Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-09-27

care of herself; she was now almost
twelve.
1t was a pitiful story, much like
many others, no doubt, but no other
had come SO near to them, and Miss |
Mariah'svoice trembled as she told 1t. |
Even Miss Dorinda got up hastily, and |
began to dust the high mantlepiece
vigorously, when they all knew there
was not the faintest suspicion of dust
there.
After the shyness wore Off, and she
grew accustomed TO her surroundings,
they found that she could interest
them, in her description of the city
and the stores.
Miss Dorinda said that she was
fright smart talter for child" but
deep down In her heart, she never
trusted her, or approved of having her.
The turkeys and chickens were her
especial care, and she soon grew very
fond of them.
Most Of all, she was Interested in a
turkey hen, which was the property Of
Miss Mariah, and was one of brood
raised by hand, as she expressed It,
She had petted 1t until the turkey had
grown to be real nuisance, and took
liberties that no other turkey hen had
ever been known to take. 1t would
follow Miss Mariah into the house and
pick up spools of thread with its bill,
or other small objects within reach.
When Cynthia had been with them two
days the turkey wandered off, much
to Miss Dorinda's pleasure, but Gym
thia was never tired of hearing of the
funny things it had done and was sorry
that it had gone.
Almost three weeks had passed, and
it was Cynthia's birthday,
Miss Marah came into the wide, cool
kitchen and began preparations for
stirring up cup cake for tea, in honor
of the day; and she tied on an apron
and proceeded to do it, in spite of Miss
Dorinda.
"Well, Mariah, eff you amt foolish,
and at your age, too. Where's that
child? want a bucket of water"
.''She's gone to the medder to hunt
for that turkey hen; its been gone
nearly three weeks, and l believe what
said ut first, that it's got a nest some
where aud some young ones"
"Ef the young ones air all like theil
mother, hope Cynthia won't fine
her." said Miss Dorinda, as she. went
into the spare room to change hel
dress
Presently she came out looking
strange and excited.
"Mariah Smith," she said, ~ put m,
pin right on that spare room pin cush
ion after came home from the Par
sons, two days after that child came
: and it's gonel Now, where is it?'
"Are you sure?" said Mariah.
"Yes, know it. l amt worn
> since that, fer l amt had on my lac
| collar. I've worn that pin for fort
years-it was mothers, and you an
g Sally know what store l set by il
That child's done took 1t, fer Their
q amt been nobody else In the house.
seen her twice when sent her
q the spare room closet stop and look
it, and now she's took it,"
G "Why, Dorinda," said Miss Martial
"she liked the pin, and she said 81
h and she wouldn't have talked about
:. if she had been going to take it.
It don't believe she would, anyhow"
e "Children don't have no judgmen
e and her times most up" answere
r Dorinda, grimly. "And maybe 81
n thought that would not miss it I
RI after she was gone. Any way I
h goin' to make her tell me where 81
If put it the minute she comes in tn
n door"
n Miss Mariah protested in vain, al
e finally had to be contented with be
10 cling her not to scare the child in
ID keeping still, the first thing, even
@. she had taken 1t.
Of They were interrupted by Cynth
herself, who came rushing past t
SIS window, breathless and rosy with c
TX ercise, her bonnet hanging by t
a strings around her neck, and her ff
# hair blown into tiny curls about b
IF face.
She gave Miss Dorinda no chance
or speak, but began talking almost
N fore she was in the room.
% "Oh Miss Mariah, I've been all oy
nc the meadow and down to the orcha
re hunting that turkey hen, and fou
ev 1t down by the spring, in the hi
grass YOU know, and she's got n
On and six little turkeys, six, Miss Mari'
,re and she's so cross, and made her {
m. up, to count them, and there right
.at the edge of the nest, was Miss
hv rindas pin, and it is not hnrt {
w. mite" and she paused breathless,
,os she unclasped small brown hand q
m triumphantly held out the pin.
ad Miss Dorinda gave quick glance
her sister, even before she took
llv breach. In the look was more app
iss than Miss Dorinda often put intC
ull glance.
She was distinctly conscious OF Fl
i'd. ing ashamed of herself and of
~ wanting the child to know what
q - had thought. But she need not h
[iss feared, for Cynthia was as unconsci
n n as possible, and when she had gail
at her breath went on again.
md "The turkey must have taken 1T,
the YOU said she took one of your ha
kerchiefs once, Miss Mariah, and l
iah member that she followed me into
hia spare room the day after ca
when Miss Dorinda sent me to
nm some sassafras out of the closet.
in did stop at the bureau and look at
oes pin and after put 1t down, she n
ING have picked it up and gone ri
hill. down to the nest; don't you think
e a But it's funny she did not lose it in
rom high grass. never did hear of SUI
rom turkey"
will "Well, it may be funny, but til
the last brood she'll ever raise"
rue. Miss Dorinda, decisively.
the When the three weeks were u
,em was Dorinda who proposed keel
nda the child, if she wanted to stay.
hat had at last found her way to
tyr Dorinda's heart. She is with