Aunt Madge's Story

ieve days, naughty recollections s

loved dearly to tease her. Once she had some bronze shoes, and I wanted some too, but there were none to be had in town, and to console myself

her feel, but I could not help noticing afterward

over it with a needle? I should think not. And I hadn't a speck of a necklace, nor any bonnet but just straw. I did not know that Squire Allen was one of the wealthiest men in the state, and could afford beautiful things

? Can it be you like to hear naughty stories? Queer, isn't it? Ah, but this story makes me ashamed, even

un. These little mounds were soft and green, and dotted with white innocence flowers; and what fun it was to start at the top of one of them, and roll over and over, down into the valley. Somehow, Fel, being

y roll, Madam Allen rode along in t

hose children are doing," sa

bled down before I got there. While I was picking my foot out of the hole in my frock,

ut if you are going to be a gypsy

nds wouldn't compare with it for a moment. They say we feel most keenly those joys we never quite grasp; and I know that parasol, swinging round in Fel's little hand, was more bewitching to me than if I had held it m

g up to me with her sweet little face

irt with my shoe. The carryall was in front of

er," called she, "ju

k with me, for I hadn't noticed her

nty beauty?" cried sh

eth together

Marjie; see what a

s till I had praised them. I knew that, and

tone, "why don't you look? It's the

threeth time you've

e truly truth,

; and you're a little

it, for I doubt if Fel had ever told a wrong story in

. She couldn't be very unhappy, standing

ive you one, too," murmu

ng up

taken another roll down the bank my spirits rose wonderfull

so nice!" But I secretly hop

aid I, "and ask my mamma i

ewing apple-sauce for supper. I remember what a tired look she had on her face, and

hispered I to Fel.

uch better than I deserved, she would have turned and run away. As it was, she called up all her courage, the timid l

s. Parlin, do look and

me, till mother smiled and kissed her, and a

, that I did think she couldn't refuse her. I was sure, at any rate, she would say as much as, "We

et a parasol; but really i

the chip-bask

her things perhaps I might, but i

it. "If you'll only give me a pairsol, mamma, I won't never carry it out to the barn, nor down to the river, nor anywhere 'n this world. I'll

ad to please my little girl if I thought it would be right; but I have sai

lish as it would be to stand and fi

el followed, crying softly; but what had I to say to that dear l

etty, and that's why she wo

had performed for me; no apology

k my mamma pre

recall my little days, it does seem to me as if I was always, always snubbing that precious child. When she was out of sight, I dived head first into the hay, and tried for as much as ten minutes to hate

you? You've fairly cri

I was a sight to behold. My eyes, always very large, were now red and swollen, and seemed bursting f

yes out! O, Ruthie

bout my eyeballs; but the parasol was denied me, and I was

it was the nicest party we had had; for Tempy Ann made sailor-boy doughnuts, with sugar sprinkled on, and damson tarts, and lemonade, to say nothing of "sa

idn't ask real hard for the party. But that was always the way; her mamma wante

ld fall to Fel's lot; but I wa

meant to have one too; all but me; I could only stand and

could trace the procession by the tears that dripped upon the carpet. Yes; but the mourners all had the cunningest little "pairsols" of nasturtium leaves. There wasn't a "single one doll" that marche

folks, but very queer, as I have told you. He had a fire in the fireplace, and was sitting before it, though it was summer. He

nute he

s a dog's nose; does y

I was low-spirited, and found by questioning me that I needed a parasol, a

ou shall have a paraso

till afterwards, for Grandpa Harrington did not seem like other