Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-12-09

stood for a iionnent undecided. the.
with firm step walked back and fortl
several times to the bridge. The soles
we're soiled enough now! 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 of that I might better see
my feet, I started once more for home
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 II she would be very angry; then
| walked very slowly, and by the time
i had reached the gate, had almost
stopped. But l must 60 in some time.
so plucking up my courage. I entered
tie kitchen. Ny mother was still busy
with her baking. she did not look ur
as entered, but said:
Why, child, how long you were
gone. did you get the same kind Of
shoes? Let me see.'
"All my courage failed: speechlesa
and guilty I 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 worid-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 a shoe instead Of those you have
always wornT
"'No-no-mamma,' 1 cried, finding
my tongue at last 1t wasn't NJ
Stout's fault; he didn't want me to
take them; 1t 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 ]
am.' I sobbed.
MY mother stood looking at me IL
silence for a moment as I threw my.
self into the old rocking chair. crying
as though my heart would break.
Take or those shoes and put on
your old ones she finally said. Walk
best china, she took down an old blue
sugarbowl, that had belonged to my
great-grandmother. In this she often
kept bits Of change. She took from it
now four quarters, and laying them on
the table beside me she said:
Here is a dollar your grandmother
gave me; with it l was to get the little
tea-set you liked SO much. 1t is
great deal to use for such a purpose,
could afford to give you 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-sst
with your little friends. Put on your
Did shoes, take this money and go tc
Mr.. Stout and ask him to give you
pair of shoes like the ones you are
now wearing
There was look of sternness In my
mothers face I had never seen there
before. a look that forbade any coax
ing. Picking up the purple shoes from
he floor she carefully wiped them.
saying:
Purple shoes will hardly look well
with your green muslin dress. so
hink We will put these away. You
could only have worn them once or
vice. anyhow. they are so frail'
Once more l put on my little sun
)onnet and once more l travelled tine
I'D path across the bridge and under
he willows-a sadder but a wiser little
,lrl"
But the tea-set, mamma, the tea
set; didn't you get it afterwards"
asked Bertha.
Mamma laughingly shook her head
Il don't think / ought to tell any
ling more" she said. Bertha, well
.nowing her shortcomings, and the
act that they were so often overlooked
~ fond and doting grandmother
ooked so disappointed at this reply
hat Mrs. Bartlett fastened TO add:
"The next time 1 passed the china
store the dear little tea-set was gore.
II l cried over the discovery. no one
Knew it but the old willow who knew
ind kept all childish secrets. For
ong time 1 mOurned the fac- that l
night have had the pretty china; my
punishment was hard, for my birth
lay came and went just like any other
lay, but 1 knew l deserved It,"
'Oh, dear" said Bertha, Il was SC
IN hopes that you got the tea-set after
ALL" well, dear, 1 did, after six
in which to think over my
wrong doing. Grandmothers Of your
lay and grandmothers of mine were
very much alike, for when Christmas
came around my dear grandmother
put the tea-set into my hands herself,
feeling sorry for me, but knowing /
deserved the punishment, she had
bought the little dishes and kept them
Ill that time"
well, must say I think you did
very wrong, mamma, to get the shoes,
but still am glad you could have the
tea-set. Purple shoes! l don't think
I ever could have wanted shoes of tha'
Interior.