The Forrest City times., 1901-02-01
A KNOT IN THE SKEIN /;
.HEY made pretty picture, did
By Mrs. Chas. C. Marble.

THE1 made pretty picture, did
 grandmother and little Dot. Grandmother sat in her low rocking chair, with her glasses pushed back above her forehead. and before her stood Dot holding outstretehed a bril- liant skein of wool upon her chubby little hands.
 Hurry up, drandma, said Dot, with . slight frown, you're so slow
 Grandma took no heed, apparently, but went on with the utmost precision. Slowly the yarn reeied over the chubby thumbs. slowly went on the winding about grandma's ball.
 Dot stood first upon one foot, then the other. like barn-yard fowl. and gave at intervals tremendous sigh as evidence of her weariness.
 "You's 'zasperatin'." she at last broke ut: really and truly. dran ana, you's old 'zasperatin' hisseif."
 "What?" cried the startled old lady, who had been been intent upon her winding or perhaps lost in reverie of other days; what is that you are say ing. Dot?'
 'I said you was a zasperatin' old poke" replied Dot. firmly. T is most tired to deaf. and there you go on wind in jes' as if you was as.eep.'
 Well. never" gasped the old lady.
 I pretended 10 be intent upon the work before me. yet could scarce re- frain from laughing aioud.
 Tired, eh?" queried grandma, with a twinkle in her eye; well, we will soon be through, and you can lie down and rest"
 No. I'm going out to jump rope" :" incautiously said Dot, with Willie and Rose. They're jumping now, don't you hear 'em. drandma?"
 "Ah you are going to rest your weary limbs by jumping rope" re- piled grandma. Well. so that you won't be entirely used up. suppose you sit on this chair" pulling one beside Dot
 Dot sulki.y complied. but as she did so dropped her hands in ftigned weari- ness.
 See" cried grandma, you are let ting strands of the wool slip over your fingers. Hold up your hands, dear. and we will soon be through" and on went the old lady, placidly and slowly winding as before.
 Dot for a space looked the picture of youthful resignation, but soon her inn patience returned
 Hurry up" she cried. vehemently. 'You're enough to 'zasperate the pa tienee of Job" and again I saw her slyiy drop a loop or two from her fn- gers. as she moved restlessly upon the chair.
 Grandma looked at her reprovingly. but hastened somewhat her move ments. There was a pause presently in the winding. The old lady brought her spectacles down from her fore head. and peered at the skein of wool.
 There's snarl," she said, dear, dear. how did that come?"
 Its an awful hard knot" cheerfully said Miss Dot. after grandma had made several attempts to disentangle the snarl. 'I dess you had better get it all mother time"
 "Oh, no, Dot, we'll get it all right now replied grandma, with jerk
 Snap went the strand. Several min utes were consumed in straightening 2 the skein. and grand ma carefully knot ted the broken threads together before resuming her winding.
 The sounds of laughter and jump ing outside the window came borne in upon the stiffness of the room An other petuiant movement from Dot.
 ''I is so nervous, l can't hold still" 1" she next exclaimed. impatiently tug ging at the wool.
 Dear, dear, another knot" cried grandma, peering over her spectacles at Dot. Why. at this rate, we will never get through"
 But at last il was done. and away scampered Dot. every vestige of ill., humor banisbed from her pretty face.
 Grandma's glance met mine.
 The wool is for her own stoektpqs. .'' quietly said she, as if in answer to something she read in my eyes, "and I inteud these knots shall teach her q lesson which mere words would fai! to accomplish. Youthful experience, if rightly impressed. may serve to guard the future from sterner ones."
 The old lady's favorite expression. '.I kaow,' played about her firmly closed lips. but she gave no utteranee .o then as with bal in hand she sat gazinC upon the pictures of the past pictures whose lights and shadows were renected in her own dim eyes. in u altting smile upon brow or lip.