Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-04-21
OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, APRIL 2l, 1853,


Of it,"
Finally. the good woman took posses
sion of the mysterious coin, aid safely
placed il among various others in an old
teapot in her corner cupboard. But ber
conscience was very tender and she fidg.
e,ed exceedingly about the affair.
..I'm not easy about it," said she tc
her husband; 81 don't feel honest like
in having money don't know how
came by. II it did come from Fanny's
box. the child ougE, to have it, not my.
self"
So, when Nancy found (though no.
through Fanny, to be sure. that Harry
had destroyed the beautiful doll, and
that the little girl had already began to
collect the materials for making another
the thought flashed on her mind. thai
there was an opportunity for doing that
which would al once make Fanny's liz
tie heart glad, and ease her own con,
science. And SO without pausing to
think about il, she went to her teapot,
and selected the identical shilling, which
was dis,inguishable from all the others,
because, although new and bright as if il
was newly coined, there was round
hole bored through it, and the :wo let.
ters ID. II. were rudely cut in the silver.
And then the good woman called Fanny
to her, and gave her the money. merely
saying il was for her TO buy nice, real
doll with, in place of the one Harry had
destroyed
Fanny was too bewildered to thank
her. Her Joy was so extreme, it well
nigh overpowered her, and indeed, we'll
bred young ladies often think it proper
to faint on experiencing less emotion
than did my little lassie, as she stood up
with her shilling in her hand. staring al
il with her large blue eyes. That shil.
ling! |, was bliss-it was everything
to her! Magnificent visions foated be-
fore her eyes. of dolls with waxen faces,
and eyes and noses, and with hands or
feet fashioned with pink or blue kid
What could not shilling by! TO her
ideas, it was mine of inexhaustable
wealth. Among all her acquaintance
she knew of no one who had ever pos
sessed so much money at one time; no,
not even including Miss Jacobs, that ju.
venile capitalist, who had wax doll, all
dressed in the high,h of fashion, with a
yellow dress, pink cloak, and blue
bonnet, and who received regular al
lowance of pocket money from her
grandfather--not even Miss Jacobs had
ever owned more than silver fourpence
at time. Fanny was in whlrl OF
wondering happiness, and she had no,
yet quite recovered herself, even when
she was in the street, surrounded by .
crowd of little playmates, all staring
with eyes and mouth wide open at little
"Fanny's shilling!" She tried to pre-
serve that composure and self possess.
ion suitable to the possessor or so much
wealth, and looked on with benignant
smile, while her friends examined the
precious coin, and made their remarks.
"What vas she going to do within ii!
Did she mean to wear il round her neck
by ribanG strung through that curious
little hole! or would she spend i,!"
Before they hac half satisfied their
curiosity, the little maiden broke from
them and proceeded alone on her way
to the High street, in certain shop OF
which she had often remarked doll OF
peculiarly charming character. with
blue eyes and flaxen hair, handsomely
dressed in rope of glazed calico. This
doll was for sale at the moderate price of
ten pence, and Fanny calculated tina,
the remaining two pence would purchase
some little toys for Jane and Ellen; for
her thoughts were not all for herself, and
even this sudden flush of prosperity did
not make her selfish.
So she walked slowly up the street,
looking into the shop windows with an
air of one who is consciously able 10
purchase all their contents, and grasping
her shilling tightly in her hand all the
while. Suddenly she felt some one
plucking at her dress, and at the time
timid little voice said, pity, pity, Mao
emoiselle. for my old grandfather
Turning round, she saw little girl Of
her own age, ragged and nearly barefoot
ed; her pale face bearing evident marks
Of cold and hunger, and sunken eyes
filed with tears. Beggars are rare in
Bridge End, and Fanny had never be-
held such picture Of distress as this
child presented. Instinctively she stop
ped to listen to what she had to say.
~Pardon, Mademoiselle, bu, we are SO
poor. so miserable. We are French
and do not speak your tongue rightly,
| never begged before, never; but he is
old, and we are starving, and-and-oh,
help us!' she cried, clasping her thin
hands together, and looking into Fan,
ny's face with an expression of implor.
ing anguish.
Fanny's eyes, grew fearful, and she
paused for moment. "How could you
iell | had any money!" asked she. limo
Gently, as she looked furtively at the
bright silver shilling.
IL did not know, was not sure; but
| thought" said the French girl, in heI
broken accents; sand i, seems easier tc
ask Of you. a little girl such as ! am
than Of a grswn woman. Oh. Made