 | When life is young |  |
66
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO TRIED TO MIND
Prudence—good sister Prudence!—was a gentle girl of eight,
And Totty was but four years old, when what I now relate
Came to the happy little pair, one bright November day—
A Sunday, too—while good Papa was many miles away.
And Totty was but four years old, when what I now relate
Came to the happy little pair, one bright November day—
A Sunday, too—while good Papa was many miles away.
“Good-by, my darlings! don't forget.” The little ones went forth,
Their hearts all in a sunny glow, their faces to the north—
Their faces to the chilling north, but not a whit cared they,
Though the pretty church before them stood full half a mile away.
Their hearts all in a sunny glow, their faces to the north—
Their faces to the chilling north, but not a whit cared they,
Though the pretty church before them stood full half a mile away.
For Mother, with her smiling face and cheery voice, had said:
“I cannot go to church to-day, but you may go instead.
Baby will need me here at home—the precious little pet!
But babies grow in time, you know. She'll go to meeting yet.”
“I cannot go to church to-day, but you may go instead.
Baby will need me here at home—the precious little pet!
But babies grow in time, you know. She'll go to meeting yet.”
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“Take care of sister, Prue!” she said, while tying Totty's hood,—
“And, Tottykins, I'm sure you'll be, oh, very still and good!
Good-by, my darlings! Don't forget. Prudence, you know the pew;
And, Tot, be Mama's little mouse, and sit up close to Prue.”
“And, Tottykins, I'm sure you'll be, oh, very still and good!
Good-by, my darlings! Don't forget. Prudence, you know the pew;
And, Tot, be Mama's little mouse, and sit up close to Prue.”
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In truth it was a pretty sight, to see the rosy pair
Walk down the aisle and take their seats, with sweetly solemn air.
And Prudence soon was listening, her manner all intent,
While little Tot sat prim and stiff, and wondered what it meant.
Walk down the aisle and take their seats, with sweetly solemn air.
And Prudence soon was listening, her manner all intent,
While little Tot sat prim and stiff, and wondered what it meant.
The quaint, old-fashioned meeting-house had pew-seats low and bare,
With backs that reached above the heads when they were bowed in prayer.
And thus it was when suddenly a squeaking sound was heard,
Faint at the first, then almost loud—even the deacon stirred!
With backs that reached above the heads when they were bowed in prayer.
And thus it was when suddenly a squeaking sound was heard,
Faint at the first, then almost loud—even the deacon stirred!
All heads were bowed; again it came—that tiny puzzling sound,
The staidest members rolled their eyes and tried to look around;
Till Prudence, anxious little maid! felt, with a pang of fear,
That, whatsoe'er its cause might be, the noise was strangely near.
The staidest members rolled their eyes and tried to look around;
Till Prudence, anxious little maid! felt, with a pang of fear,
That, whatsoe'er its cause might be, the noise was strangely near.
Out went her slyly warning hand, to reach for Totty there;
When, oh, the squeaking rose above the closing words of prayer!
An empty mitten on the seat was all that Prudence felt,
While on the floor, in wondrous style, the earnest Totty knelt!
When, oh, the squeaking rose above the closing words of prayer!
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While on the floor, in wondrous style, the earnest Totty knelt!
Poor Prudence leaned and signaled, and beckoned, all in vain;—
Totty was very much engaged and would not heed, 't was plain.
When suddenly a childish voice rang through the crowded house:—
“DON'T, Prudy! 'cause I 've dot to be my Mama's 'ittle mouse!”
Totty was very much engaged and would not heed, 't was plain.
When suddenly a childish voice rang through the crowded house:—
“DON'T, Prudy! 'cause I 've dot to be my Mama's 'ittle mouse!”
Many a worshiper looked shocked, and many smiled outright,
While others mourned in sympathy with “Prudy's” sorry plight;
And Totty, wild with wrath because she could be mouse no more,
Was carried soon, a sobbing child, out through the wide church-door.
While others mourned in sympathy with “Prudy's” sorry plight;
And Totty, wild with wrath because she could be mouse no more,
Was carried soon, a sobbing child, out through the wide church-door.
Now parents ponder while ye may upon this sad mishap;
The mother, not the mouse, you see, was caught within the trap.
And when your little listening ones you send beyond your reach,
Be chary of your metaphors and figurative speech.
The mother, not the mouse, you see, was caught within the trap.
And when your little listening ones you send beyond your reach,
Be chary of your metaphors and figurative speech.
| When life is young | |