Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-05-21

$50 ~ AAeAA6
their first warning for the
morning service when Mandy
o peeped into the spare bedroom
for the second time and glanced eau
tiously at the wisp of hair that bespoke
a feminine head somewhere between
the covers and the little white pillow
IN the four poster bed. There was no
sound from the sleeper, so Mandy ven
tured across the oom on tiptoe and
raised the shades. The dropping
boughs of autumn foliage lay SHIN
mering against the window panes, and
through them might be seen the gray
outline Of the church. Mandy glanced
again toward the bed to make sure
that the burst of sunlight had not
a small, rickety chair laden with the
discarded dnery OF 49, little Circus
rider.
"Lawdy sakesr' she cried, holding
up a spangled dress admiringly. Amt
dat beautifulF' She drew nea the
mirror, attempting to see the ref1ec-
ton of the tinsel and chiffon against
her very ample background Of ging-
ham and avoirdupois. You'd sure be
a swell Niger wild dat on honey!"
she chuckled to herself. Wouldn't
dem deacons holler If dey done see
datT'
The picture of the deacons' aston
ishment at such a spectacle SO grew
upon Mandy that she was obliged to
oouor har Uouarotc mouth RI chrf In
her convulsive laughter lest 1t awaken
the little girl In the bed. She crossed
to the old fashioned bureau which for
many months had stood unused against
the wall. The drawer creaked as she
opened 1t to lay away the gay, span
gled gown.
It'll be a mighty long time afore
she puts on dem things ag'in," she said.
with a doubtful shake Of her large,
round head.
Then she went back to the chair and
picked up Polly's sandals and exam
ined the beadwork with a great deal
Of interest "Lawdy, lawdy!" she cried
as she compared the size Of the san
dals to that of her own rough, worn
shoes. She was again upon the point
Of exploding with laughter as the
church bell added a few final and
more emphatic clangs to its warning.
She turned, with a start, motioning a
vain warning out of the window fol
the bell to be silent, but the little
sleeper was already stirring uneasily
on her pillow. One soft arm was
thrown languidly over her head. The
large blue yes opened and CLOSED
dreamily as she murmured the words
OF the clown song that Jim and Toby
had taught her years ago:
Ting ling,
That's what the bells sing
Mandy reached the side Of the bed
as the girls eyes opened a second time
and met hers with a blank stare Of
establishment. A tiny frown came into
the small white forehead.
whats the matter?" she asked
family. trying to find something ia.
miliar in the black face before her.
Hush, child, hush," Mandy whis-
pered. "Jes' you lay %pufickly still.
OATS only de furs' bell a~-ringin'."
First bellT" the girl repeated as her
eyes travelled quickly about the strange
walls and the unfamiliar fittings Of the
room. This amt the show!" she cried
suddenly.
"Lor' bless you, no! Dis amt no
shown Mandy answered, and she
laughed reassuringly.
'-Then where am II" Polly asked,
half b%reathless with bewilderment.
"Nebber you mind bout dat" was
Mandy's unsatisfactory reply.
but l do mind" protested Polly,
trying to raise herself to a sitting po-
sition. where's the bunchY'
"De. wat2" asked Mandy in SUNRISE.