The Louisiana populist., 1898-02-11
Slightly Mixed.

Mamma" said little Maud as she
came home from Sunday school one
day, I'VE are going to have concert,
and | am going to speak, twice too,"
she added excitedly; "they want me
to speak an openin' dress and good
night piece too when the rest all get
through, and oh mamma will you
make my new dress, and will you
help me learn the pieces, and will
you and apa 60, and oh mamma after
the concert they aregoing to have ice
cream and I want two dishes, can
have two can't I mamma? and
And for goodness sake stop and
take breath, said mamma, "or shall
certainly think my little girl is wound
up like some machine and be expect
ing the time to run out any moment.
I will certainly help you learn your
pieces, and will make your new dress,
If there is time, but think one dish
of cream will be sufficient for little
girl OF seven years, but we will see
when the time comes. When is the
concert to be?"
"a week from Tuesday, or two
weeks, l don't remember which,"
answered Maud; "they talked about
both and I've forgot which they greed
about, but anyway they want me to
speak,"
To speak was something quite new
for Maud. Mamma had always re-
fused to let her take part in the enter
tainments given, as she was not
strong child and she did not like to
tax her with learning piece, and
also thought the excitement of speak
ing before SO many people would be
too much for one of her nervous tenn
permanent, if she did not altogether
break down and forget her piece when
the time came to speak, as it took
only trif1e to confuse her. But for
some time now Maud's health had
been exceptionally good, and as she
seemed so eager to take part in the
coming fete, mamma thought it would
do no harm to let her try, and see if
she found reciting as enjoyable pro-
ceeding as she anticipated.
The night of the concert came, but
not before Maud was entirely ready
for it. She had fairly counted the
days and hours till the eventful even
ing arrived, and at half past six had
her hat on and inquired of papa if he
did not think it nearly time to start,
as it was quite a distance to the
church. Papa smiled, for it was just
two blocks, and he did not think it
would require quite all hour and half
to walk that distance, so told Maud
she had better take off her hat and
wait awhile, and in the meantime she
might recite her pieces over once
more for him if she wished, so as to
be very sure she had not forgotten
| them.
So she recited them over for him
without break, and a very sweet,
dainty little girl she looked, in her
new dress of white dotted null and
pink ribbons.
Perhaps Maud thought most too
much of her dress. Perhaps the many
faces confused her, perhaps good
many things-but one thing is certain,
when the concert at last begun, and
the organ voluntary had been played
and Maud's name was called for the
address Of welcome, she marched
proudly forth on the platform and
began to speak-her welcome address?
oh, no., but the "Good Night" with
which the concert was to close.
Dear friends, we bid you all fond good
night
And hope aeppf, that we may sometime meet
when something in the smiles on the
faces before her recalled her to her.
self, and she realized in an instant
what she had done. She gave one
frightened look around, then burst
into tears and rushed from the plat
form, down the aisle, and straight into
papa's arms. ooh, papa, do take me
home quick" she gasped as she hid
her head on his shoulder.
''Don't cry little one, it's all right, s"
said papa, "don't you want to wait and
have some cream?"
"Oh, no, papa, please" she an.
swered, my throat chokes SO I don t
believe I can ever swallow again.
Only let's go home"
So papa took the trembling little
girl home, and it was some time be-
fore the sensitive child could even be
induced to 60 out of the house, SO
sure was she that everyone would
laugh at her failure, and even if they
were not present at the concert she
was quite sure they heard about i,
that same night, but she has some
what gotten over it now, and her Sun.
day school teacher hopes by next
Christmas to be able to induce her tc
take another piece to learn, though
she says she will only give her one
next time SO there will be no danger
of getting mixed. d.-Northern Christian
Advocate.
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