Lolla by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"MISS DELIGHT, I think there must be mice in the store-room cupboards," said Sarah to her mistress, one morning after breakfast. "I find the cake and biscuits crumbed and nibbled; and the crackers go away faster than they ought I am sure. And just see here how this syrup from the dish of plums I set away yesterday is trailed upon the shelf. Nasty little things! If there is any thing I do hate, it is a mouse."

"You must shut Dragon into the store-room at night, and move the things away so that he can get about on the shelves," said Aunt Delight. "It is a long time since we have had any mice in the house. The old cat must be growing lazy."

"I am not so sure about the mice, either," said Sarah, in a low tone. "I am afraid Philly has been at her old tricks again. Mice would not carry away whole slices of cake and lumps of sugar."

"Hardly," said Aunt Delight. "But I don't like to suspect Philly,-she has done so much better lately; and I do think she is trying to be a good girl."

"Well, we shall see," said Sarah. "I mean to keep a sharp look-out upon her. I don't know how it is, but I never can trust her."

"Take care, Sarah," said Aunt Delight. "Remember, charity thinketh no evil. Do not begin With a prejudice against the child."

"Well, I can't help it," said Sarah. "When I do like people, I do; and when I don't, I don't; and that is all about it. Now, I took to Lolla, from the first. I'll be bound you won't find any underhand sly ways about her. But Philly has such a down kind of look."

"You must remember how differently the two children have been treated," replied Aunt Delight. "Lolla has never had occasion to be afraid of any thing or anybody; but poor Philly has been a slave all her life, and her mother before her. I expected she would make us a good deal of trouble. You know we talked of that before she came to us, and we agreed to have patience with her faults as long as there was a prospect of doing her any good; and you must admit that she has improved."

Sarah observed that there was room for improvement still.

"That is the case with all of us," said Aunt Delight, dryly. "Well, say nothing, Sarah, at present. We shall soon find out about the matter."

The next day but one, as Aunt Delight was passing through the pantry, she heard Sarah's voice in the pantry, and looked in to see what was the matter.

"Just see here, ma'am," said Sarah. "Last night I found the plums all spilled on the shelf again. So I thought I would watch; and this morning, when Philly came in to put the spoons away, I thought she was a long time about it: so I followed her, and found her at the open cupboard-door, with a teaspoon in her hand sticking all over with the plum-syrup. If that is not proof, I don't know what is! " concluded Sarah, triumphantly. "I knew very well I should catch her at her tricks."

"I didn't never touch the plums," sobbed Philly. "I only-"

"Oh, you only-You only went 'snooping' in the closet," said Sarah, severely. "It's no use! I caught you at it!"

"Wait a little, Sarah, if you please," said Aunt Delight, quietly. "Let me hear Philly's own story. That is but justice. Now, Philly, tell me all about it; and be sure you tell the truth. Don't be afraid: you shall not be condemned unjustly. How was it?"

"I was jes puttin' away de spoons," began Philly, falling back into her native negro dialect; but Aunt Delight interrupted her.

"Speak quite plainly, Philly, and then I shall know you think of every word you are saying. Go on."

"I was just putting away the spoons," continued Philly, this time pronouncing her words carefully, "and I thought the row of teaspoons looked as if there was one gone; and I counted them, and there was; and I began to look round for it, and I saw that cupboard-door partly open: so I thought I would look in there, and there I found the spoon in the dish of plums; and I was just taking it out when Sarah came in."

"A likely story, indeed! " said Sarah, with a sneer. "Didn't I put away the dish of plums myself last night? And shouldn't I have seen it if there had been a teaspoon in the dish? Don't tell me!"

"I can't help it," said Philly. "I found it there, and I know I didn't put it there. That's all I know."