The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-12-19

i were Solleu enough nOWl A naughty
spirit within me said, Wear then
home, then your mother can't possibly
take them back
! Putting on my sunbonnet, which !
had taken Off that / might better see
my feet, | started once more for homo
with my old shoes in my hand and my
eyes fixed on the bright colored ones
upon my feet. AS neared home !
wondered what my mother would say.
and If she would be very angry; then
walked very slowly, and BY the time
! had reached the gate, had almost
stopped. But | must 60 in some time.
so plucking up my courage, | entered
the kitchen. My mother was still busy
with her baking; she did not look up
as ! entered. hut said:
Why, child. how long you were
gone. did you get the same kind of
shoes? Let me see.'
"All my courage failed; speechless
| and guilty | stood in the doorway
waiting. As my mother turned quick
" at receiving no answer from me,
her gaze fell upon the bright colored
shoes.
Why, what In the world-where
did you get those? Why don't you an-
swer me? Lizzie, do you mean to say
that Mr.. Stout told you to take that
kind of shoe instead of those you have
always worn?
No-no-mamma.' cried. finding
my tongue at last. Tt wasn't NJ.
Stouts fault; he didn't want me TO
take them; it was just myself, MY
other ones were so ugly. Lilo
mamma, didn't think you would care
so much. The look of sorrow and re-
proval on my mothers face was too
much for me. I am sorry, indeed l
am / sobbed
MY mother stood looking at me in
silence for a moment as threw my.
self into the old rocking chair, crying
as though my heart would break.
Take off those shoes and put on
your old Ones she finally said. Walk.
ing to the closet where she kept her
best china, she took down an old blue
sugarbowl, that had belonged to my
great-grandmother. In this she often
now four quarters, and laying them on
the table beside me she said:
Here is dollar your grandmother
gave me; with it was to get the little
tea-set you liked so much. 1t is a
great deal to use for such a purpose,
but your grandmother thought she
could afford to give Won that on your
birthday.
My heart gave a great leap at the
mention of the tea-set, but sank sud
denly as my mother continued:
This dollar, putting down anoth-
er, had saved that you might buy
some candy, nuts and apples, and on
your birthday enjoy your new tea-set
with your little friends. Put on your
old shoes, take this money and go to
Mr.. Stout and ask him to give you a
pair of shoes like the ones you arc
now wearing
There was look of sternness in my
mothers face / had never seen there
before, look that forbade any coax
ing. Picking up the purple shoes from
the floor she carefully wiped them,
saying:
Purple shoes will hardly look well
with your green muslin dress, so / |
think we will put these away. You
could only have worn them once or
twice, anyhow, they are so frail.'
Once more l put on my little sun
bonnet and once more / Travelled the
old path across the bridge and under
the willows-a sadder but wiser little .
girl"
But the tea-set, mamma, the tea
set; didn't you get 1t afterwards"
eagerly asked Bertha.
Mamma laughingly shook her head. /
Il don't think l ought to tell any
thing more" she said. Bertha, we'll
knowing her shortcomings, and the
TACT that they were so often overlooked
by a fond and doting grandmother,
looked so disappointed at this reply
that Mrs. Bartlett hastened to add:
The next time passed the china
store the dear little tea-set was gone.
II cried over the discovery. no one
knew it but the old willow who knew
md kept all childish secrets. For a
ong time l mourned the FACE that l
might have had the pretty china; my
was hard, for my birth
lay came and went just like any other
lay, but l knew deserved it."
ooh. dear" said Bertha, Il was so
n hopes that you got the tea-set after
all We'll, dear, l did, after six
months in which to think over my
wrong doing. Grandmothers of your
lay and grandmothers of mine were
very much alike, for when Christmas
anne around my dear grandmother
Tut the tea-set into my hands heraelf,
ceiling sorry for me, but knowing
deserved the punishment she had
bought the little dishes and kept them
Ill That time"
We'll, must say think you did
'ery wrong, mamma, to get the shoes,
'ut still am glad you could have the
easel. Purple shoes! don't think
ever could have wanted shoes of thar
olor"-The Interior.