Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-07-13
LITTLE REss1E,s WISH.

LITTLE BEi5S1ES WISH.
Bessie and Billie were awfuily lone
ly. Their mamma had gone from
home the day before and left them in
charge of a very aged aunt. And
this aged aunt-by name, Aunt Mar
tina would not allow Bessie and
Billie to make any noise while at
play, for she said "children's noises,
cats fighting and dogs barking drove
her clean distracted" So, you will
readily understand that Bessie and
Billie could not enjoy their play very
much while their mamma was away.
sWe can play in the attic" whis-
pered Bessie to Billie, as they sat
very quietly in the sitting room after
breakfast. Aunt Martha was sitting
there also, darning a cry long and
very heavy woolen stocking. IF we
want to play ghost or fairy up there
Aunt Martha can't hear u.s."
"What are you whispering about?"
asked Aunt Martha, turning her
sharp eyes toward the corner where
the ~six-year-old niece and eignt-year-
old nephew sat like tortured little
mice, fearing to move lesLke old cat
might gobble them up. What are
you whispering about? Can't YOU
speak aloud? Nobody is going to eat
you! Come, who was doing the whis-
pering? I dislike to hear whispers;
they tickle my ears like a feather
wigging about in them. One only
hears sounds and can't make out the
words"
"I whispered to brother that we
might play in the attic" confessed
Bessie. We won't bother you, Aunt
Martha, if we're up there"
"But it's as cold as the North Pole
up there, child" said Aunt Martha.
However, a smile Of agreableness
played about the sharp corner OF
her mouth as she said this, for the
truth is she thought it a good idea
for "the vexatious youngsters. to play
somewhere a long way from her. She
had not been a child for sixty years,
and had forgotten all about their
needs and desires. But, II you want
to play there for half an hour, why,
go up and do so. But mind, no tam-
bling down on the floor, or shriesing,
or laughing too loudly"
"Tdy like to>stay till mamma comes
| home" whispered. Billie to Bessie, as
they crept along the hall toward the
stair. And up the steps they went
like little culprits, fearing lest their
tiny feet might make a noise to dis
turb the aged aunt below stairs, who
was communing thus to her stocking:
"Children are a dreadful bother. l
am thankful I don't have to put up
with EN- very much longer. Their
mother ought to be home some time
tomorrow. And she, silly woman,
thinks those two noisy, bad-man-
nered little brats are angels. II they
run and scream like wild Indians,
she laughs and says: Bless my
babies! Just see how happy they are.
| Babies! Ugh, six and eight! Ought
to be put at books and work every
hour of the day. They fool away val
liable time playing with toys and
reading foolish fairy tales. So few
people know how to raise children.
Hard as it would be, I'd like to take
those two children in hand and show
their parents what might be made Of
them"
Meanwhile, Bessie and Billie had
reached the attic, closed the door to
keep inside all their noise, and opened
their mouths and cried, "Goody,
goody! It's so nice to get away from
Aunt Martial"
What shall we play" asked Bil-
lie. shall we play ghost?"
ugh, no! It's so scary. brother.
The attic is so dark and I'd get so
frightened I'd hide and cry. Let's
play fairy
"All right, sister, let's play fairy.
Who'll be the fairy-you or L."
"You be the fairy, brother. and
play at I'm a little girl what's lost in
the big forest, and, and at Pm crying
for my mamma"
"All right" said Billie, all play
that I'm in a tree and Wen you come
along under 1T I look down and see
you crying, and I'll ask you. What's
the matter, little girl?' and you must
say, oh, I'm lost in the forest. and
can't find my mamma. And the bears
are about, and a big snake is under
the b~oulders, and I don't know where
to go. Oh, please, good fairy. help
me-" :.
"oh, that will be such gTea. fun"
cried Bessie, clapping her hands.
land now, let's begin"
Bessie walked along beside the box,
dropped down upon the floor, aud be-
gan her pretense of crying. "Ah, lit
tie girl, what is the matter?' asked
Billie. Scar 1 do anything for you?'
"Yes, good fairy, I'm lost in the
forest and a big bear wants to eat
me, and a big snake wants to bite my
big toe. And I can't find my mamma.
Will you help me, good fairy?"
"Yes, make a wish, and l shall