The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-28
MARY'S SECRET
By Rebecca P. Utter

Come, Mary" said her grand
mother. let's get old Kit harnessed
up You ana l, and take a drive to
the store. want some coffee and
some cheese. and maybe Wen find a
letter at 4hr postoftice
oh, goody" exclaimed Mary,
jumping nv and down. Let me drive
won't you. grandma? ! know how ~
/ turn to the right Now Tommy you
atch the chickens, and don't let
! hem scratch my moss while ! m gone.
I Take this branch and, II any OF them
i come nearer than that tree, YOU fly at
them and scare them all to pieces
This was work after Tommy's own
heart; and he obediently took the lilac
branch which Mary offered him. and
sat down on the doorstep to watch.
dary's rockcry was the pride and JOY
Of both tho children. It was a little
pile of stones which they had care
fully collected from the roadsides
and covered with moss from the
woods, In he centre Of the heap was
leakv tin pan also carefully covered
and lined with moss which TO the
children's imaginations represented
beautiful lake. and which they pa
tiently fillcG with water as often as
/ they found Il which was
many times a day, But eternal vigil
! lance WAS the price OF the roekery;
1 for the chle iSens were constantly at
tracted lay the green moss and the
fresh water. and a very few vigorous
| kicks of their yellow legs made havoc
| which Mary and Tommy could repair
: only ut the cost of bours o. toll.
Ma Y went skipping round the cor
uer Of the house where, upon Il bench
near the Kitchen door was tin basin
and some soap, while a long roller
towel hung conveniently near. At
home, In tlseir city house. the chill
dren were no more fond Of washing
hands and faces than children usually
are; but AZ grandma's. where they
might do II out OF doors. pumping
the water themselves, and emptying
1t afterward upon the roots Of the
grape vine ANA rose bushes. the pro-
cess was always delightful and inter
esting. Sc Mary washed herself with
, prais worldly zeal and thorough ness.
tliing her basin several times. ana
going through rinsings enough to
/ cleanse the dustiest tramp on RECORD.
A little later she stood by the gate
under the maple tree. In clean white
apron and shady hat and. climbing
into the buggy beside her grand
mother. rode slowly down through
Fthc orchard tn the big gate. There
Mary jumped out again. and. unlatch-
ing the gale, stood on the lower bar
and. with Il push Of her foot went
swinging OFT till the gate stood wide
open, and cld Kit marched solemnly
out TO the road
How beautiful was the June morn
ing The hills and fields were flooded
with sunshine. and now and then the
shadow of a tieecy cloud went gliding
across. The birds sang in the oak and
maple trees, and the air was sweet
with the fragrance Of young leaves
and blooming orchards If I should
| write the very first words that come
| to my MIND as | recall the feelings
with which | used to ride along that
road, coming from the city for a sum-
n.er visit, they would be these. LAS
rest is sweet to the weary, and the
cooling stream TO him that is athirst"
Mary would not have used just those
words, / suppose but she felt the
same Leace and joy. For some time
they rode on in silence. till meeting
a loaded wagon. old Kit turned to
the side Of the road to give 1t room
to pass,
That WIS very good" said the
grandmother Il see tou do know
how to turn to the right"
why" said Mary, suddenly sitting
up very straight, II never did thing.
| forgot al about driving. Old Kit
did il all herself"
"a wonder what you were thinkfnA
about" said grandma, smiling, that
made YOU forget everything else. Old
Kit knows lust where we are going, /
and this road is safe and quiet; but
good driver should be watchful and
not forget"
II have just made up my mind to
toll you" said Mary. gravely, I'VE
have n great secret, grandma; nobody
knows It but Tommy and me; and
now ! arr going to tell you. and that
will make three"
Well answered grandma, Il am
glad you like To share 1t with me. |
will help YOU keep it as well as / can"
This is the secret" said Mary, "all |
this world belongs to Tommy and /
me--this whole world"
Does it really" said grandma, en- |
tering immediately into the spirit OF
the occasion. We'll. 1t is beaAti- |
full world. and hope you and Tommy
will enjoy il for a great many years. |
How long has it been yours?"
II don't know" replied Mary. 1--WE |
only found i. out since We came here
TO the farm But, grandma, we don't |
want 1t to make any difference; we
want to have things go on just the +
same. You can drive Kit along this I
road 70 the store. and keep the calves /
in the pasture, and use the apples |
only We shall want to eat all we can |
Jof those that get ripe before we go |
home"
Yes, OF course" assented grandma /
I'm very glad You told me. for now !.
l shall feel like taking better care of |
things than ! ever did, because they /
are Al fcr you. And I'm very glad. |