Aunt Madge's Story

I dare say did not get to sleep for ten minutes or

I'll have 'em 'thout asking. She says she wants her little daughter to be happy. That's what she says; but she don't give me n

four girls. But when school was out, I happened to think I might as well have a few more, and singled out Sallie Gordon, Mary Vance, and Anna Carey; but Phebe Grant was standing close by, and I knew she would be "mad" if I didn't as

vited to a party before, and didn't know enough to find the way to "my house;" but I thought, while I was about it, I might as well make a clean sweep: it was no wickeder to have a big party than a little one. I was sorry enough that boys were not in fash

d done my speaking, and now I began to think. It came over me like

urrying up

child," said she. "I'

head with cologne. It didn't seem much like having a party! She could

rs. Duffy put down that parlor carpet. I have waited for her ever sinc

ht I, "where'll

ut the carpet down

ould skew

are sick; why not h

re than that, we have a large quantity of raspberries to be ma

o was going to get

elicious mystery which had been the first cause of getting me into trouble. Perhaps there would be enough of

to, as if I should "go a-flyin'." I ran into the parlor where mother and Mrs. Duffy were putting down the carpet, and

irl coming to see me this

fternoo

wasn't coming, and I co

d, "Fel," for I knew she liked h

ther, and went on st

that it was hardly

ebody else coming, too.

hild, almost as we

dear, you are troubling me. Take the little girls into the

clock was the usual hour for little girls to go to parties

lock," s

o you could eat it the same day-the same night for supper? Was there any cooked chicken in the house, with breastings in (stuffing)? Any sandiges? W

nd to the kitchen door with the horse and wagon, sayin

ack by three o

't take me h

the clock so snug," remarked Ruth, as I was dart

saw the friendly trees nodding "Good day," it seemed as if I had left trouble

ked-bad-girl! But would mamma tie me any shorter if I staid away till the moon came up? And then the girls 'd be gone! Get away from Abner just 's easy! He'll be a talkin' t

te; what would

d leave my party. They'll call me a little lie-

gressor is hard. Every way was hard to me since I had set out to do wrong. It was hard to

small girls-the little specks in A B C. There they stood, some of them with fingers in their mouths, while mother held the parlor-door open, and was asking them very k

ad with her hand as she spoke. I hat

urse the rest followed like a flock of sheep. But we had hardly reached the garden before I saw three or four more girls coming. It

t my breath; and then I rolled myself up into

y a fainting off." Mother came to me and took my hands; she says I was so pale

rn pride yielded at once, and so did that bitter feelin

etting all about Mrs. Duffy; "I don't care what you do, mamma. You may send 'em home, an

laying down the hammer; "see her shuvver! Sh

ed-post, and sew me up in a bag and throw me in the river. You

r head and stared at me. J

ts of girls were some, and this is some now, and more's a

; Margaret,

er 'n ever you heard of. Wont you put me in the river? I w

carpet again. She was considering what to do. Ruthie had gone t

aid mother, "and take your l

time in my life, for I never knew before how good she was, or how beautiful! Her head was tied up in a handkerchief, and s

d trying to play, mother was talking to Ruthie about

her. You see, Ruth, if they find out what a dreadful thing she has done, they will not like her any more, and their m

ve such children better than the cold, selfish ones; you know that yourself, Mrs. Parlin. Wh

mber much that was said or done for the rest of the afternoon; only, I know every single girl came that was invited, and they all said it was a nicer party than even Fel's; but Fel didn't care; she was glad of it. Of course it was nicer, for Ruthie spread the table in the front yard, and 'Ria was so kind as to adorn it with flowers, and lay wrea

ery smartly in red calico, with a blue bow at her throat. Her hair was remarkably glossy, and she told us, in a loud whisper, she had "stuck it down with bear's grease and cologne

d in molasses. She said I never tasted anything like it befor

ouse for a long time to come. It was a hard punishment; but I knew it was just, and I could not complain. My heart was really touched, and I had learned a lesson not easily for