Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-05-15
WHEN RACHEL WAS CROSS


"Rachel is cross today?" complained
Jackie to grandma.
"Why, how does that happen?"
asked grandma in surprise, for Rach-
ell, grandnm's cook and laundress,
was very fond of Jackie, and looked
forward to his visits almost as much
as grandpa and grandma did them
selves. Maybe she is just busy"
said grandma. "You know Monday
is washday and very hard day for
her."
mo she's cross, very cross! She
old me to go away and not come near
her all the rest of the day."
"What were you doing to make her
say that?" and grandma's voice was
very gentle when she asked the Ques.
ton, but Jackie hung his head q lit
tie.
Nothing" he answered. "at least
nothing to make her crossi She was
hanging up the clothes. and Frits and
were playing, and-and-" Some
how 1t was hard to go on with his
story, and the little head went lower
still.
"And what?" said grandma,
well, we didn't mean to do It,
grandma! We didn't know the old
rope would break! swung on it,
and Fritz jumped up and pulled on
the clothes. and down they came, ker.
flump, and some of them got all dirty,
and Rachel said she'd have to do
them all over. She said it would take
her half an hour, and she was so cross
as two sticks to me, so she was!"
Dear mel" aid grandma. THAT
was too bad! Poor Rachel! But how
history does repeat itself"
What do you mean?" asked Jack.
lie, for gradma was laughing.
Il mean that | did the same thing
when l was little." and then she
laughed again at Jackies surprised
face.
Tell mel" begged Jackie, and
grandma answered, II will tell you IL
you sit quiet and watch the dock for
five minutes Jackie climbed into a
chair and sat still, watching the clock.
How long those five minutes were!
When they were ended, grandma said
gently. 1T will take Rachel six
times that long to get those clothes
clean again, Jacket"
"Oh, grandma, Pm sorry!" said the
little boy.
II knew you would be. That was
what my mother made me do for five
minutes when was naughty, and
then she put me to bed till the clothes
were all clean again. l never swung
on clothesline after that. l never
forgot how long the time seemed. 1t
was like putting on fairy spectacles.
1t made me see how"
II know!" said Jackie. 'It makes
me see how poor Rachel felt! Are
you going to send me to bed, grand
maj"
"No. indeed! l would have sent
your father to bed when he was lit
tie. but can't send my little visitor
to bed"
"Well, I'm going TO punish myself.
then," said Jackie. I've thought Of
two ways. One way is to go to bed
till Rachel gets the clothes clean
again. and the other way is to go help
her carry the clothes. could use
my little wagon. you know. Which
would be better?"
What do you think?" asked grand
ma.
THE wagon" answered Jackie.
$50 do l." replied grandma, III
Rachel will allow you to help"
Rachel must have been very sweet
about it, for in five minutes grand
ma heard her singing happily. and
she heard Jackie laughing and Fritz
barking. In half an hour Jackie came
running back shouting:
Its all right, grandma! The
clothes are clean, and we had the
mostest fun! Rachel said it was lots
and lots of help, ad she's going to
make me ginger cookies for dinner.
so she is"