Show CHILDREN ON OUR BLOCK BLO C K There was a pathetically pa all hopeless ex cx expression expression I on her brown little face as assine I i She sine sat on the narrow strip of turf be between between between tween the sidewalk sl and the gutter Her dirty torn tom gingham dress was w s drawn i closely about her shabby habbY shoes and the i i little brother who was with her looked equally forlorn you come on an play Nan Nannie Nannie nie he asked wistfully looking from her toward a group of laughing chat chattering chattering I children who were playing skip at the next house You lemme lone answered Nannie I dont feel sif I ever wanted to play again Bob Bob understand He was only onto six and he marveled in n his hia childish h hway way at the change that had come over Ocr his sister Minutes passed and Nannie Nan hie still stUl sat there with her dress pulled about her shoes She over 9 years old but b ther her countenance have shown more real misery if It she had been a mother standing over the sick bed of an only child From down the street came a call Nannie Nanni e it said sald You Nannie you and Bob come caine on home With a sigh that was almost a sob Nannie stood up As she did so some something something something thing white fluttered from beneath the hem of her skirt She made a frantic clutch at it but it flapped around her ankles most distressingly The child gave a 3 frightened d glance at the others They seen the catastrophe but she sat down again on the turf Her mother called her again and in such tones that disobedience was Im Impossible Impossible impossible possible She attempt to stand this time Instead she slid over the grass by a series of great muscular ex exertions exertions exertions and when she was as safely out of range of the crowd she rose to her feet and with all her might Bob what was the matter with Nannie asked one of the rope children for Bob had stayed be behind behind behind hind Aw She tore her pants over our fence but I dont see in that to make her act so crazy All seems to be grist that comes to t the mill mm of childhood As they the find en entertainment entertainment entertainment in trifles that make grown people smile so do they also find di diversion diversion diversion version where adults see only sorrow This Thia had an illustration In our block the other day There was a funeral across the street I All the children knew it was going to come off and they looked forward to it with much the same pleasurable an anticipation anticipation anticipation that tha their mothers look for forward forward forward ward to a matinee A small bandit who on ordinary days is only a high private private vate ate in the hindmost ranks of a rob robber robber robber ber band rose to dizzy eminence be because because because cause It was his uncle who formed the reason for the obsequies The funeral came and went and all the children in the neighborhood cx ex except one enjoyed It in their way The lone and miserable exception was a asman small girl who had to stay in school or do something else unpleasant She came running up after the last car carriage carriage nags had disappeared None of the children was in sight and she knew that woe was her portion Oh mamma is the funeral over she asked In tones that fairly dripped disappointment Yes my it is Iso said her mother Why were you so fond of Mr lIr Blank Oh no not was the an answer gwen But Idid I did so hope Id get getto to see seethe seethe I Ithe the ostrich feathers featherson on the hearse |