THE ELDEST DAUGHTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13890, 26 October 1905, Page 3

THE ELDEST DAUGHTER.

(By J. J. BELL, author of “ Wee Maegreegor,” in the “ Daily Mail.”) “Jessie Mary,” cried the mother of six to her eldest daughter, whose age might hare been ten. “ Never heed the boats the noo. Ha’© ye got the biscuits?” “ Ay, maw.” “ Weel, gi’e yin to wee Agnes. She’s ett naethin’ the day. Here, Agnes! Come an’ get a nice biscuit.” Agnes, aged five, shook her small head with its flaxen curls. “ I’m no’ wantin’ it. I’m no’ hungry.” “I’ll eat it, maw,” exclaimed seven-, year-old Peter. “ I’ll eat it,” echoed four-year-old Robert. “I daursay ye wud!” said their mother with mild irony, patting the fractious infant,on her knee. “But ye’re no’ gaun to get it! Ye’ve had plenty. Ye’ve done naethin’ but eat an’ eat since ye left Glesca. Jessie Jean 1 Gi’e the biscuit to Agnes.” ‘ , “ She’ll no’ tak it maw.” “ Agnes! Tak’ the nice biscuit this meenit!” the mother commanded. Agnes took it in her hand, unwillingly- “ Snap it up noo!” DIRECTOR OF SUPPLIES. After some hesitation, during which Jessie Jean whispered persuasively, Agnes put the biscuit to her lips and began to lick th© edge of it in a sullen fashion. The mother busied herself with the infant. “ Maw!” inquired Peter presently, “d’ye see then big boat?” “ Ay,” she answered, without looking up. “ Are we cornin’ near Dunoon, maw?” asked Peter again, followed by his brother. _ , “ Ha'e patience, an’ ye’ll shin be there,” she replied. “Jessie Jean! Whaur’s yep fayther an’ Geordie?” “They gaed doon to see the engynes, maw.” “ Humph! Awa’ an’ tell yer fayther to come here this meenit. He’s got the tickets, an’ the man’ll ho cornin’ to check them afore we ken whaur wo are. Haste ye, moo!” Jessie Jean nodded agreeably, and began to press her way through the crowd. “ Here ! Como back !” cried her mother. “ I’m hero, maw.” “ Weel, stop Peter an’ Rubbert quarrelin’. Peters took we© Agnes’s biscuit.” “1 didna!” said Peter, in a voice choked with more than indignation. “ Rubbert took it frae Agnes!” “Agnes gi’ed it to me,” sobbed Robert. “ Air then P—Peter nipped me till I g—gi’ed it to him.” The mother frowned at the elder boy. “Gi’e back the biscuit this meenit, an’ think shame o’ yersel’! Dse ye hear me speakin’ to ye, Peter' M’lntyre? Gi’e the biscuit back too— ; —” Jessie Jean interposed. ‘ T He canna gi’e it back, maw,” she said, quietly “ He’s ©tt it. Yvull I gi’e wee Rubbert anither yin?” “Oh, ay,” said Mrs M’lntyre, with a wearv sigh, “ gi’e him anither yin. Onything for peace! If I hadna wee Katie here, you laddies mid get something ye wndna like. Stop grcetiu , Rubbert. 13c a man! Peter, siu doon an’ behave verse.l’ !” “ There’s mo place t«i sit 4 ” Peter mumbled. . . ’ ;

