The Washington times., 1913-08-13
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
JEMIMA AND JACK-Part /.

TEMIMA and Jack lived in the attic
% az old farm house. and they
had sat under the caves so many
summers and winters that they
had lost all count OF time. Jemima was
a china doll and she wore a little buff
colOred straw bonnet tied under her
chin with narrow blue ribbon and trim
med with forgct-mc-nOts. Her dress
was made with many little ruffies
around the SIX IT. and over her shoulders
she wore cape that matched her skirt.
and underneath that was a tight-fitting
waist.
This dress and cape were made of
drab-colored silk and trimmed with very
narrow black velvet ribbon. Jemima
sat in a little wooden rocking chair
looking straight at the stairway at the
end of the attic
Beside her on top Of a box was Jack
stretched out full length and looking
" at the ceiling as though he expected
20 see some one drop from there and
help him and Jemima to change their
positions. which they had kept for so
mar summers and winters.
Jack was a wooden jumping Jack, and
II some one would only pull string, he
| would jump into shapes that an acrobat
would envy.
A short dista>c from Jack and Je-
NINA was a little TIN kitchen and lit
| tic red rocking chair just large enough
for a child.
| One night Jemima said to Jack: Did
you think you heard children talking
! today. or was I asleep and dreaming"
"You must have been doing. Je
NINA" said Jack Il used TO think |
heard children talking often after We
came here to live. but It was all imag-
nation: there are no children here now.
Only the old people ar" here and they
never think Of US only once year
when they clean house.
20. how | long to get outdoors once
more" said J--Iua: my mistress used
70 spread a tea table for me under an
! old apple tree In the orchard and we
had calico tea and tiny biscuit cut out
with a thimble."
That was a long time ago, Jelmma. "
said Jack: Il expect We are old people
now, we have been here so long. Why
won't you marry me. JemIma? We have
got t2 spend our DAYS in this attic. l
am sure, and yOu VIII be an old maid
] am sure II you wait any longer Do
say YES. Jemima. please
How many times have | told YOU.
Jack. that did not feel that [ should
marry Jumping Jack said Jemima,
without taking her eyes from the stairs
Really | should make good match
coming as do from such an old family
as mine"
But. Jemima. w"uldn't YOU rather
marry me than be an old maid" asked
I Jack
'W-e-l-l | suppOs" / had." said Je-
! NINA. rather doubtfuny, "but some one
, suitable may com" along, Jack, ana /
! think I will wait a It'll. longer am
, sure heard rhiIdrem's voices today and
! may b" taken out Of tn" attir and
! meet faJ"."' Jack sIl,.rd As Jrmma fin
/ ishcd sp"aklng i lowe ?ou. Jcnma. .
! IA" saIL and | VIII wait for YOU. II
J You do not nnd thu one You arr looking
| for. Will YOU marry me-
Yes, I WILL Jack. if something does
/ not happen soon I" take m" out Of this
, attic | Will marry you." said JrmIma.
Il feel mst as 'oung IS ever I'D. 90
| said Jack, and # some one would only
/ pull the string am sure YOU would
agree with n", and You are just as
! handsom" as GU were th, day we met.
J"mima. You have not changed a bit
Jemima tried 10 appear Indifferent 10
! this remark from her lover. but she
smiled a little showing that it pleased
| her to be told shr was as beautiful as
ever after all these Winters and sum
, mcIs.
! The next III ruIuc Il nols" WIS heard
on ~" stHns ] aiding to tho attic ant
/ Will" J"milua started and VAS sure Sh"
| heard ChI'dT"n'a }uIc"s. Il little head
! appeared AID tho next IhIuv JcmimL
| knew two little @iIls stood on the top
! stair and looked over the attic
Ihcr" sh'. Is. over In the corner.
! under tn" caves. said on" little girl
| ""ra"dmOth"r saId she was my moth
ci coll when she was Il Iittl- girl. -
sad one mn" girl named Frances
! Yes. and there Is the little rocking
rhar my mother used I" sit in. | know
| 1t II h""aus" she has told me about the.
| lttlr red rocking hair lots Of times. 90