The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-04


few raisins mixed in the dried APP
pie for being so good"
Sarah Maria did the stump of skat-
ing five times over an especially
"bendy" place; then she and Abby
Lote, hand in hand, thought they
would skate across few more times
on their own account. 1t was really
very exciting. The big boy had gone
home and many Of the remaining
children were afraid to venture far
from the shore, the ice was melting
so fast.
Sarah Maria and Abby Lote decid-
ed to try it once more "to go across
like lightning"
Alasl their lightning" was not
quick enough, or the ice was just
ready to break; and the two little
girls suddenly found themselves
standing up to their necks in the icy,
muddy water.
Oh, how they screamed! The other
children screamed, too; and the unit
ed calls for help soon brought some
men who, with planks and rails, with
much trouble pulled out the fright
ened children.
Naughty gals" said one of the
men ''get home at once. l would whip
you we'll if you were my children"
The other man spoke more gently
and helped the girls home; they were
so wet and cold that they could hard
ly walk without help. He left Abby
Lote at her house, and then went on
with Sarah Maria.
"Here, marm," he said, pushing
open the kitchen door, sis something,
l believe, belongs here;" and he put
Sarah Maria down in the middle of
the floor.
"Sarah Maria!" exclaimed her
mother, shave you been to the Pond
hole?"
Yes" answered Sarah Maria,
family.
"And thought l could trust my
little daughter" said her mother,
rapidly undressing the trembling
child.
A big washtub was brought into
the kitchen and half-filled with very
warm water. Without word Mrs,
Brown stood Sarah Maria up in it
and bathed her we'll, gave her a most
vigorous rubbing with coarse towel,
put her into her little red flannel
nightgown, then into bed, with piles
of quilts and comforters over her.
"Sarah Maria, you will stay here
the rest of the day, or l will know the
reason why" said her mother.
Poor Sarah Maria! She could not
keep from crying now as she lay
half-smothered, in the big feather
bed.
Now and then Mrs. Brown looked
in, bringing hot stones and bricks
which she placed in the bed.
Once she brought big bowl OF
mullen tea. Drink this, every drop, y
she said; and Sarah Maria swallowed
the hot, sweet, nauseous drink with
out a murmur.
Cant go in and sit with that
poor child9" asked Grandma.
'No, Ma" said Mrs. Brown; Sarah
Maria has been very naughty, and
she must be punished. l want Ter
to grow up good girl"
81 don't think l was ever quite so
hard with you, Tidy" quavered
Grandma.
There were no fried pies for Sarah
Maria that day, nor any of the good
things she could smell cooking in the
kitchen; but she had plenty of warm
Cruel, which was, perhaps, full as
much as she deserved.
Grandma begged hard "to give
poor little Sary just one cooky."
But Mrs. Brown was firm.
SARAH Maria must be taught to
mind; she must learn a lesson from
this disobedience."
Sarah Maria's lesson was a hard
one; but she learned it we'll. She was
ill several days in bed with feverish
cold. Her mother nursed her ten
derby, and had several long talks
with her little daughter.
Sarah Maria never tried "Ben-
doughnuts" again. and, what was
more. she never again disobeyed her
mother. Elizabeth Robinson, an In
dependent.