KEEPER OE THE " TEETHEB.** “ Weel, behave yereel’ 1 Jessie Jean, pu’ up Agnes’s stockin’, an’ wipe Hub* ’ beat’s face, an’ tie Peter’s tie tor Sim, an’ gie me the biscuits, an* see if ony o’ the things ablow the sate is mifisin'. An’ then gang an’ tell yer fayther_ to come here this moenit. Ha’© ye Katie’s teetherf” “'Ay, maw.” The eldest daughter promptly produced a vulcanite ring from a small bag she was carrying ana handed it to her mother. Presently she disappeared, and about five minuted later returned with her father and eldest brother. . “ Phool it’s warm I” exclaimed Mt M’lntyre, a genial-looking little man, raising his tight bowler and wiping his indented brows. “Hoe are ye gettin’ on, mistress? Onybody seeck yet?” he inquired jocularly. " Warm 1” said his wife, shortly, “Y© dinna ken what heat is! Did y« no’ promise me ye wud look efter Peter an’ Rubbert the day? Eh?” Mr M’lntyre’s countenance fell. Jessie Jean interposed. "Maw, Geordle’s sayin’ he’s gaun to be an engineer when he’s big.” "So am I!” piped little Robert. ".I’ll no’ let.ye,” said Peter, unkindly, giving him a surreptitious tweak, for which Peter received speedy reward in the form of a smart cuff on the ear from Jessie Jean, who seemed to be able to see, or think of, everything at once.- “ Peter,” she whispered the next moment, holding ■ the hand that rose threateningly against her, “if ye’rs bad to Rubbert again I’ll no’ gi’e ya that ha’p’ny on Saturday. Mind!”

Peter subsided. “ Ay,” said Mr M’lntyre, who bad wisely ignored the little outbreak. “ Geordie’s set his hert on bein’ an engineer.” ‘‘ Ha’e ye that, Geordio?” said ths mother, looking kindly at the big-eyed, thindegged lad who was such a contrast to his sturdy younger brothers. “ Ay,” said Qeordie softly. “Can I tak’ Rubbert to see the engyncs?” Ho asked. “’Deed, ay,” said his mother. “ But tak’ guid care o’ the laddie. Wud y« no’ tak’ wee Agnes, tae? She’s awfn’ quato the day.” For a moment Geordie looked annoyed. Then he took Robert on one hand and Agnes ,on the other. Peter said nothing, but he scowled. PERMANENT ASSISTANT-CONTROLLER. Mrs M’lntyre, having lulled the infant to sleep, turned to her man. ,f HaV ye got the tickets safe?” she inquired. “ Ay. But we’ll no’ be there for mair nor an ’oor yet. ’ See! i We’ve jist passed Dumbarton Rook. 'Hoo wad ye like to bide, up thonder? Fine an’ airy. Eh?” : “ Mphm ! But I wish ■we was at Dunoon. I’m wearit an’ terrible warm”’ “ Wud ye like a cup o’ tea?” “ Whit dae they chairge on this boat?” “Aw, it’s no’ dear. Ye better. I could dae wi’ a glees o’ beer masel’.” Mrs M’lntyre sighed thoughtfully. “I’m no’ needin’ tea exactly—but I could dae wi’ it fine. Jessie Jean!” she called suddenly. Jessie Jean, who was engaged in endeavouring to get Peter out of hia sulks,' came to her mother at once., “ Ay, maw.” “Could ye baud wee Katie till I gang wi’ yer fayther to get a cup o’ tea?” “Ay, maw.” “ An’ keep yer e’e on Peter?’’ ' “ Ay. maw.” “ An’ get Agnes to eat a biscuit when she comes back?” “I’ll try, maw.” “An’ no’ let onybody rin awa’ wi’ wur things?” “ No’ likely, maw.” “ Awed, tak’ Katie—bore’ 6 . her teether—see an’ no’ loss it—an’ dinna let her get the sun, on her held, an’ try an’ keep her sleepin’. I’ll no’ be lang.” Jessie Jean took her mother’s place, holding the infant just as her mother had done. “ Maw,” she whispered, as Mr and Mrs M’lntyre were turning away. “Can I gi’e Peter a biscuit if he’s guid?’” “ Oh, av. An’ ye better tak’ yia to yer.sel’.” The parents departed. ” “Peter,” said Jessie Jean. No answer. “ Peter, com© here. I’ve something for yc.” “Whit?” said Peter, advancing slowly, suspicion in his eye. .. She held out two biscuits. “ Eat tlnir,’* she said, “an’ sit here, an’ I’ll tell ye a fine story.”