Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-05-04

~@>%~< - WIIx0kxIX
bronze necdlecase, The tracks" q
thread. the bobbins--all tho imple-
ments for tho needle Of that day-and
just on top was large roll Of tapc.
Alas and alas for Maria,s warnings. I
took II mp. turned Il around and around
and, yielding TO some impulse. can't
say what pol<ed my finger through
the center and--out ran the tape,
held the circle remaining in place
in my hand. fairly stiff with fright
whaf had DONE And. poor baby that
l was, l picked mp the wavy strip I had
pushed out and sat down on the ncor,
winding and twisting and turning. try.
ing to put II back into the middle againi
1 believed had done some irreparabls
injury, and my tears fell faster and
faster while all MAria's taunts came
backl No-unless 1 got that taps
rolled in again, surely never would
see my littis playmstes againl And oh.
the wretchedness of knowing for cer~
tain what Maria would say. Suddenly
/ heard step on the stairs and. cold
with fright sprapg TO my feet To
this day can't tell how It happened
that made n bolt for door to the left
of the window, opened IL, and, seeing .
narrow flight of stairs. dashed up them,
still ciinging 10 the unlucky tapcl My
one thought was TO hide until got that
roll in place again; and up / went,
along n rather dark hall aud into what
knew later was the attic.
There, for moment, stood painting
and bewildercd There was light
enough from two or three windows.
and saw u large place. nearly full OF
trunks, furniture, etc, some old, some
new tall secretary stood near one
of the windows and behind this took
refuge, sitting down near the dusty
panes ofglass and beginning once more,
but with very shaky little fingers, to
roll the strip of tapo back in it's
place. II tronidh't go. OF course; and
so, wrctched as only little
child can be over borrowed trouble
that seems 60 her young ignorance ter
ribly real, leaned my head against the
framework of the window sobbing and
crying my heart out. After such n love-
~ morning. And now never again
would | see my little fricndsi And
Maria would mag" worse than ever
and oh-oh-well, since that day sad
hours and real troubles have come into
my life, as they must into all who live
in the field of trial;" but I question
IL ever the future looked so miserable
as 1t did while 1 sat there with tho
tangled tape i'm my little hands and felt
that all my new happiness was at an
endl But what blessing IL Is that
children worn out with any worry or
excitement. fall into dreamless slecpi
A roll OF carpeting was near by. With
out being conscious of IL, my head
dropped and presently was away Off
in the land of Nod
must tell you during the hour slept
what was going on below.
| In few moments after nv fight up
stairs the children came back Nat
uralty search for me followed; then
Rosalie and Mr.. Roberts wero called.
They decided ! had gone home and
Rosaiie was sent flying over 10 bring
me back OF course dear grandma was
alarmed; and while / slumbered in
happy forgetfulness OF my trouble a
search was going on i'm all directions
for the missing child. 1t was Addy. I
believe. who from the garden saw some
thing which looked as if IL might be in
the window OF the attic; and so my first
conscious moment was awakening in
pie leaning over me, talking, laughing,
crying together; and ] sat up bewildered,
but called out:
~ didn't mean 10 do IT. and clutched
the tape. / felt sure was to be brought
10 task by all combined especially as
Maria's steely glance was the first which
met mine.
At this day, when anyone who re-
calls the time wishes 20 teaze me, they
viii say:
You didn't mean 10 do ar' IL has be-
come family by-word.
Well, of course explained as well az
could what had happened. holding up
the tape grimy with my tears and tho
dust of the window; and just then no
one laughed. They saw the pathetic
side OF it all. suppose. Even Maria's
sharp tongue was silent
What comfort there was In the way
was taken home. And when the next
day Mrs Roberts ran across with n
real French doll for me. felt as though
could bear even TO have Maria do her
harshest with the curling stick IL 1
had my new treasure in my arms mean
while.
''Do you know" ! heard Mrs Roberts
say TO grandma, "tbis is capital chance
10 make II all up with Nell? I'll write
her tonight. ] never understood why
she felt hurt with me"
Grandma was silent for a moment, her
knitting needle pressed against her low
er lip. Then she said, gravely:
well, Marian, will tell you. When
Nell was left widow she wrote you,
asking your influence in securing "A
position for her. You never an
swered'
Mrs. Roberts sprang 60 hor feet
II Hepcr heard word of the lSind." she
exclaimed-and then the two older peo-
pie talked in lower tones; but later I
learned that my mother and Mrs Rob.
erts had once been dear friends. but had
drifted apart; and through my Dor
rowed trouble" now rejoice 20 say
they met again, forgot and forgave:"
and am telling you this bit Of the past
IN the library Of the White House.
where my brother Dick -Addy's hus-
bands the beloved and honored mas
ter.-Lucy G. Lille, in n. " Independ-
emit