Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-01-27
GOLD THREAD
BY MYRIA ALICE LITTLE.

her doll Harriet, where mother had
sent her to watch for the mailman.
Voices drifted out from the dining
room window over the new purple
balls On the tips Of the lilac stems and
Sally Sue couldn't help hearing. But
some of the things were very perplex-
ing.
That was mothers voice now:
you're my best friend, Harriet Dins-
more, and Merton is nay favorite
brother, and you can't expect me to
take sides. But what can have hap
pened to two people who thought, as
much of each other as you did, is
more than l can imagine!"
81 haven't said anything has hap
pened, have II"
Sally Sue pulled her pink apron
down over her fat knees with a jerk.
Didn't Aunt Harriet's voice sound
queer? All ,graty and sobby! But
Sally Sue mustn't call her "Aunt"
Harriet now. She had told Sally Sue
that only that very morning"
And now Aunt-Miss Harriet was
telling mother she hadn't said any
thing had happened.
Out from the window fioated moth
er's voice: "Why do you work your
self sick over that enormous center
piece Harriet? The cOlors are lovely,
and your work is exquisite, but if you
left those autumn shades without all
that extra padding and embroidery,
and got some fresh air, and got things
fixed with Merton, wouldn't you be
happier?"
Sally Sue couldn't understand the
biggest words, but she understood the
tone quite well. Then she heard Miss
Harriet say clearly: 81 shall never be
happy again! But there's no sense in
my not finishing this thing, is there?
I can sell it. I've got to have some
gold thread, though. And you can't
get it in this little old town, can your
SO Aunt Harriet wasn't happy at
all.
"Jes' s soon s the mailman comes,
Harwiet, we're goin' off" confided
Sally Sue softly to the doll in her
arms. Course we can get some gold
fred in this OF town."
Here's the mailman" shouted Sally
Sue And mother ran out to the box.
There was only one letter this morn
ing, and that was for Aunt-Miss Har-
riet.
Standing in the doorway, Sally Sue
saw all the white come into pretty
auntie's face, and she saw her just
tear the envelope open.
"He says he's sorry he-didn't I'M
derstand-and the centerpiece is very
pretty" said Aunt Harriet, and then
she crumpled all up in mothers arms.
81 don't ever want to see Merton 1rv-
ing again !" said Miss Harriet distinct
ly. "But I'm going to finish that cen
terpiece, if l never do another thing"
Sally Sue tiptoed down the steps.
"She said she'd never be happy, and
she's got to have some gold fred"
she whispered to doll Harriet.
Down the lane trudged Sally Sue,
over the hill and did not stop till she
reached the big red barn on the edge
of the meadow.
"Oo-oo-Uncle Merit" shouted Sally
Sue. 10000" painted Sally Sue, as
the big curly-haired man strobe in
sight. 1--WE got to have some gold
fred. Please, you take me to the lit
tie place down your lane where it
grows, you know, Uncle Merit. The
teeny white flowers with the leetle
gold roots. Aunt-Miss Harwiet says
she'll never be happy till she's got
some gold fred. Don't pinch my arms
like that. You hurt, Uncle Merit! !"
said Sally Sue.
"She shall have some gold thread
bless her hearth said Uncle Merton
cheerfully, "and we'll take it over to
her in the democrat wagon, Sally
Sue!"
A very worried mother and very
worried Miss Harriet met them under
the lilac bush.
"You give it to her." said Sally Sue
with marvellous insight, 81 can't lift
it."
sally Sue said you wanted some
gold thread, and l called that your an
swer to my note that meant you do
like our outdoor good times better
than sewing up things, even if they
are most as handsome as you, Harriet,
beloved"
Sally Sue stared, and found herself
gathered into three pairs of arms.
And Sally Sue heard the funniest jum-
BILE Oft was gold embroidery
thread for the old centerpiece | said
| wanted. But I'm going to leave the
thing unembroidered, and be your pal,
Merit. dearest. And it was really the
flowers | wanted most, after ALL"
Then a mans voice, "The ring-dear
girl-here." And mothers voice, "Of
all the silly quarrels, because he
thought she sewed too much and
didn't like to chum around any more,
and she thought if he didn't appre-
ciate the centerpiece she was doing
for thoir livinU room no wasn't worth