The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-12-26

yes, she would get 4 bird for Mary. But just
then the thought of that pearl desk came up to
her mind, and almost shut out the pale face of
poor Mary Dean.
1t was Il long hour after her talk with Aunt
Susan, that, with a new glow on her cheeks,
Clara sought out her mamma. a have made
up my mind now, ma" , said she quickly. elf
you please, | will buy a bird in u nice little cage
for Mary Dean with this five dollars, and it shall
be my New Years gift to her and please, ma,
let US go and get it ut once, for L want to take
it 10 her this very day"
You have done well, my child" said Mrs.
May with a fond kiss, "and l will go with you
after lunch"
That day Mary Dean was quite poorly moth
ing seemed to please her. She could not touch
even the nice jelly in the white China mug that
Il friend had sent 10 her, nor the nice cake with
the thick white frosting. She looked ut them
when her mother brought them, but turned away
weary and said = No, mamma. | am tired of
them, L can't eat now. Have you nothing else
for me ?'
Il don't know, my child. You are tired of
the new doll, though you have not had it day,
and you wished me to put away the other toys.
Well, / want something else ~ Mary was
Just a little cross she had been sick so long that
she was not easily pleased. L suppose We should
feel so too if We were as sick as she was. Mrs.
Dean turned away sadly. She thought of the
time when Mr.. Dean was living, and said to her
self: If he were alive now our poor child
cOulu nave all she might want, anu lHS tedE
came IN her eye. Mary did not see 1t or her lit
tie heart would have melted, and her little hand
would have wiped it away. But another little
hand was waiting to do the kind deed. Before
that tear was dry there came a knock at the
door, and Mrs. Dean went to open it, and there
stood Mrs. May and Clara, and the little girl
had something in her hand with a silk spread
thrown over it,.
As soon rs the door was open she sprang to the
bedside of the sick child and cried lit is
yours, Mary, all yours i have brought it for
your New Years gift and she took off the cover
to show n dear little yellow canary bird in a nice
little brown cage.
o if you could only have heard the cry of joy
from Mary, or seen the light that came to her
pale face as she sprang up i'll bed, it would have
done your heart good. The tired look was gone
from her face, and the tear was gone from Mrs.
Deans eye. The two ladies sat down to talk
with each other, while the little girls looked at
the bird.
d" Has it not a pretty trough for seed and a cup
for water? Will it sing?"
Z" yes, it will sing almost all the time when
it has been here a while. 1t feels n little strange
now
"Only see it bite the seed -
"Yes, it is taking the hull off and see now
it takes a sip of water. Only see it turn its lit
tie bill up !"
My child, you will not get tired of the bird,
will you ?" said Mrs. Dean.
so never neverI L shall forget the pain in
my hip when | hear it sing, and L can watch 1t
all day and see it fly about the cage. l did not
know what | wanted, but here it has GOMEZ
and she threw her arm about Clara's neck and
gave her a sweet kiss.
We'll, dear, was l right?'' said Aunt Susan
when she had heard all about the bird and the
cage, and the joy of Mary Dean.
90 yes, aunty, indeed you We're. I'm so glad
that | spent that five dollars for Mary Dean. 1t
has done me more good than pearl desks would,
L am suret L shall not soon forget the lesson
that you have taught me this day"
And Aunt Susan laid her thin hand on the soft
brown curls and said {" 1t is more blessed to
give than to receive"