Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-01-10
Susanna An1uSeS
Herself

"There!" said Susanna's mother as
she turned Susanna around with one
hand and surveyed the work of art
that Susanna was in travelling cos
tune Of white linen and fresh blue
bow on shining curls. You're all
ready now. don't believe, Aunt
Lena, that there is a thing Susanna
can get into before the machine comes
| for u.s."
I've put the cat out doors caught
her tying Irvine tightly around its
throat a while ago-and her toys are
packed and I've told the cook not to
let her into the Kitchen" went on
Susanna's mother. 'You know she
fell head foremost into the -four bin
yesterday. She can't open the bath
room door if we keep it tight shut, so
| there's no danger of her drowning her.
self in the tub as she almost did last
week. In fact, | think she's safe, so
I'll get my things on in peace!"
| Then Susanna disappeared so COM
pletely that she might have been watt
| ed up the chimney. But after her
mother and her Aunt Lena had fran
tically searched the house, calling her
name in various tones Of beseeching
and threatening, they found the door
of the guest room locked
Beating the door violently, Susan
mas mother called to know if her child
was within. A chuckle answered her
| from inside.
Susanna, DEAR" her mother said, in
carefully depressed tones. open the
| door for mother!"
Susanna chuckled again. "'Tan't!"
| she remarked cheerfully. Use locked
| it,"
/ She had. And the key was on her
side of the door. 1t was now twenty
minutes of the time to go. Susanna's
mother put her hands wildly to her
head and appealed to Susanna's aunt.
Whatever shall l do?" she moaned.
Susanna" Aunt Lena said in her
sternest tones, made sharp by stress,
unlock that door at once!"
Nothing happened. From the sound
it appeared that the culprit was stroll
ing about the room enjoying her sur
vey of the furniture.
my goodness!"l said her mother.
IF / could only lay hands of her!
Susanna, listen! We're going on the
train and we'll be late-unlock the
door for mother, that's good girl"
"You should use firmness instead Of
cajoling her!" objected Aunt Lena,
disapprovingly.
I'D use anything from a pickax to
bribery" declared Susanna's harassed
mother. Susanna! Won't you please
try, dear?"
"'Tan't!" Susanna reported casual
ly after she had touched the key slight
ly. Susanna tan't make it go!"
''Try again!" wheedled her mother.
You shall have some candy!"
Susanna appeared to touch the key
with the tip of one finger and then
she grew bold with the situation.
"Oh!" he gurgled from the window,
"See the pretty birdie!"
There now remained ten minutes
before the automobile must start. SUI
sanna's mother was on her knees be-
fore the door with wire hairpin.
why wasn't l born a burglar" she
moaned. What is it they use to turn
keys from the outside, anyhow, Aunt
Lena?"
II think it is a wrench-or tweez.
ers!" contributed Aunt Lena. wait,
I'll get the tweezers!"
With trembling fingers Susanna's
mother inserted the tweezers-and
pushed the key entirely out. She
heard it fall on the floor. Then she
heard her daughters voice raised in
little burst of song.
81 shall go mad!" she cried "1f
miss that train Fred will be so dis,
appointed"
"The inventive mind of children"
remarked Aunt Lena, lis certainly
wonderful"
Somehow / can't bring my mind
to regard it that way at this present
moment" objected Susanna's frantic
mother Then with a burst of spira-
ton she beat upon the door. Susan
! nal" she ordered. "You pick that key
up at once and throw it out of the
window! At once! Thank goodness.
it's open!"
The idea seemed to appeal to SUI
sauna. She picked up the key after
sitting down twice in her efforts to
do so. Then she burst into song again.
It was within three minutes time
to depart.
Outside on the grass Susanna's
mother besought and threatened. Up