The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-06-14
LITTLE BEssIE,s WISH.

/ ny. 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 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.
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 a very long and
/ very heavy wooden 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-year-old niece and eight-year-
old nephew sat like tortured little
mice, fearing to move lest the old cat
might gobble them up. What are
you whispering about? Can't you
speak aloud2 Nobody is going to eat
you! Come, who was doing the whis-
pering? / dislike to hear whispers;
they tickle my ears like feather
wigging about in them. One only
hears sounds and can't make out the
words"
or ,.vbi.rovod ~ hro+bor +ha+ xro
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 corners of
her mouth as she said this, for the
truth is she thought it a good idea
for the vexatious youngsters" to play
somewhere long way from her. She
had not been 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 noise to dis
turb the aged aunt below stairs, who
was communing thus to her stocking:
children are dreadful bother. /
am thankful / don't have to put up
4 with 'em very much longer. Their
/ mother ought to be home some time
4 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
babiesi 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,
I goody It's so nice to get away from
Aunt Martial"
What shall we play?" asked Bill
lie. Shall we play ghost?"
ugh, mol It's so scary, brother.
The attic is so dark and I'd get so
4 frightened I'd hide and cry. Let's
play fairy"
"All right, sister, let's play fairy
Who'll be the fairy--you or I?''
\ "You be the fairy, brother, and
4 play at I'm little girl what's lost in
the big forest, and, and at I'm crying
for my mamma"
i "All right" said Billie, eIIl play
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
fthe matter, little girl9' ana you must
4 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 don't know where
to go. Oh, please, good fairy, help
me-
"Oh. that will be such great fun,
cried Bessie, clapping her hands,
Es'And now, let's begin.
Bessie walked along beside the box,
dropped down upon the floor, and be-
\ gan her pretense of crying All. lit
Il tie girl, what is the matter?" asked
u Billie. scar / do anything for your !
Yes. good fairy. I'm lost. in the
forest and a big bear wants to eat
me, and a bis snake wants to bite my
y big toe. And can't find my mamma
VIII you help me, good fairy?y
Y YES. make wish, and I shall
grant it, replied Billie.
Well. good fairy, want my dear
mamma. replied Bessie, and her
voice trenbled a bit as she said this.
I for she voiced her dearest wish in
! very truth as well as in play.
Billie waved his wand. saying,
Wave, wand, for luck Wave wave.
to help those in distress Wave.
wand. ana keep the bear from eating
her Wave, wand, and strangle the
snake before it bites her big toe.