The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-16
MARGUERITE.
BY ALICE L. ROOT.

JASS warrant IFS one OF my china images or
suthin' of equal value"
Tie speaker, Mrs. Keziah Dobson, bounded
from her chair and fairly flew in the direction
from whence came the crash. AS she opened the
door leading into the adjoining room what a
sight met her hOrrur-strlcktn gaze. On the
floor lay the fragments VI blue china teapot
that had descended from her grandmother and
had been the especial pride OF her heart.
little girl Of about 10 years OF age, with pale
face and daled eyes, was bending over the
pieces, wIlngng her hands In dlsnlay,
You stupid young uu if you amt broke my
china teapot as was wuth mole'E every bone in
your lazy body! I've good mind 10 make you
swaller every piece 0nt"
Terrified little Marguerite Gray fell on her
knees before the enraged woman.
"Indeed, indeed, Mrs. D0bsOn, l didn't mean
Ol Ii slipped from my hands"
''Aud what business had you 10 tech II 2" ex-
claimed Mrs. Dobson, spufning with her foot the
crouching child.
II was wiping the things in the cupboard, and
was so afraid OF breaking the teapot that left iJ
to the last. had IL most done when II fell TO the
floor wish was dead and IN heaven with my
papa and mamma Then wouldn't break any
thing more ~ sobbed Marguerite.
" VI ell, one thing is certain, young MISS; you've
smashed and tore up and rulnated all you ever
VIII for me, SO pick up your buds aud hnd an
other place this very afternoon"
ION, Mrs. Dobson, do not send me away
Please do not Will be ever so careful if you
Will only let me stay"
a say you must go, and there's an end ont
You know when say ii thing mean it. Sweep
up that mess ON The floor; then you can get your
self ready as quick as you please"
Marguerite GIay'S LIE in Mrs. Dobson's home
had been anything but pleasant, but IL afforded
a shelter and with terror she wondered what
would become OF her u forced 10 20 away at that
late hour ON "a November afternoon.
Tie angry woman turned TO leave the room,
but Marguerite, with nervous dread. chung to
her dress.
CO." she said, pieadingly.
For answer the dress was iwitched spitefuly
from her clnging fingers and Marguerite was
alone. A moment she watched the retreating
figure, then, sprnging 10 her feet, yehemently
II won't ask her again to let me stay No, 1
wont, if have TO sleep out in the cold and dark
all night ~
Carefully removing every vestIge OF the broken
teapot she hurried 10 her little room in the attic
changing her faded calico dress for well-worn
delaiue made from one discarded by Mrs. Dob
son. Placing IN bundle her scanty wardrobe,
she put on an old plaid shawl lied on a hood and
was prepared 10 20, she knew not where.
80 Will say good-by 10 Mrs. Dobson, although
she ha been SO cross" Marguerite SAID 10 her.
self, as she descended The stairs and shocked at
the door OF that lady's room.
Mrs. DobsOn was about 10 greet her with har sh
words but stopped i'll surprise. Although COM
mandmg her 10 go away, never Tor moment
did sLe think The child courageous enough 10 do
go. A brief hesitation on the part OF Marguerite,
then she SAID:
al am going away, Mrs, Dopson, ana stopped
= Goin' away, are you? where2" with harsh
laugh
II DON'T know. ] am sure wont starve, for
u
as my mamma taught me, he wont let Inc go
"D0n't stand there and talk SIGH stuff to me,
Mag; | calculate If you git anything to eat you'll
have to WORK Tor IL. l hope 10 goodness, after
all my trouble TO laln pou good morals, you wont
forget 'em as soon as you're out OF my sight"
Marguerite opened her large brown eyes still
wider, but only said:
"All the good | KNOW, Mis-. Dobson, l will re.
member"
Auolher good by aud she left the house, taking
the country road leading 10 the village Of Oak
dale. distant about TWO miles. 1t was cold,
raw day, and Marguerite had proceeded but a
short distance ere she found her thin shoes and
thinner shawl poor projection from The search
ing winds. shiveringly she hurried along. say
Iug To herself:
where can goP II looks most ike begging
TO ask any one 10 lake me in."
With troubled look at the leaden-gray sky,
indicative oil speedy storm, she was hall Tempt
ed 10 return TO heI old home.
