Middletown transcript., 1891-09-24

the sheet with a triumphant all
There" said she, it's done"
Did you sew all that this after
non ?" asked Mehitable in an awe
tone.
my yes. 1t isn't so very muc
to do p
Hannah Maria laid the sheet dow
in heap on the entry floor thel
she looked at Mehitable. Now
I've nothin' more to do," said she
"spose we go to walk a little ways |?
"I don't know as my mother (
like to have me do thai"
"Oh, yes, she would she won,
care. Come along! I'll get my hat.
Hannah Maria dashed over thu
sheet into the entry and got her hat
off the peg; then she and Mehitablt
started. They strolled up the coun
try road. Mehitable trundfed hel
doll carriage carefully; once in q
while she looked in to see if the dol
was all right.
Isn't that carriage kind of heavy
for you to drag all alone ?" inquired
Hannah Maria.
mo; it isn't very heavy"
81 had just as lief help you drag
it as not"
Hannah Maria reached down and
took hold by one side of the handle
of the doll carriage, and the two
girls trundled it together.
There were no houses for long
way. The road stretched between
pasture fields and apple orchards.
There was one very fine orchard on
both sides of the street quarter of a
mile below Hannah Maria's house.
The trees were SO heavily loaded with
green apples that the branches hung
low over the stone walls. Now and
then there was among them a tree
full of ripe yellow apples.
Don't you like early apples ?"
asked Hannah Maria.
Mehitable nodded.
Had any?"
No"
"They don't grow in your field, do
they ?"
Mehitable shook her head. Moth
er makes pies with our apples, but
they're not mellow 'nough to eat
now," she replied.
WelI,' said Hannah Maria, we
haven't got any. All our apples are
baldwins and greenin's. haven't
had an early apple this summer
The two went on, truudling the
doll carriage. Suddenly Hannah
Maria stopped.
aLook here," said she; my Aunt
Jennie and my Uncle Timothy haYe
got lots of early apples. You just go
along this road a little farther, and
you get to the road that leads to their
house. S'pose we CO."
How far is it ?"
"Oh, not very far. Father walks
over sometimes"
81 don't believe my mother would
like it "
"Oh, yes, she would. Come along"
But all Hannah Maria entreaties
could not stir Mehitable Lamb.
When she reached the road that led
to Uncle Timothy's house she stood
still.
my mother won't like it," said
she
Yes, she will"
Mehitable stood as if she and the
doll carriage were anchored to the
road.
81 think you're real mean, Mehit.
able Lamb" said Hannah Maria.
F." You're terrible 'fraid cat. Pm
goin' anyhow, and I won't bring you
single apple, SO there!'
"Don't want any," returned Mehit-
able with some spirit. She turned
the doll carriage around. Hannah
Maria walked up the road a few
steps. Suddenly she faced about.
Mehitable had already started home
ward.
" Mehitable Lamb" said she.
Mehitabie looked around.
Il Is'pose you'll go straight home
and tell my mother, just as quick as
you can get there"
Mehitable said nothing.
You'll be an awful tellta'e if you
do"
"Sha'nt tell" said Mehitable in a
sulky voice.
Will you promise--'Honest and
true. Black and blue. Lay me down
and cut me in two'-that you won't
tell ?'
Mehitable nodded.
{" Say it over then"
Mehitabe repeated the formula.
1t sounded like inaudible gibberish.
"I shall tell her myself when I get
home," said Hannah Maria. a
shall be back pretty soon anyway,
but / don't want her sending father
after me. You're sure you're not
aoin to tell, now, ..Mehitable Lamb.
Say it over again"
Mehitable said it again.
"Well, you'll be an awful telltale.
if you do tell after that said
Hannah Maria.
She went on up one road toward
her Uncle Timothy Dunn's and Me.
hitable trundled her doll-carriage
homeward down the other She went
straight on past Hannah Maria's
house. Hannah Maria's mother, Mrs.
Green, had come home. She saw the
white horse and buggy out in the
south yard. She heard Mrs. Green's
voice calling Hannah Maria, Han
nah Maria ?" and she scudded by
like rabbi
X =
mi