The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-03-21


The little girl slipped out of bed very
quietly, and sat down on the floor to
put on her stockings and the dear
new boots. There was an odd-looking
tool, piece of curved steel with a
wooden handle, lying in the chair.
Annie Amelia had never seen or heard
of button-hook, and did not know
what the tool was or how to use it..
She left 1t lying there. Nothing else
could interest her until the boots were
on.
She drew her stockings on neatly,
boot. Her toes seemed too large, and
she thought of Cinderella's wicked
stepsisters, who cut off a toe to get a
| foot into the fairy glass slipper Would
| she have to cut off toe to wear these
beautiful things? 1t might hurt; but
then, what was Il hurt in comparison
with getting on the boots? Another
tug, and In went the foot, without the
Loss of toe at all. Then, after a
great struggle, the other foot slipped
|
on Annie Amelia clapped her hands
again softly, and would have shouted
for joy if mamma had not been i'll in
the next room
Then she tried to button the boots.
She stretched and pulled and twisted
and tugged, and drew in one button at
the top and one at the bottom on each
shoe, but not another one could she
get in Poor Annie Amelia!
She ran softly to see if papa or
mamma were awake; but no, they
were sleeping quietly, and might not
be able TO help her for hours. How
could grown people sleep so long? Lit
tie girls must help themselves when
mammas are not well and Annie
Amelia loved her mamma so dearly
that she tried never to trouble her. II
the boots could not be buttoned papa
and mamma would both be sorry. Pa
pa would not be going to the city again
| for a long time; and he could not get
her another pair of boots if he did
go, for he must have spent all his
money on these But these could
never be worn unless they could be
| buttoned up. What could she do?
Annie Amelia stood in the doorway,
| thinking. There on the bureau was
mammals workbasket, and the sun
light fell across it on pair of scis-
| sors. If the buttonholes we're just cut
| just little perhaps the buttons
would slip in. Annie Amelia tiptoed to
the bureau, then back to her own
room, shutting the door gently. 1t
was almost as hard to cut the pretty
shoes as to cut off toe: but hard
things had to be done sometimes, and
when one is seven years old one must
be brave and not cry.
Snip! snip! snip! The shining scis-
sors cut the outer end of each button
hole on both boots
Snip! snip snip! Most of the but
tonhoes were still too far from the
edge. The buttons would not go in
until the holes were cut bit more.
Snip! snip! snip! Those middle
holes must be cut still farther, and now
only the embroidery of the scallops on
the edge of the boots was left. 1t was
enough. Every button was in. Annie
Amelia was trembling, and tears stood
in the brown eyes, but she had sue
ceeded. The boots were buttoned at
last.
Hello, little girl" cried papa, stand
ing in the door. Mamma was with
him, for she was better today. and able
to walk about. What do you think
of them, Goody Two Shoes?"
"They are beautiful" cried Annie
Amelia. 81 was afraid they were too
small, for the buttons wouldn't go in;
but | fixed them, and now they are
just right
Let me see" Papa took the little
girl on his knee. Mamma sat down
by him.
She has spoiled her new boots"
said mamma, sadly. This time she
will have to be punished"
Annie amelia gasped.
What was the trouble?" asked pa
pa. why didn't you use the button
hook?"
When Annie Amelia found that she
need not have cut the boots at all,
and that she had almost ruined them
instead of having saved them, she hid
her face ON papas shoulder, and the
big tears fell fast
"Punishments are to help children
remember not to do things again."
said papa. II am sure Annie Amelia
will remember without being punished
never to cut her toes off or her button
holes out without asking her papa or
mamma first. We will get Mrs. Willis
to sew up the button holes, and wear
ing them mended will help Annie
Amelia to remember Fannie Wilder
Brown, in The Youths Companion.
Cat Hunts Rattlesnakes.