A LITTLE PRISONER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 19

A LITTLE PRISONER.

If I tell you Patty was a prisoner, perhaps you will think she was shut up in one of those great gloomy gaols you may have seen sometimes, where the windows are all barred with iron and the doors have heavy locks on them for fear the people kept in there will get out; but no, Patty was not a prisoner of that kind. Let me tell you her story. She was a dear little girl, five years old, and she went to school in the next house to her own home, so that on stormy days she could be lifted over the railing that divided the piazzas, and not be obliged to go out in the rain at all. On this particular day I want to tell you about she had started off as usual at nine o’clock, with a message from her mother asking the teacher to dismiss her half an hour earlier than usual, in order that she might have time to go into town and get a pair of shoes. The permission was given, and when the clock struck half-past twelve Patty put her book in her desk, kissed the teacher good-by, and ran downstairs and opened the big front door, which it was somewhat hard for her to do, as she is such a little gill, and the handle is so slippery and the door so heavy. She shut it carefully after her, as she had been taught, but as it shut, Patty’s white apron fluttered into the crack, and was caught in the heavy door, and when she turned to go slie could not move a step; she was held fast by the apron a little prisoner ! What could she do? must she stay there ever so long ? The dreadful thought came into her mind that perhaps no one would miss her, and she might even have to stand there all night ; she gave the apion a tiny pull, but it was quite fast, and she knew that she would have to tear oil’ a large corner to get it out, and what would mamma say to that ? oh, what could she do? If she had been a little older and wiser she would have twisted herself around and rung the door-bell, but she did not think of that, and one or two tears were beginning to come to her bright brown eyes, when a gentleman who knew Patty happened to pass the house. He could not help smiling when he saw the poor little girl, but he at once came up the steps and rang the bell, and in a minute Mary had come and opened the door, and Patty was released, and after thanking her kind friend, skipped merrily home, and went with her mamma to buy the new shoes. Now don’t you think Patty was a prisoner ? M.S.

A little sister came to live at her house, and Bessie was much pleased at first, but grew rather jealous after a time, and said, ‘ 1 do wish it had been two little kittens.’ Little Walter had been put to bed and his mamma had returned to the sitting-room when a stray cow began lowing near the house. ‘Mamma! mamma!’ called the small man excitedly, ‘do you hear that cattle mewing !’ Doctor : ‘ Well, my fine little fellow, you have got quite well again. I was sure that the pills I left for you would cure you. How did you take them -in water or in cake?’ ‘ Oh, I used them in my pop-gun.’ Mamma : ‘ It is very wrong in you, Johnnie, to quarrel in this way.’ Johnnie (who has just had a fight with his brother Tom): ‘ Well, I got wild, and had to do something.’ Mamma : ‘ But you must not let your temper carry you away in that manner. I will tell you a good rule : When you'are angry always count twenty before you strike.’ Tommy (the victor in the recent unpleasantness): ‘ Yes, and he’d better count forty before he strikes a fellow who can whip him.’ The small boy is not notably proficient in sacred lore, but when his sister referred to him the query : • Where was Solomon’s Temple?’he indignantly resented the supposed impeachment of his stock of information and retorted : * Don’t you think I know anything?’ SShe assured him she did not doubt that he knew, but urged him to state for her benefit. Though not crediting her sincerity, he finally exclaimed with exasperation : *On the side of his head, of course, where other folks' are ! You suppose I'm an idiot?’ Not long since a young man applied for permission to teach in a school, and utterly failing in the necessary examination, was finally asked when it was that Napoleon flourished —before or after the Conquest ? After meditating some time, he replied, ‘ You have got me this time, gentlemen.* •