Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-11-15
''Tudy."

"If Tidy had only been boy"
sighed Mr.. Moody, despondently,
as his eyes rested for moment on
his daughters slim figure. 1.-THE
rheumatic bothers me so this au-
tumn, and there is so much to do.
Heaven only knows how l am go
ing to manage, for | cannot afford
to hire help"
The patient mother smiled and
patted fourteen-year old Tidy on
the shoulder.
~ couldn't get along without
my little woman, she said, "though
it is a Disappointment to you, I'll
own, pa, to have three girls and
not boy.
She took her shawl and bonnet
from Tildy's willing hands, feign-
ing not to notice the girls tear
pIiuiuieu eycS'
"Now, Tidy" she said, "take
good care Of the children, and don't
let them eat up all the sugar.
Well be home by nightfall, if
nothing happens. Good-by, daugh-
ter! Don't mind, dear; pa don't
mean anything"
This last in a hurried whisper,
but Tidy only shook her head in
silence, and with an aching heart
watched them drive away.
Mr.. Moody did not intend to be
unkind, but his oft-repeated regret
that Tidy was girl had made her
over-sensitive.
Five-year-old Bessie and three
year-old Florence were amusing
themselves after their own fashion.
Nov Florence" said Bessie, who
was just beginning to attend school,
what is your full name?"
Torrance Weese Louise) Moo
dy," answered the little girl, busily
engaged in sticking the legs of her
rag doll into the sleeves Of her cot
ton night-dress.
Bessie made some hieroglyphics
with a stubby pencil on a bit Of
dirty paper.
"And how do you spell Florence
with an S or a P"
Tidy laughed, with the tears still
in her eyes.
"Oh, you funny babies" she said.
"If you were only boys how glad
daddy would be-"
"Ho! catch me being a boyr' de-
clared Bessie, in great scorn.
"Now chimed in Florence, knit
ting her baby brows, "Boys are
made of puppy dogs tails"
Tidy laughed again, and began
to busy herself with clearing up
the room.
Mr.. and Mrs. Moody were bound
for the village, fifteen miles distant
from home.
Tidy did not mind staying alone.
She was a good honsekeeper for her
years, and the children were easily
managed by her.
After dinner, they both climbed
upon the bed in the little room op-
ening from the kitchen, and fell
asleep. Tidy washed the dishes,
swept the kitchen, and still hand
ling her broom and humming lit
tie tune under her breath, moved
out upon the porch.
Here she paused, and with one
hand shading her eyes, looked off
in the direction her parents had
taken that morning.
1t was asultry September day; for
hours a soft haze had brooded about
the horizon, but now there was
something more.
Tildy's heart beat faster as she
gazed. Yes; it was smoke, and the
sky above it was stained with red !!
The prairie was afire!
Small wonder that the girls
knees shook and her cheek paled.
There was not a neighbor within
miles. What could she do to save
the little home that represented all
her fathers hard-earned money?
The children, awakened from
their nap, came to her side.
Baby Florence cried, "Oh, de
booful sky"
But Bessie was frightened, and
hid her face against big sisters
arm.
Tidy led them back into the
house as she said a little prayer in
her heart. She ran into the pantry
and brought out the dinner pail,
and put it on the floor between the
two children.