Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-04-21
"Shall chalk il DOWN. asked the b,.


ker, giving her the loaf.
"No," and she placed the shilling in
his hand.
''Eh! what curious shilling! bright as
new one! and YET it's GU, and bored as
if il had been in use for years." anc the
man sounded the coin two or three times
before he could satisfy himself of its
goodness, and giving her the change.
There said FaEny to the French
girl, giving her the loaf and all the money
that remained from the shilling; take ,ha.
to y our poor grandfather, and don't be
sad any more. Good bye!"
And leaving the grateful child without
staying to listen TO the blessings which
poured from her lips, Fanny ran away
home.
"Where's your doll chlld!" was the
inquiry of Mrs Brightwell, which greet
ed her ears on her return. She stood,
blushing and fdget.ing. and stammered
forth a reply that "she had not bought
It,"
"Then what have you done with the
chilling | gave you? Tell me this in.
slant, Fanny. shall, be wonderful
cross, can tell you, if you've been and
spen. it on truTp petry."
III haven't spent il at all gave il
away" said the half frightened child,
thus sorely pressed; and she piteously
told the story of the poor French girl,
while Nancy listened, scarce knowing
whether 10 feel vexed or pleased at that
instance of ender-hear,edness of her a.
dopsed child. Her own generous SYM
pa.hies applauded what she had done.
bu! she feared TO encourage such disin.
terestedness in one who would in after
life have to work for her bread. So she
said nothing, but bade the child 90 about
her usual avocations. And thus, to all
appearance, ended poor Fanny's hopes
of possessing real doll. Two or three
days afterwards, she passed the tov shop
again. Blu, the lady in the pink calico
dress was gone. |, was not in childish
nature TO repress sigh; but we will an.
swer for It that never once did the wish
cross Fanny's heart that she had no, Civ
en- her bright shilling to the poor girl and
her grandfather.
One day, a week after this occurrence,
a stranger arrived at Bridge End. and To-
Gated himself in the principal apartment,
OF the Brown Bear. A stranger is al
ways an interesting object in little
country town; but the gentlemen attrac,
ed particular observation, he seemed to
know no one in the place, and appeared
to have no reason for coming. except to
walk about the town, looking az The
names above the shops, and a, length
walking into that of Mr.. White, the ba-
ker. e ...E .. ....
His first action was to sit down, his
second, to pull from his pocket shilling,
carefully wrapped in paper. Holding i,
before the puzzled bakers eyes, he said
s:ernly. "Do you know that piece of
moneys"
"Know it, sir! Really. | can't say;
can't be expected to recollect every shil.
ling"
"This is very peculiar one." inter-
rup;ed The stranger, sand if you have
once seen il, you ViH know it again.
Besides" added he, impatien,ly, II have
traced it to ou, and that's enough. You
must know it, and you must tell me from
whom you received it."
Thus adjured, Mr.. White looked care
fully at the shilling and al length suddenly
exclaimed with considerable energy
"Well, if didn't think at the time il was
queer one! | had my doubts of taking
it, do assure you, sir. but it sounded all
right, and lille Fanny-who could ha'
got il, wonder!"
"Little Fanny!" cried the stranger,
bounding from his seat M strong agita-
ton. Then, in moment regaining his
composure.-"Who is the person you
called by that name. where does she
live?" he inquired.
"A, Mrs Brighswell's Pleasant Cot
tage, up the town." replied the baker,
adding in his regard for the child, "I'm
sure, sir. poor Fanny didn't know i, was
bad shilling. Don't be too hard ufon
her, sir, poor little thing"
But before he had finished his speech,
the stranger (whom Mr.. White firmly
believed to be policeman in disguise)
had vanished. and before the good baker
had half finished his wonderings and
speculations as TO the probable end Of it
all, the gentleman was in the Brightwell's
Cottage. aeep in conversation with hon
est Nancy.
That evening, Nancy Brightwell went
into the town to make some purchases.
Her eyes were red with weeping, but
they had been joyful tears that the kind
hearted creature had shed ,ha. day. To
select circle of acquaintances she told
the story: "Fanny's father was found!
The stranger was no other that Colonel
Halton, an officer. rich, and able to make
his daughter lady. Little Fanny la
dy" And Nancy wept again. and again
began relating her tale, thous in some
what incoherent manner. "Yes, indeed,
and the poor gentleman, SO stern and
proud as he looks, cried like child
when told him all abou, Mrs Rnsh-
brooks CHATS his wife) dying. and be
ing buiied in the churchyard yonder.-