The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-09-03
LITTLE BETTY'S VISIT.

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LITTLE BETTY'S VISIT.
Elizabeth was tired of staying
quietly at home all vacation. Her
little friends were having such per-
fectly beautiful times with week at
the seashore and another at the lake
and day trips all over everywhere.
She could not understand why she
had to be contented just playing
around the garden. To be sure, it
was a very nice garden, indeed, and
the flowers grew sweet and fragrant.
But little Betty was tired of it all just
DOW.
Mother" she said one morning,
~why can't I go to Asbury Park as
we'll as Jennie?"
Jennie was Elizabeth's particular
friend, you must know.
Mother stopped sewing for a min
ute and looked with surprised blue
eyes at her little daughter.
why, Betty" she said, quite gen.
tly, do you want to go so very
much?"
Betty was a little bit ashamed for
not being a contented and satisfied
little girl when she saw the hurt look
in her mothers face. That look came
very often nowadays - as, for in
stance, when Betty wanted a new
blue dress like Jennie's, and when
her best doll got broken and could
not be replaced. Betty did not know
the reason. of course, or perhaps she
would not have been peevish about
these small privations. Just now it
was trip to Asbury Park she wanted,
so she said so.
Yes, mother, want to go so much
Il don't see why l have to stay home
all the time and play in my garden.
1t isn't any fun at ALL"
Mother turned back to her work
sadly.
Il am so sorry, dear. We can't af
ford to go away this summer at all.
I was hoping my little girl was quite
happy and contented here at home
with daddy and me-"
When mother said that, Betty was
very sorry, indeed, that she had said
anything about Asbury Park.
However, a few days later, when
she came in from the garden, she was
almost wild with delight when she
found that her Aunt Elizabeth, after
whom she had been named, had in
vited her for weeks stay at her cot
tage down at the seashore. Betty was
very happy about it, you may be sure,
and the week that followed the invi-
tation was as busy and happy as Betty
had ever known. There were so
many things to be made ready for
her trip, so many little frockS and
things to be done up neatly. Betty
often caught her mother looking at
her with sad, wistful eyes that week.
You see, this little girl had never been
away from her mother in all the
eight years of her life. She had ney
ar visited Aunt Elizabeth, and nearly
all she knew of this aunt was that
she sent her small namesake all sorts
Of wonderful toys and dolls and
dresses on her birthday and at Christ
mas. There were occasional visits,
when Aunt Elizabeth would come to
the little home, SO modest and plain,
in sort Of blaze of glory, with lovely
rich frocks and marvellous hats and
jewels. So, of course, Betty was most
eager to visit this wonderful aunt.
The day came at last, and mother
took her little daughter TO the sta
ton, checked her bag through and
made her little girl comfortable in
one of the big seats.
Now, darling she said, have the
very best time you can, and remem-
Der that mother and daddy are think
ing about you all the time-and that
even the old garden is waiting for lit
tie Betty to come back"
Elizabeth waved goodbye gayiy
when the train started, but they
hadn't gone far before she became in
tensely interested in all she saw fly
ing so swiftly past the car windows.
Oh, it was fine to feel the thro5 and
sway Of the car. Houses, factories,
gardens, went whizzing past, little
groups of children and grown-ups.
do not know when Elizabeth got
tired and began to think of mother
and daddy and the old garden 1t
was a long time before the conductor
came to her and told her to get ready,
as she was to get off at the next sta
ton. Even when she saw Aunt Ellz-
abeth and the fine carriage she was
still thinking about home.
Well, we'll" said Aunt Elizabeth,
picking her up, here is the poor
child! And how did you like your
journey?'
e 1t was very nice, said Betty, try
ing to be polite.
She enjoyed the ride to the house,
and though at first she was fright
ened little by all the grandeur, she
she had been taken to her little room
she was left very much alone, though
Aunt Elizabeth had told her to make
| herself at home.
There were a good many servants
about and everything was so very fine
poor little Betty was afraid to touch
things Then Uncle John, Aunt EliZ-
abeth's husband, had big eyes, which
g1ared at her whenever she did or
said anything She slid over the
shiny floors one day, and Uncle John
said Grossly:
The child seems to think our par
quet floors an ice pond