The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-08-31
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SuSie'S Mother.
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admired her aching but never
wholly relaxed back and called SAT
tention, children!" She would never
know that some of the happiest mo-
ments of my life were spent in imita-
ting her voice and manner.
We were playing school under the
apple trees at the side Of Susie's
house. can see Susie's honest.
freckled little face now as she biinked
up at me over her pince-nez made Of
hairpins. | have not seen Susie these
many years. | wonder If she remem-
bers that day.
dragged mothers black alpaca
skirt across the grass and pounded
the table with Susie's fathers cane.
When | squinted around my hairpin
Eyeglasses I could see that Susie, the
teacher In the next room off
by a tree trunk-was watching me
rather than playing the game herself.
However. | was not troubled. only
BATTERED.
Presently Susies mother came fy-
Ing out of the house She looked like
child herself, with her bright hair
blowing in the breezes, with her mer-
ry blue eyes and her child's laugh
that dubbed over at the sight of my
: severity.
i've got some cookies, she began;
then as | stared at her stolidly over
my hairpin. she spoke in a piping,
childlike tone
Please, ma'am, mother thought
you'd like some of her cookies.
They're Just baked"
Susie giggled. but responded ma
jestically Thank your mother; she
Is very kind. You may leave them
on the desk and III eat them very
SOON"
With a bobbing little courtesy that
made the corners of my mouth curl,
Susie's mother placed the cookies on
the rickety table, and still laughing,
few back to the house.
was singing, Lightly row, lightly
row. at the top of my voice, to the
Inconvenience, of the teacher in the
next room, when Susie's mother came
again out of the back door. This
time she dropped down on the grass
In front of me and "raised her hand"
Please, ma am, didn't know but
what you'd like to come to tea with
me and mother.
But before l could answer this de-
-nghtful summons there came cry
from Susie.
sob, mother. there comes father;
he's sick againl"
In fash the girIish face of Susie's
mother grew old and gray She
sprang to her feet. Then saw, COM
Ing down the road toward the house,
.Susie's father, Keeling from one side
OF the walk to the other. now clutch
ing gatepost on the inside, now fall
ing against tree on the outside.
Susies mother said in a low,
strained voice. hear it now-"Nev-
er mind the tea party dears." She
flew into the house and shut the back
door after her.
With open mouth and wide eyes,
trembling with faintness and fear, I
watched the man. Would he come in
at the side gate? I was ready to
climb the fence to-but no, he passed
on to the front Then there was ST.
lence. Susie's little freckied face had
turned white, her small .igure
seemed to have shrunk together. I
wondered miserably what TO do next.
Then there came sounds from the
house-horrible shoutings and laugh
ter and oaths; then there broke across
those sounds another that seemed to
stop my heart-a woman's high, shrill
shrek, which died out as swiftly as
1t came.
/ caught mothers alpaca skirt in
both hands. Tin going home, :"
cried oversmy shoulder as I sped
away.
Down the road I ran. The long
skirt entangled my eager little feet;
twice fell. At last, dusty, sobbing,
painting, I flew up my home path and
dung myself on my mother. sitting
sweet and cool on the piazza.
Why, dearie, what's the natter"
She gathered me close.
On, was so scared-so scared .
That was all l could say, and mother
rocked me but asked no questions.
Then down the road as had come
came another little figure. stumbling
and clutching cumbersome entan-
Cling skirt. 1t was Susie. She too
was sobbing. Mother put me down
and won't to meet her.
why little Susie, what's the mat
ter?"
"oh, think mothers dead! Please
come, quick!"
Mother caught susie's hand. "Why.
yes, dear, Of course I'll come, but
you mustn't think " heard no
more; mother and Susie had gone
away together
waited moment, then a fear
seized me. Suppose anything should
happen to my mother! That great
dread OF child's life that she may
lose her mother--held me- | twisted
The black alpaca skirt around in front,
unfasteaed the safety pins with
clumsy fingers and slipped out of it,
leaving it In heap at the top O.; the
steps Then after the two | rushed
but when | reached Susie's house
they had passed in, leaving the front
door ajar
crept into the hall. The house
was very still: the awful sounds were
no more. The door into the little
sitting room was open peered in
I had always thought this was