the cows at noon, at night
put them in their stable, feed the poul-
try, and, if they returned late, provide
wood and coal and kindling.
/ can see yet how Mother Jones
looked when she started. She was
dressed in plain, old-fashioned garb,
and her eyes had peculiar, wistful
expression. She cautioned us over
and oyernot to turn things topsy-turvy,
not to leave the house alone, or make
fires, as none was needed.
Mrs. Jones was very careful house
keeper. Our dinner was spread on the
kitchen table and neatly covered with
spotless linen cloth.
After she had closed the kitchen
door she passionately embraced both
Sissy and l, as if she never expected to
see us alive again. Then she slowly
walked to the old square-top carriage
and reluctantly climbed into it. Father
Jones looked worried as he stepped in
after her and drove slowly away. We
had previously planned our sport and
were very impatient, so we thought
that they would never get started.
Next to the yard was a small field
below this field was large apple
orchard in which we were raising a
calf. This calf was very tame. Sissy
and | had made pet of it, and had
quarreled not little in selecting a
name. Finally, We decided on Daisy
Dingle, that each might have an in
diyidual claim upon the name.
| had often told Sissy that l thought
If We could get the chance we might
ride upon Daisy-Dingles back When
we discovered that we were to have this
Sunday to ourselves we at once decided
that this would be a golden oppor-
tunity.
We planned our ride with many
fears, lest it might be rainy, or perhaps
we might be seen and have our doings
reported.
The weather proved to be all that
we could desire.
As soon as Mr.. Jones drove off Sissy
and | skipped mp stairs, for it had been
decided that Sissy must have side
saddle, and she had things in readiness
TO make one.
First, she produced two of her
mothers dresses, which were slightly
worn; then, with big husk needle and
twine, We fashioned a saddle; the
sleeves served for stirrups.
Our nearest neighbors had gone to
church and their house was closed as
was nearly every house in the neigh
borhood.
The coast was clear. Daisy pingle
being pet, did not object to the
saddle.
] insisted that Sissy should have the
first ride. She had no trouble getting
on, but her weight, together with fix
ing her feet in the stirrups, scared
Daisy-Dingle, who started at full
gallop before we We're ready.
Sissy, having no hold, fell off, her
feet entangled in the stirrups.
The saddle had been securely
fastened to the calls back, and Sissy
was dragged considerable distance.
was badly scared.
Sissy was stunned and semi-con-
seious for a time, but with the excep-
tion of few slight scratches, the worst
IN her face, she escaped uninjured.
The lower portion of the orchard was
low and swampy; through this Sissy
had been dragged.
Her dress was a sight to behold. 1t
being Sunday, she was permitted to
wear one too fine for our occupation
besides being torn, it was brown anG
green-stained from mud and grass.
After the fright, finding Sissy not
badly injured, and being plucky, she
urged me to take ride. Being a bov.
] thought l could manage better. |
got on and met with the same success,
only that [ was not dragged when 1
fell OF, for the saddle had been aban-
doned.
Poor Daisy-Dingle did not know
what to make of such treatment. She
became wild.
We were now determined to have
ride both together. How to get her to
stand still long enough for us to mount
upon her back was the question. AS
we found it impossible to do this, we
hA"ama Hnraoed and took turns in
beating and racing the poor calf many
times around the orchard and owe,
Mother Jones dresses.
Finally Daisy-Dingle became OK
hausted 1t was dinner time, and we
were hungry. So we concluded that il
we stopped to eat, perhaps by the time
we came back Daisy -Dingle might per
NIT us to take a ride.
fastening to the house, we were
hardly courageous enough to enter
We had neglected to fasten doors ol
windows. Our appetites got the bet
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