River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-09-04
CONTINUED from last week.

"Say, Molly, look at the snake
brunged your he exclaimed as he came
close under the sill, which is not high
from the ground. IF you put your
face down to the mud and sing some
thing to 'em they'll come outen they
holes. A doodle bug coined, too, but
couldn't ketch 'em both. Lift me up,
and l can put him in the water glass
on your table," He held up one muddy
paddle to me, and promptly | lifted
him up into my arms. From the en-
brace in which he and the worm and
| INDUCED my lace and dimity came
out much the worse.
THAT was a lovely song you sang
about Molly, darling Billy" ! said
Where did you hear it?"
THAT'S a good bug song, Molly. and
bet l can git lizard with it, too, if
sing it right low" He began to
squirm out of my arms toward the ia
BILE and the glass.
"Who taught it to you. sugar sweet?'
persisted as poured water in on the
squirming worm under his direction.
Nobody taught it to me. Doc sings
1t to me when Tilly, nurse nor you
amt there to put me to bed. He don't
know no good songs like Roll, Jordan,
Roll or Hot Times or Twinkle !
go to sleep quick cause he makes me
feel tired with his slow tune what's
only good for bugs. Git hairpin for
me to poke him with. Molly. quick!'
l found the hairpin, and don't know
why my hand trembled as | handed it
to Billy. AS soon as he got 1t he
climbed out the window, glass, bug
and all, and | saw him and the red set
ter go down the garden walk together
IN pursuit of the desired lizard. | sup
pose. | closed the blinds and drew the
curtains again and flung myself on my
pillow. Something warm and sweet
seemed to be sweeping over me in
great waves, and l felt young and
close up to some sort of big world
good. 1t was delicious, and | don't
know how long | would have stayed
there just feeling it if Judy hadn't
brought in my letter.
was many pages Of wonderful things
all favored with me. He told me about
Miss Chester and what good friends
they were and how much he hoped
she would be in Hillsboro when he got
here. He said that a great many of her
dainty ways reminded him of his
'own slip of girl" especially the turn
of her head like flower on its STEM"
At that | rot right out of bed like
jack jumping out of box and looked
at myself in the mirror.
There Is one exercise here on page
twenty that l hate worst of all. You
screw up your face tight until you look
like a Christmas mask to get your
neck muscles taut and then wobble
your head around like newborn baby
until it swims. l did that one twenty
extra times and al the others in pro
portion to make up for those two hours
in bed Hereafter I'll get up at the
time directed on page three or maybe
earlier. 1t frightens me to think that
I've got only few weeks more to turn
from a cabbage rose into a lily.
won't let myself even think luscious
peach" and string beam" If ] do
get warm and happy all over and let
up on myself. | try when | get hun
CRY to think of myself in that blue
muslin dress.
/ haven't been really willing before to
write down in this torture volume that
7 took that garment TO the civ with
me and what Nine. Rene did to it
made it over into the lovelest thing
ever saw. only | wouldn't let her alter
the size one single inch. I'm honor
able as all women are. at peculiar
times | think she understood. but she
seemed not to and worked a miracle on
it with ribbon and lace. I've put it
away on the top shelf of closet, for
it is torment to look at 1t.
You can just take any old recipe for
a party and mix up a debut for girl.
but it takes more time to concoct one
for a widow. especially if it is for
yourself. | spent all the rest of the
day doing almost nothing and thinking
until felt lightheaded. Finally | had
just about given up any idea of blaze
and had decided to leak out in general
society as quietly as my clothes would
let me when a real confagration was
lighted inside me-
If Tom Pollard wasn't my own first
cousin would have loved him desper
ately even if l am a week Older than