Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-03-09
TWO LITTLE VIRGINIANS.
BY KATE DANDRIDGE.

d y + IA - ~ - ~ -
Viola and Steenie, two little Vir-
ginians, descendants of Martha Wash
ington's family line and the youngest
representatives of that distinguished
name, lived with their parents and
Aunt Kathy at Rose Hill, lovely old
home on a slope, not far from the
banks of the historic Potomac River.
There was shady grove in front Of
the house full Of pretty play-places and
mossy rock brakes.
Viola, the elder, was tall and strong,
with long, thick golden halr, and IN
her sweet blue eyes frank, open ex-
preston which always told what she
was thinking about. She was "big
sister" to "little brother, - who was
fragile and slight, with gray eyes and
brown hair. Everybody loved Stee-
ME, he had such nice ways, and al
though he was little, his notions of
honor and right were big He loved
everybody and every living thing on
the place, from the horses and dogs to
the chickens, ducks, and the tame rab-
bit and swallow which were their spec
ial pets.
But most of all he loved his sister
and would always do what she thought
best, so they were companions in ev-
erything and always happy together.
Both were fond of outdoor sports and
delighted to go barefoot. This once
led to what might have been serious
accident, for one day while climbing
up into a cherry-tree, Viola lost her
hold and fell through, her bare foot
catching by the heel in the notch of
the tree, and her head suspended over
a spiked fence. Steenie ran in terror
toward the house to bring Aunt Kathy
to the rescue, crying
Come quick quick or Viola will
be killed -
Fortunately--for Aunt Kathy could
Mt cllmb-a boy was on the grounds
near by, and running up, helped to
disentangle the victim.
Another Of her hairbreadth escapes
was to come bounding down on an
old cellar door which had lost its
hinges. Aunt Kathy, who happened
to be near, sprang forward in time to
break her fall. When she was picked
up uninjured, her aunt reminded her
that she should thank God for spaling
her life, and the little girl immediate
knelt down where she was, and said {;
81 thank thee, dear Jesus, for let
ting Kathy catch the cellar door.
Both children dearly loved Nellie
Gray, white horse on which they
rode together. Sometimes it happened
they go: pitched over her head, and
then the horse would lift her feet care
fully for them to crawl safely out, and
neigh with delight.
One night the big barn took fire,
and grandma, who was visiting them
at Rose Hill, was so scared that she
put Steenie's clothes on him wrong
side out. Afterward she found the
two children on the garret steps in
the dark, their hands clasped in each
others praying to God, away from
the confusion, thinking He could hear
them better off by themselves.
Afterward, when Viola was older,
the barn burnt down again, and see
ing the glare of the flames from the
house, she was the first one to try and
get the animals out. Her own hiding
horse was among them, and in her ef-
forts to save it, she went back twice
into the building, and got severely
burnt. She said afterwards Il felt
so selfish, safe outside, with all those
poor things suffering in there p
With so many live pets, there was
death occasionally; and regular
battle-ground was provided for those
they had loved. Aunt Kathy heard
loud walls one afternoon, and looking
from her window, saw approaching a
sad procession-Steenie carrying an
old trunk tray, on which was the body
of a favorite cat, while Viola armed
with shovel to dig the grave, walked
beside him weeping. An artificial
wreath was on the head, a Japanes,