The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-10-27


Pussykin was a little girl with very
round blue eyes. a quantity of frizzly
yellow hair, freckled face and an in
curing nose. Her real name was Luz
cia. but that did not seem to fit her SO
we'll as any one of the half-dozen and
more that she was called. There were
Pussykin. Trot, Flake, Flossie, Little
Miss why" The Interrogation Mark,
and several others. If you happened
to be near her for ten minutes you
would understand very we'll how she
came by the aforementioned ones, al
though, indeed, you would only need
to see her to know that she was al
ways asking questions. What makes
the grass grow?" what makes 1t
greene" "How do the flowers open?"
"Why amt they green. too?" "Where
does the wind come from?" where
does it go to-" It kept folks at their
wits end to answer her. Now, of
course, desire for useful information
is all right, but Lucia asked a great
many unnecessary questions. and she
did not stop there, by any means. Her
inquisitiveness went a great deal far
ther, and earned for her another name
Little Miss Pry. Those round eyes,
helped by her busy fingers, went pry-
ing about into cupboards, chests and
boxes-her tongue tasted, her nose
smelled, her small ears listened to what
was not intended for them. Lucia's
friends tried to break her of these
disagreeable habits, and she had some
unpleasant experiences, also, as, for
instance, when she took good big
sniff at bottle which contained strong
ammonia; when she tasted of what.
looked like delicious candy and found
1t was piece of soap; when she was
examining funny looking box, and
her fingers were caught in mouse
trap; when she listened under the
kitchen window while Jane was enter
tanning caller. and heard herself
called naughty, mischievous girl, who
deserved spanking If ever a child did.
No, these things were not pleasant, GER
tainly, but they did not break her of
her prying ways. Finally, however,
she had an experience which taught
her severe lesson, and helped her to
see herself as others saw her. Still, l
do not say that 1t was just right for
her brother George to do as he did.
George had the present of a kodak on
his fifteenth birthday, and after con-
siderable practice, he became very ex-
pert in the art of taking SNAP Shots
although II he had not been careful to
keep the camera out Of reach Of Lucia's
busy little fingers. fear its usefulness ,
would soon have ended. He, took a
number Of pictures Of her, however,
which pleased her immensely, and I'M
der each he wrote Trotsie, Pussykin, or
whichever name seemed to best. suit
that particular photograph. One morn
Ing, Just az George was leaving home
to be gone week. he gave Lucia a lit
tie look. when they were alone for.
moment. This Is Just between you
and me. Pussykin." he said. 81 haven't
let anybody else see It, and you needn't /
unless You want to- Then he hurried
away. Lucie opened her book. and on
the Arst page was little girl. herself
w4...>,... q doubt, standing by the
kitchen table. holding 9 small box to
her nose. Lucia face grew red, but |
10 she turned the leaf It grew redder
still. for here she was on high chair |
Ia the pantry. lifting the cover from |
I dish on an upper shelf. She wanted |
IA fkrnr Tho fnoh rsOtnt - 49,. a.nat