Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-25

Poor Comfort stifled her sobs under
the patchwork quilts. but she could not
stop crying for long time, and she
slept very little that night. When she
did she dreamed that she had found the
ring, but had to wear it around her,
aching tooth for punishment, and the
tooth was growing larger and larger,
and the ring painfully tighter and
tighter.
She looked so wan and i'll next norm
ing. that her mother told her she need
no, go to school,; but Comfort begged
hard to go and said she did not feel
sick, her tooth was better.
well, mind you get Miss Hanks to
excuse you and come home IL your tooth
aches again." said her mother.
YES, ma'am," replied Comfort.
When the door shut behind Comfort,
her Grandmother Atkins looked at her
mother. "Em'ly," said she, ~ don't
believe you can carry it out, she'll be-
sick"
I'm dreadfully afraid she will" res
turned Comforts mother.
You'll have to tell her."
Mrs. Pease turned on Grandmother
Atkins, and New England motherhood
was strong in her face. Mother" said
she, II don't want Comfort to be sick.
and she shant be, if can help it, but
| I've got duty to her that's beyond
looking out for her health. She's rot a
lesson to learn that's more important
than any she's got in school, and I'm
n c hn Nd
she learns it by the hardest way, and IL
won't do for me to help her" !
well, | suppose you're right, Emily
said Grandmother Atkins, "but l de-
clare I'm dreadful sorry for the child"
'You amt any sorrier than am,s
said Comforts mother, and she wiped
her eyes now and then, as she cleared
away the breakfast dishes.
AS for Comfort, she went on her way
to school, looking as industriously and
nnNiously ut the ground rs il she were a
little robin seeking for her daily food.
Under the snowy blackberry vines
peercd Comfort, under frozen twigs,
and in the blue hollows of the snow,
seeking, us it were, in the little secret
places of nature for her own little
secret of childish vanity and dis,
obedience. 1t made no difference To
her that it was not reasonable to look
on that part of the road, since she could
not have lost the ring there. She had
Il desperate hope, which was not af-
fected by reason at all, and she deter
mined to look everywhere.
| 1t was very cold still, and when she
came in sight of the schoolhouse, not
a scholar was to be seen. Either they
had not arrived or were budding over
the red-hot stove inside.
Comfort trudgcd past the school,
house and went down the road to the
old LOOMS place. She searched again
every inch of the road, but there was
no CLEAN of gold in its white frozen sur
face. There was the cold sparkle of
the frost crystals, and that was all.
| Comfort went back. At the turn of
that road she saw Matilda Stebbins
coming down the other. The pink tip
of Matilda's nose and her winking
black eyes just appeared above her
red tippet.
"Hullo" she sung out, in muffled
voice.
"Hullo!" responded Comfort, family,
Matilda looked at her curiously when
she came up. whats the matter?"
said she.
Nothing" replied Comfort.
II thought you acted funny. What
have you been up that road for?"
Comfort walked along beside Matilda
irt silence.
what have you been up that road
for?" repeated Matilda.
won't you ever tellp" said Com
fort.
mo, won't, Honest and true, Black
and Blue, Lay me down and cut me In
two"
"Well, I've lost it."
Matilda knew at once what Comfort
meant. "You aint," she cried, stopping
short and opening wide eyes of dis
may at Comfort over the red tippet.
YES, l have"
"Where'd you lose it?"
II felt of my pocket after I got back
to school yesterday, after we'd been up
to the old Loomis house, ind couldn't
find the ring"
"My!" said Matilda.
Comfort gave a stifled sob.
Matilda turned short around with a
jerk. lies go up that road and hunt
again said she, there's plenty of time
before the bell rings. Como along,
Comfort Pease."
SO the two little girls went up tho
road, and hunted, but they did not find
the ring. Nobody would have picked
it up and kept it, everybody round here
Is honest" said Matilda. 'Tt's dread
fully funny"
Comfort wept painfully under the
folds Of her mothers green shawl, "a
they went back 4
did your mother scold your" asked
Matilda. There was something very in-
nocent and sympathizing and honest
about Matilda's black eyes as she asked
the question.
"No," faltered Comfort. She did not
dare to tell Matilda that her mother
knew nothing at all about it.
Matilda as thev went alon0 mt mn