The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-10

Fla Eye, whose real name was
Sophia Fidelia Williams. lived with
Aunt Lou and Uncle Chad In the white
house with the green shutters on
Third street, in Wautuska. The rea-.
son she lived there was because Fla
Eye was an orphan. which means that
your papa and mamma have gone
away and will never come back. But
some day you will see them again
when the Angel takes you.
Aunt Lou was Uncle Chad's sister,
and Uncle Chad was the best man in
the whole world. He worked in the
bank where the bright pennies are,
and he laughed great deal. Aunt
Lou did not laugh so much-in fact,
she hardly ever laughed-but she was
dear auntie.
Il am afraid" said Aunt Lou, a
great many times, to Uncle Chad,
that Fla Eye is not a normal child.
She is SO serious, and ] never heard
of such a good child. She is almost
uncanny."
This was before Fla Eye learned
the advantages of sin.
Fla Eye was rather uncanny in some
things. Her eyes We're too large. PEG.
pie always said:
oh, yes, know Fla Eye. She is
that Williams child with the big eyes,
One day Aunt Lou decided that Fla
Eye was old enough to go to Sunday
school. Miss Grace, who lived in the
brown house across the street, had
been talking to Aunt Lou, and Miss
Grace taught the infant class at Sum
day school. She wanted Fla Eye. She
loved Fla Fye-as everybody loved
her-and she promised to let Fla Eye
sit right next, to her and hold her
hand The next Sunday Fla Eye, in
her prettiest dress went to Sunday
| school.
| Miss Grace did not teach her little
She sat in the midst of them and told
them nice stories and gave them
| pretty cards to take home and let
them ask questions. Fla Eye asked a
great many, and when she came away
she had learned something very Inn
portant. If q little girl was good
little girl. some day the Angel would
come and take her away; but If she
was bad little girl the Angel would
never, never take her. To be bad was
to sin and the Angel never took sin
ners.
Uncle Chad led the singing at Sun
day school, and he always walked
home with Miss Grace, except when
she walked with Billy Webster, and
today he and Miss Grace }seemed to
have great many things to talk
about. SO Fla Eye had nothing to dis.
turb her thoughts on the way home
1t was clear she had been making q
great mistake; she had been inviting
the Angel to carry her OFF. Instead Of
being as good as possible 1t was nee
essary for her to be as bad as she
could. She must sin.
At Miss Grace's gate Uncle Chad
4. paused He was clearly not hall
through with the interesting things he
had to talk over with Miss Grace.
Nov. Fla Eye" he said, you run
across home. like good little GIRL
Miss Grace smiled. LET her stay
Chad" she said.
"All right. You may stay" said
Uncle Chad, and Fla Eye felt her sin.
fulness pass away. She was sorry
Fla Eye sat on the porch step while
Uncle Chad and Miss Grace talked.
Fla Eye loved Miss Grace. Ever
since she had lived with Aunt Lou
Fla Eye had found in Miss Grace a
suitable companion for her years
Miss Grace did not do foolish things
with dolls as the little girls did, nor
dill she treat Fla Eye as an odd child,
as other ladies did She answered
questions and did not laugh at them,
and she never Rugged and kissed Fla
Eye except just at the right time
when, Fla Eye wanted to be Rugged
and kissed.
Fla Eye sat on the steps and list.
ened as long as she could bear It,
From time to time she opened her
mouth to speak, but Uncle Chad and
Miss Grace were chatting so eagerly
that there was no opportunity for a
little girl, to say. anything There was
| nothing on Miss Grace's lap but fan,
and at length Fla Eye quietly removed
the fan and started to climb upon Miss
Grace's knee.
Don't Fla Eye" Uncle Chad ad.
monished. Miss Grace doesn't want
you on her lap"
Fla Eye set her lips firmly and
| edged farther on to the coveted knee.
Let her be, Chad" Miss Grace
urged II like to hold her. would
like to steal her away from auntie,
and keep her forever and ever.
Wouldn't /, Fla Eyer q
"If you wanted to steal another
member of the family" saiG Uncle
Chad, Il think you could be accommo.
dated. know one who leaves him.
self lying around quite promiscuously.
just to tempt you, but you won't have
him.
"If he was as good as Fla Eye
laughed Miss Grace, II might be
tempted, but he smokes, and he leases
me, and he isn't as good as Fla Fye.''
Uncle Chad did not seem the least
bothered by this. He laughed. Fla
Eye looked from one to the other. She
longed to be like Uncle Chad
"Of course" Uncle Chad said, with
his eyes still laughing, Il know am
not as good as / might be. Teasing
is so natural to me. / even tease Fla
Eye. and that is like tickling the
Sphinx In Ghe ribs. And / smoke, but
that is to drown my VICE. But we can't
| all be like Won and Fla Eve That ~