Middletown transcript., 1891-09-24
MEHITABLE LAMB.

I
although very slim. She wore
low.necked and short-sleeved brow
delaine dress. That style of dres
was not becoming, but it was tn
fashion that summer. Her neck wa
very thin and her coilar-bones show.
ed. Her arms were very long an,
small and knobby. Hannah Maria
brown hair was parted from her fore
head to the back of her neck, braid
ed in two tight braids, crossed in |
fiat mass at the back of her head, ant
surmounted by large green ribbon
bow. Hannah Maria kept pattins
tle bow to be sure it was on.
1t was very cool there on the nortf
doorstep. Before 1t lay the wide
north yard full of tall waving grass
with some little cinnamon rose.
bushes sunken in it. Hardly any
body used the north door, so there
was no path leading to it.
1t was nearly four o'clock. Hannah
Maria bent her sober freckled face
over the sheet, and sewed and sewed
Her mother had gone to the nexI
town to do some shopping, and hidden
her to finish the seam before she re-
turned. Hannah Maria was naturally
obedient; moreover, her mother was
a decided woman, SO she had been
very diligent; in fact, the seam was
nearly sewed.
1t was very still-that is, there
were only the sounds that seem to
make part of Stiffness, The birds
twittered, the locusts shrilled, and
the tall clock in the entry licked.
Hannah Maria was not afraid, but
she was lonesome. Once in a while
she looked around and sighed. She
placed pin little way in advance
on the seam, and made up her mind
that when she had sewed to that place
she would go into the house and get a
slice of cake Her mother had told
her that she might cut slice from
the one-egg cake which had been
made that morning. But before she
had sewed to the pin little Mehitable
Lamb came down the road. She was
in reality some years younger than
Hannah Maria, but not so much
younger as Hannah Maria, but not
SO much younger as Hannah Maria
considered her. The girl on the
door step surveyed the one approach
down the road with a friendly and
patronizing air.
Hullo, she sang out, when Mehita-
BILE was within hailing distance.
Hullo," answered back Mehita.
ble's little, sweet, deferential voice.
She came straight on. left the road,
and struck across the grassy north
yard to Hannah Maria's doorstep.
She was a round, fair little girl her
auburn hair was curled in a row of
neat, smooth "water curls" around
her head. She wore a straw hat with
a blue ribbon. and blue and white
checked gingham dress; she also
wore white stockings and patent
leather aukle-ties. Her dress was
low. w.necked and short-sleeYed like
Hannah Maria's but her neck and
arms were very fair and chubby.
Mehitable drew her big china doll
in dolls carriage. Hannah Maria
eyed her with seeming disdain and
secret longing. She herself had
given up playing with dolls, her
mother thought her too big; but they
still had a fascination for her., and
the old love had not quite died out Of
her breast.
"Mother said might come over
and stay an hour and half" said
Mehitable.
Hannah Maria smiled hospitality.
" I'm keepin' house," said she.
" Mothers gone to Lawrence"
Mehitable took her doll out Of the
carriage with motherly air, and sat
down on the doorstep with it in her
lap.
"How much longer you goin' to
play with dolls r inquired Hannah
Maria.
"I don't know" replied Mehitable,
with little shamed droop of her eye
lids.
You can't when you get a little
bigger, any how. Is that a new
dress she's got on ?"
Yes; Aunt Susy made it out of a
piece Of her blue silk"
It's handsome, isn't it Let me
take her a minute" Hannah Maria
took the doll an cuddled it mp against
her shoulder as she had used to do
with her own. She examined the
blue silk dress. My doll had real
handsome plaid silk one,". SAID she,
and she spoke as if the doll were dead.
she sighed.
Have you given her away 2 in
auired Mehitable in solemn tone.
{. No she's packed away. I'm too
old to play with her, you know.
Mother said l had other things to
tend to. Dolls are we'll 'nough for
little girls like you. Here you'd
better take her; I've got to finish my
sewin'."
Hannah Maria handed back the
doll with resolute air, but she hand.
ed her back tenderly then she sewed
until she reached the pin. Mehitable
rocked her doll, and watched.
When Hannah Maria reached the
pin she jumped up. "1'm comm
back in a minute" said she, and dis
appeared in the house. Presently
Mehitar lie heard the dishes rattle.
"She's gone after a cooky," she
thought. Cookies were her usual
luncheon.
But Hannah Maria came back with
a long slice Of one-egg cake with
blueberries in it. She broke it into
halves and gave the larger one to
Mehitable. I'd give you more,' said