The Story of Jessie

gain at the sight of the mug with the pictures and the plate with the "wo

con and an egg, can't you,

ith a sigh of pl

granny heartily. "Why

that was for my dinner. We don't ever have eggs

r gravely, "then what do you have? S

t thing he would have been guilty of; he only w

en father has a bloater. Me and mother have one too, someti

ick sympathy. "Have you hurted your toof, granp?" she asked gravel

all right. Try and mak

plump and round as th

fore her with miserably troubled eyes. "It seems wrong to be

f ourselves and those about us, and it's our duty to eat and drink and be sensible, whether we likes it or

lift her thoughts from the wonderful experience of having an egg and bacon for breakfast. "I saw it all showing pin

one, she took his hand in hers and led him

ng he had made a mistake, and many times that day she climbed the stairs to see, and was quite t

her head sagely as her granny was undressing her.

next morning. When she opened her eyes and saw it she felt quite vexed. "I wish I had put

ndfather, when he was told of it; "'tis the folk that

-bush will be covered thick, t

"mother loves roses," and the tears came into her eyes. "Granny,

g little heart and quick ears, noticed it and was hurt. It sounded to her as though her granny did not want her mother; and he

, "for the time, any way, but we'll have flowers of some kind ready for mother whenever she comes. 'Tis you and I, little maid, wil

rowing flowers for her was a lovely one, too; it seemed to bring her mother nearer; and, though granny and granp were so kind, oh, she did want her so very, very

t granny was saying caught her attention, and, for

d must have some clothes, and as soon as possible, too; and I reckon I'd better take her with me, though she really isn't

cheerfully. "If she keeps smiling at folks the

d little granddaughter into the shops where she was well known. However, hats and boots required to be t

seemed almost as though there were too many g

's little feet to walk. So the cart was brought, and granny and grandfather sat on the little wooden seat, while Jessie sat on a rug in the bottom of the cart, at their feet. She liked it better there, she thought, for there was no fear of he

red with little green leaves, just bursting forth. Here and there a blackthorn bush was in full flower, and filled Jessie with delight. She sat very quie

e maid, after all the streets and houses and bus

es," she said soberly, "and at home there was such lots

reckon," answered g

, and you'll miss the

n Norton in a little while now, and there's shop

Two sauntered up to look at the donkey-cart, and to pass the time of day with Mr. Dawson, but that was all. There were no omnibuses, no motors, no incessant tramp, tramp, tramp, of horses' hoofs, making the never-ceasing dull roar to which she had been

le grandchild, Lizzie's little girl," and turning her head she saw him holding out his hand to her, and all was well once more. With

home, and she almost wished she was going with him; but granny, taking h

which was what she liked. But here she and her grandmother seemed to be almost the only customers that afternoon, and all the assistants looked at them as they entered. They all smiled, too, and most of them said, "Good-afternoon, Mrs. Dawson," in a very friendly way, which only m

urdily through the shop, ignoring the chairs pulled out for her by the polite shop-walker, and made her

a stranger. I hope you are well? And who is thi

rs. Dawson, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. "S

r will do her good. S

us eyes, "but she looks healthy, I think, don't you?" Already it ga

assuringly. "What can I get

want mostly is some clothes for Jessie. Living in the country, she ought to have somethin

e girl, who did not seem at all overcome, went off as though it were quite an ordinary matter, and presently she retu

but I think she'd look sweet in that o

ked; "a bit of plain ribbon, I should

right on till the late autumn. I'll show you some;" and dragging out a big drawer, she displayed a perfect garden of dainty blossoms

ere and there, and when she was asked which she liked best, she decidedly picked out that one. To her great delight

nother for every day. That's a pretty fine thing!

twisted around the crown. Then came a length of blue serge for a warm dress, and two pieces of print, one with blue flowers all over it, and the other with pink ones. Jessie thought them both perfectly lovely, and while they were being chosen she slid off her chair and went and leaned against her gr

help me finely with all this, but I s'pose I shall get i

though, that she might be able to do some of the other things granny mentioned, and she made up her mind to do

ny money. She would be so glad to know what lots of nice new things I am having." Then, as she saw the girl approaching from a distant part of the shop, she put up her

ll of boots, she found Mrs. Dawson rubbing her eyes and

, I hope," the girl ask

son reas

en sundry yards of calico and flannel, and brown holland, some stockings, and what Jessie thought th

one day. "And if I have forgotten anything, well, Norton isn't so far off but what we can come again,

brellas, ca

, thank you," sai

I am sure, Mrs. Dawson, you must want some

st of what he has got. All I want now is a cup of tea, and

se for one of these," and he picked up a little silk scarf with a

echless with delight.

w, that is kind of yo

enough of that, w

Jessie earnestly. "I'll-I'

't know why, and then granny said "good-bye," and she and Jessie made their way out int

badly, don't you?"

t matter," she hastened to add. It was what she used to say to her

le of hours or so, if we don't have it now. So we'll go and have a nice tea at once. Come along," and she led the way furth

ut it. At one of these Mrs. Dawson and Jessie seated themselves, and soon a kindly-faced woman brought

shop outside people were coming and going, and one or two came in and seated themselves at other little tables, and Jessie sat and watche

last. "And oh, wouldn't it be nice if she was

make, her feelings brought a sob to her t

as we are," she said at last, for want of someth

dn't have tea-only sometimes,

together one day," she said, trying to speak cheerful

oo?" said Je

ndmother noticed that she never once expres

d the bill and talked a little with the woman who had s

a mile and a half, for you to walk, and for me, too, with all these parcels; it isn't nearly so far to walk home from the station." So two days follo

Mr. Simmons jokingly; "supposing we had let you sleep

swered Jessie, loo

rse safe, missie," said th

ie gravely, putting her hand do

she and her granny stepped out into the road, and walked quickly through the fast-deepening twilight to the little cottage