The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-07-14
LITTLE BESSIE'S WISH.

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 !
tha- would not aliur 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
I'VE 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 very long and
very heavy wcolen stocking. IF we
want to play ghost or fairy up there
Aunt Martha can't hear US"
What are YOU whispering about"
asked Aunt Martha. turning her
sharp eyes toward the corner where
the siX-yeaI-Cld niece ard eight-year-
old nephew sat like tortured little
mice, fearing to move lest the old cat
might sobble them up. What are
you whispering about? Can't YOU
speak aloud? Nobody is going to eat
You! Come. who was doing the whis-
perinE? I dislike 10 hear whispers:
they tickle my ca:s like feather
wiGging about in them. One only
hears sounds and cant make out the
words"
Il whispered to brother that we
might play in the attic" confessed
Eessie. 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, smile OF agreaSIeness
played about the sharp corners of
her mouth as she said this. for the
truth is she thought it good idea
for the veEatious youngsters" to play
somewhere long way from her. She
had not been n child for sixty years,
and had forgotten all about their
needs and desires. But, if you want
to play there for half an hour. why,
go up and do so. But mind, no tum-
bling down on the floor, or shrieking,
or laughing too loudly"
I'D 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. II
am thankful I don't have to put up
with 'em 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. If 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 Martha"
What shall we play" asked Bill
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 -"
You he the fairy. brother. and
play at I'm a little girl what's lost in
the big forest. and, ard at I'm crying
for my mamma"
"All right" said Billie, I'll plav
that I'm in a tree and Wien you come
along under it / 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 big snake is under
the boulders, and l don't know where
to go. Oh, please, good fairy, help
me-"
"Oh, that will be such grea: fun
cried Bessie, clapping her hands.
And now, let's begin"
Bessie walked along beside the box.
dropped down upon the floor, and be-
gan her pretense of crying. "Ah, lit
tie girl, what is the matter?" asked
Billie. Gar do anything for you?"
fnt