Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-04-06
TWO LITTLE VlRGlNIANS.

The children who read about 1.-TWO
Little Virginians" have begged to hear
more Of them from Aunt Kathy /;
so, kind Mr.. Editor, you will let me
give them some more Of my recollec-
tions. 1t shows that their hearts are
in the right place, to be thus interested
in the'innocent doings Of their COM
peers. | think | shall tell first about
a trouble that befell the playmstes.
They had a little friend staying
with them, and they were invited on
the fourth of July to the Bower to see
some fireworks. Just when we were
ready to start Robin was missing, The
children were distracted and vowed
they would not go step till they
found him They secured the place !;
every corner of the house, barn, field
and marsh. Then their father said
Robin was doubtless hiding somewhere
and would appear. He had dlscov-
covered vein OF mischief in the sweet
child. The chickens had lost the glory
of their tail feathers from Robin fan
cying them ornamental in the wire
window blinds, etc. So he thought he
was only trying a new prank.
Two very sore hearted little ones
climbed into the wagon, their faces
the color of scarlet radishes. When
we got opposite Mr.. Lees farm, We
heard wild cry, and before we had
missed Viola she was scudding up the
hill to the farmhouse, and the next
moment flying back, holding the truant
by the hand. He had jumped into
some vehicle and gone out for look
at the country. What hugglng and
kissing when the tots got in the wagon
| had brought the little nine-year-old
mans holiday suit, and he was soon
sitting serene in fresh cuffs and neck
ribbon, while he said, Il will always
know you love me, Viola, because you
cried so -
What happy ride down next day
All three begged to have the back
board of the wagon out; and there they
sat swinging their feet, their hands full
of flags and Roman candles, while now
and then one of the three would slip
off to pluck flower or chase butter
fly. Then whenever they came, on
that road, to a pretty little tri-colored
house, it was their habit to Jump up
and clap their hands and say, This is
the house that Jack built" They had
named Mr.. Borders house after cas-
tie they had read ofin some old French
story so they always exclaimed when
they passed there, The Castle Of Vi
teaux!" Then there was a cabin in
the woods that they had long fixed on
a. their future home with me. 1t was
to be fenced in with hollyhocks and
wreathed with scarlet bean, and | was
to sit behind muslin curtain. and knit,
while they brought me eggs and rad
ishes and lettuce and strawberries; and
Steenis was to bring game from the
woods and fish from the river. In that
same woods we used to stop to listen
to the singing Of rare thrush.
They loved dearly to 60 to the
Bower, but once when my shy Viola
was very little and had gone off on
a visit, leaving her alone, she got
scared at being so far from home, and
when came back | met two breath
less loving little girls at the gate, who
said "Oh, Aunt Kathy, Viola actual
" tried to walk home and it fright
ened us all so drsadfully, and every
body had to run aud bring her back. y
We had fun once when we three
went up to take care of grandpa, y
while the family had to be in the north.
The chicks used to go up to the regu-
lar school-room in the "sky-parlor"
and study gravely and they under
took the care of the poultry yard. But
sometimes l would spy Steenie in dan
gerous places He would get to the
top of the oak trees, or run like a
squirrel on the top railing of the upper
porch, and once l found Viola holding
together a whole pile of tall clothes
baskets, while Steenie, on the top, was
reaching to open window to let a
bird fly out of the hall. My blood
ran cold, for they were on second
story platform, and the least tilt would