Dear dear! My feet and hands are coldl
IL | was sure Mis-. DObsou wouldn't Iurn me
away again l. I'd 20 back" sUbbed Marguerite
She had reached tuIn OF the road ana taken
refuge from lbe wind behind u low evergreen
Tree, when she was started by boyish voice
singing 10 lie accompaniment Of a rafting lum-
ber wagon:
Oh, my lovely Pearl
Was the sweetest girl
That ever the world did see;
/ wept and walled
When the good ship sailed
That bore her away from me.
acct up, Dom Pedro! Let's hurry home"
"Oliyer Oliver! Pm so glad MS you |" And
toward the advancing wagon.
"Weil, never What on earth are you doing
out here this cold day, little llnnelT'
Let me fide In the wagon, oliver, and L Will
tell you. think ain most frUZed."
Oliver hooper, somewhat mystifed, quickly
assisted the CHILD 10 Chamber to seat by his side.
What Is II? What's happened 10 you?'
Marguerite related her mishap and lis result,
then said:
think I'd better go back 2"
moi by juglul. You're going bone With me.
Mother and | are as poor as church mice, but
reckon we can ma a place for you TO sleep and n
bile to put into your mouth; SO don't feel bad
little eiti;"
it?"
~ never saw your mother, and am afraid she
would think ne bold little girl"
Oliver laughed heartily.
"Never fear, Marguerite. My mother has
warm heart, and will welcome you 10 such as we
have"
II wouldn't want her to think 1t was all my
fault coming away from Mrs. Dobson's."
mo danger. linnet. / wasn't blind all the
time ! carried milk there; saw how she rode
rough shOd over YOU"
Marguerite reflected.
"on, never thought you noticed so very
much, oliver"
81 did. though, and the mad in me used TO
bubble clean to the top, and by the time l got
home was sure 10 boil over"
" IL was ever so kind OF you to care"
" 1 don't know what could help it; you were
regular little singing-biId, In spite of every
lDlDE against you, dUu SO 1 Cdiieu you llnnet.'
i sang because II seemed like talking 10
somebody loved"
Z" j haven't heard you lately"
No; only sang in my own ROOM"
Bu why moi, If you liz ed II 50 much?"
Because-because-"
Marguerite paused confusedly.
Because old Dobson stopped you, III bet a
cooky. Wasn't that the reason 2"
:. She said If called that singing no one else
did, and she wouldn't have any more OF It,"
Don't you mind what she says, Inner. Here
we are home at last. and none loo soon, for the
sDowfakes are beginning 10 come down thicker
and faster"
Refining up before a small, Imprinted house.
Oliver assisted Marguerite 10 alight. NervOusly
CHANGING at one OF the paper-curaned windows,
her eyes met those OF a mldde-igtd lady smil-
ingly looking out. Reassured by that kind moth
erly face, she followed Oliver up the narrow path
leading TO The door, which was opened as by
magic, aud again Tie pleasant face beamed upon
them
Mercy me. Olveri Where did you find this
little girl? She looks half frozen"
:. This Is Marguerite Gray, mother. Mrs. Dob
son turned her out, aud we must give her a home
for The present"
"SaKes alive You poor abused child, how
ever could Mrs. Dobson do such thing ?" ex-
lamed Mrs. Hooper, gently leading Marguerite
into the warm CHEEKY room.
Unused to such Kindness, she burst into tears
Never mind, child; you shall live here with
Oliver and me I'LL you ind good home"
Yes, lnnet, and you can sing all day and no
"oliver, my son, 1t is very disrespectful to
speak thus OF your employers customers"
know, mother. IL doesn't sound WELL and
now that old Doll mean Mrs. D0bson-is of
my mind. will quit"
Reminded by the neieblng Of Dom Pedro that
he had not been attended TO- Oliver FASTENED
away, returning soon 10 find Marguerite assist
Ing In preparing the evening meal, of which,
despite her troubles, she partOok with relish
"The very thing for Marguerite ln exclaimed
Mrs. Hooper, raising her eyes for q moment
from open letter. Your uncle Ira writes
tnat a city friend wishes to get smart, trusly
little girl from tile country 10 help care for a
baby; she is sure OF a good home"
For three happy weeks Marguerite had lived
with Mrs. Hooper. Although but child she
understood that her friends had little enough
for their own needs, and resolved not TO burden
them longer than necessary, though she dreaded
the thought OF going away.
Well, Marguerite. what do YOU think p, asked
Mrs. Hooper. slowly folding and placing the let
ter In the envelope
You said 1t would be good place for me, SO
guess i will CO."
No dol If mi rtri,t =