The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-06-13
BETTINA'S STORY.

one evening and said imperiously Tell
me a story"
Certainly, said; sit down and I
will begin Once upon time, long,
long time ago."
81 don't like "a long, long time ago
that's the way grandma's stories always
begin, and you're not as old as grandma
and can't know anything about "a long,
long time ago Tell me something else. 4"
very well, 1 said submissively, II
know a very pretty story about little
girl who was one day out in the fields
gathering flowers, and as she was saunter-
ing along"
"She met little old woman, who said
TO her, little grill know all that, the
little girl and the little old woman al
wayssay the same things and the little old
woman always turns out to be fairy and
the little girl always maTries the prince I
don't want to marry prince; my papa
says there isn't prince living no
couldn't buy up three times over"
"Bettinal" 1 gasped.
"And as for fairies, I've been in the
fields often, and I've never met any
fairies big or little,
"And what's more, Bettina, ! said,
shaking my head at her sadly, you
never will.
"No, and don't want to they always
say such foolish things like the stupid
old gisnts. I'm sick Of giantsl saw
one once in a dime museum, and he
didn't eat up anybody or say fee, 70, g.,
fun way down in his shoes like tho
books say he just stood up there and
let people look at him and feel him like
piece Of wood. lie wasn't worth pay
ing dime to see. Tell me story,
please.
"But it is 30 hard to tell you a story /;
there are SO many things you don't like.
Let mo see-shall I toll you about the
man in the moon ?"
There isn't any man in the moon /;
there's nothing but dried up lakes and
rocks there, and all sorts Of dead things.
"Ohl"
"And dent want TO hear about Santa
Claus, because know who Santa Claus
is, and anyhow he couldn't get down the
chimney through the crate, because the
CRATES too little.
well, then, there is the rabbit that
comes on Easter"
Bettina's lip curled scornfully. "Why,
1 order the aye for the eggs myself"
Red Ridinghood-"
"Poohl Who ever heard wolf tallrI
Did youi"
"NO, said feeblyi "but they some
times bite
"Course they do, if anybody's crazy
'nough to go close to them, guess Red
Ridinghood was silly"
"Then, l said desperately, suppose
you tell me story,
This idea seemed to please her She
leaned back complacently in her chail
and folded her hands in her lap, Hel
hair fell on her shoulders like yellow silk
her skin was sweet and pink her eye:
blue, and her little form clad in costly
clothes, made in the picturesQuely simple
fashion of long ago. An ideal looking
child, aureoled by the setting sun.
"Wen, she began, in a quick, mo
notonous tone, pitching her voice a key
higher than usual, there's a man live
next door to us named Smith-you'v'
seen himl"
"Yes."
"He has a wife and she's named Smith
you've seen her?"
"Yes.
And they've got five children-Anno
, Smith, Fannie Smith, Tommy Smith
Georgie smith-you've seen them?"
"Yes.
"And baby-you've seen it2"
@Yes.
"But the baby hasn't been christene
vet; it's got four teeth-two lower teeth
and two upper teeth, and when it erie
N it goes 'wha-an, wha-an, wha-an,' an
it's got blue eyes and no hair; an
o they've got q dog-you've seen it2"
? "No.
Manned Bruno, and every time tn
baby goes out tho dog goes with it, an
3 they always know when the baby's con
ing home, because the dog comes in first
and they've got q COW, and a cat that
too old to catch rats, and mamma say
she don't know why they keep it bsoaus
it costs something to feed it, but the chi
dren are awful fond Of it and they''
NJ got a cook and house girl, but the
a. haven't got nurse and they haven't g
a carriage cause they're too poor To koe
one, and mamma says they're not Il
kind of people she wants to loa
- ours to. ] don't know why 90 eau
their shoes are clean and their cloth
are very nice. though they don
cost as much as mine-and they've g
b. nice hats-Anna's hats got pink howe
on il, and Fanuie's hats got blue flower
and Georgie's hats got red flowers, al
no the baby's got a lace cap all full of friil
and every one Of them, 'cepting the bah
th have had the measles, and Group, al