The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-07-23
JESSIE'S OPPORTUNITY.
It Was Improved and Resulted
Very Satisfactorily.


rusal of a note he had found on hi
breakfast plate, and fixed his eye:
s.ernly on the face of his only SON
miss Hall writes me that you ara late
at school so frequently that she con
siders it necessary to call my attention
to the fact. There is no excuse what
ever for such hardness, and if it hap
pens again j shall punish you severely
You understand me?"
YES SIR" answered Wickliffe. meek
ly. his eyes on his plato. and his voice
trembling little. 81 do try to get tC
school in time, father, but somehow OF
other"
You are generally Late" finished his
father, as the boy hesitated. well
this bad habit must be broken up. or il
will be hindrance to you all your life.
] hope will not be called upon to pun
ish you. but shall deem it my duty to dc
so if occasion requires"
Poor Wick! He found it difficult to
eat his breakfast with those ominous
words ringing in his ears. He knew by
past experience what was meant by
punishment as interpreted by his father,
cakes on his plate failed suddenly. He
didn't look at his mother, for he knew
he couldn't bear very we'll the loving
sympathy he felt sure was in her eyes.
And he did not look at his sister Jessie
for he felt equally sure she wore look
of intense satisfaction.
He and Jessie had quarreled. and had
not spoken to each other for two days.
It vas all about blue silk umbrella
with gold knob on the handle, which
had been gift to Jessie from her
father on her last birthday. Wick had
borrowed it one rainy day without
asking. and had lost it. Jessie, who
had very hot temper. was extremely
angry when she heard her brothers con-
fession, and the result was quarrel,
during which both had made some very
unjust and unkind remarks.
They didn't often quarrel Wick
loved his sister dearly, and was slow to
anger-slow about every thing, in fact
but Jessie's sharp tongue had stung
him into saying good deal that he
afterwards regretted. But he wouldn't
say so while she maintained that
naughty manner and sullen silence. He
knew that while she was in that state
no apology. however humble. would be
accepted.
Jessie had no desire to heal the
breach. The loss of her umbrella
ranked still. and her anger and resent
ment received fresh fuel from the fact
that she had to carry an old cotton UNI
brella when she went to visit the Art
Gallery with Stina Ward. whose cos
tune was perfect in every detail. and
who smiled faintly-or so it seemed to
sensitive JeSsie-when the cotton
atrocity in all its faded ugliness was
raised during brief shower
1t generally hurt Jessie as much to
have Wick reprimanded as to be repri-
manded herself But this morning she
was not sorry for him at all. and
thought her father ought to have said
great deal more.
That clock in the hall is to blame
for Wick's being late" said Mrs. Stone
when breakfast was nearly over, and
Wick was gathering up his books. ut
runs little slow. think l had better
alter the pendulum q trifle."
do not let him offer that as an ex-
cuse," said Mr.. Stone. II will not &C
cept it. He can find out the time by
some other clock if the one in the hall
is not to be depended on"
Il think can make it run correctly"
said Mrs Stone.
She went out into the hall, and Wick
followed her to get his overcoat from
the rack.
1T will keep good time now." she
said, as she raised the pendulum of the
clock, and turned the hands ahead ten
minutes. You will be able to depend
on i. after this, think"
You are always SO indulgent to Wick.
mother" said Jessie, when her brother
had gone, and Mr.. Stone had retired to
the library to read the morning paper.
And you make SO many excuses for
him. And as father says he has habit
of being slow. which ought to be broken
while he is young. You know he is
never in time for any thing"
Remember ABOUT the moat and the
beam. little daughter" said Mrs. Stone
Il know some one who ought. to try to
curb her temper while young. that it
Ludy not ledu ueF llUO SO(rOW ana cause
Ler bitter regret Score a small victory
with each day, and tho grand result
will be gained before you are really
aware of it
Jessie flushed holly under her mothers
tender glance. and went upstairs feel
ing decidedly uncom Portable She had
determined again and again to begin a
war on her hot temper. bat had let one
opportunity after another slip by. and
now, though she knew she ought to
make up that quarrel with Wick. she
wasn't ready to do it while her heart
was so full of resentment
She had been obliged to leave schoo,
for time on account of some affection
of her eyes. and as she could neither
sew nor read, time hung rather heavily
on her hands, and she was able to do
more thinking than she exactly liked