The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31


sound except the moaning of the
wind in the treetops Margerys
heart almost stopped beating as she
passed from the bright sunlight into
the cool and solemn place
Far away a mourning dove called
10 its absent mate. The plaintive
sound seemed to answer to the sorrow
in her heart
At her feet a tiny bird huttered along
tse path so near that for a moment it
frightened her.
Here. now. Margery Wood" she said
10 herself. "thisll never dor You're
not a baby
You know you've got to go up to
that schoolhouse and get that teacher
10 come 10 see your sick mother.
Amt you ashamed OF yourself to
he so frightened; you've been through
these woods before.
And for your sick mother. too. You
ought TO be ashamed OF yourselfp'
Msrgery had been through the woods
before, but never alone. She would
not have come through them today,
only il would save a mile walk and lots
OF ume-s.nd time is a very valuable
thing when you've got a sick mother
at home all alone.
So she ran along as fast as she could
over tho pine needles that were scat
tered on the ground like a thick. soft
carpet. She did not even stop to look
al the pretty pine cones that were scat
tered ali around or pick the wildfiowers
that grew where a tiny streak Of sun
light wandered in through the thick
boughs.
she came 20 the little stream. the
place she dreaded most OF all. She
L -.
stones; she knew IL was wide and
rather deep, But she said TO herself
again. You ought to be ashamed of
YOURSELF" and started bravely across
The stones were too far apart for her
ittbe feet and slippery with wet moss
But she got from one to another till
she was almost across-on the last
stone-when loud "Boo?' almost at
her elbow made her lose her footing
and so splsshing into the water.
Fortunately IL was not deep, so near
the edge, and she did not get her shoes
and stockings wet-for the reason that
she had none on.
She scrambled out, more angry than
hurt, for, after the first moment. she
had recognized the voice OF a neigh
bor's boy
It's YOU ought 10 be ashamed Of
Yourself Jack Warren, instead of me
she cried, unconsciously spea king what
had been in her mind few moments
before.
Can't YOU let anybody alone? And
mothers sick. too. I was Just going
Up 70 school TO get teacher TO come
down and see her"
-'Oh. you're an awful boy
The fright. added TO her anxiety. was
100 much for her and she sat down
on the bank and began to sob bit
.tenly.
.oh. never mind. Margery. I never
meant 10 do IL. il was only in fun.
There. don't cry. You'd better
hurry along or you'll miss the teacher.
school VIII be out in Just a little
while
So she started on She did not feel
rs much afraid as before and she hur-
NED along Till she got out OF the wood
When she came out on the road she
could see the .schoolhouse The door
was shut and she was afraid the
teacher was gone, 50 she began to run.
When she got there and went up
the little path 10 the door she found
III locked Her heart sank. but. run
ming out 20 the road again she looked
snXiously down the hill
Yes. there was teacher" hdrryiue
along Oh. she must try to catch up
with her
It was very tired and GREATNESS
little girl who finally touched Teacher
on the arm
Why. Margery. dear" said Miss
Hilton WHATS the matter? There,
lets sit down on this rock here by the
road and rest a little. BY and by you
can tell me what it is"
Mammals sick. Miss Hilton. She's
been sick ever since yesterday morn
ing
she wants TO see you very much.
She told me 10 ask you II you wouldn't
come home with me now. She wants
10 see you about something very inn
portsnt. she said, right away
I thought I'd get to the schooIhouse
before you went home. It's so far.
clear down to Smiths. I would have
come earlier. but mamma felt so mis-
cradle. 7 didn't like TO leave her.
But she felt so worried and wanted
To see you so badly that finally 1
thought IL better come"
Certainly, Margery, I'll 20 home
with you right now. Wen go by the
way Of the road, for it is nearly time
for the stage and Uncle Billy will
surely give US a ride"
Msrgery's mother was q widow,
Young and poor, but she possessed a
bright mind and a brave heart and she
rad faced the world courageously for
her little girls sake.
She had moved into a tiny house on
the outskirts Of the little mountain
settlement a few months before The
house was old and had been vacant
= long time, so the rent was very
cheap. She had gone around among
the neighbors helping with the house
work during the busy season or caring
FOR the sick, always taking her little
girl with her.
Sometimes she got sewing to do at
home. This suited her better than go
ing out 10 work in other peoples
houses. Lately she had taken up
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