The Van Buren press., 1871-12-26
A stpry 70. the Little Folks.
BRIDES PRESENT.
f7-lsY syfSNr sf sss +
Br $. ANNIE FROST.

would ike whoie lot ot money. and 10 go
ou.spysstf Ia tho stores, uI'd sb,U randy
and dolls, and n new pair Of tengs for my
baby .house and--oh ever so many things.
My big doll wants new pair of shoes,
too.S I'Aafhc sfois her last pair sailing
them in the basin for boats. Dolls slip
pers make nice BOATS" said Birdie grave.
ly.
Uncle Charlie looked lovingly into
Brides grave face. raised it to his own,
and kissed the rel pouling lips.
@" Well. Miss May" he said at last,
"yor have arrived at the mature age Of
nine years, so I'll call you May ~
~ like Birdie, best Mamma called me
Birdie, before She went to heaven. "
"Bisdi #, il shall be. then. said her un-
Gle sbftly al viii give yon FIVE dollars
in fifty cent notes, aud you shall buy just
what you like,
.odlSasg Charles 80 yoa dear, dear
uarlc May 90 on now 2
Run to Aunt Bessie tor your hat and
coat, and i viii put this money in your
I. roriemoaaic whIls you are gone.
Wasn't it lucky Aunt Bessie gave me
new potcn'onaie this morning9' said
Birdie as she darted away
II was not many minutes before the liz
lie gil. warmly clad, and carrying her
tfshsurt, waslon her way. dancing along
the streets. and peeping in all the bright
store windows, wondering how best to eu.
joy her small fortune. t.Y ssr,
Uncle Charles read his newspaper, wrote
sea,o letters, transacted some business. and
began to wonder little what kept his lit
lie sunbeam so long away.
-iABstore he had tine to feel very uneasy
Birdie came in, walking slowly. her bright
l;tsls face very quiet, yet beaming with u
happy light.
Were your packages so big you had to
send them home ?" asked Uncle Charles.
Come, sit in my lap, and tell me what
you bought.
II bought bird"
"A little linnct. Uncle Charles. A boy
had it in a trap, and hs sold it for fifty
cents, 1t beat its wings so hard, and look.
etso miserable, tina, | opened the dso, and
let it so The boy said was a htsle fool.
Was | 2" a3..a,t,ayRg
~. think nat, What next p . N
II went 10 Mr. Claxtens to bay the
shoes for dolly, snd-" tears we're in Bird
ie's soft bluo eyes" ] met poor Jimmy" p"
1.-The idiot boy p ..r..,s
"Barefoo,ed. Uncle Charles, this cold
sdaysol lie was looking in Mr. Claxtcn' 5
winlew 80 pnifully that asked HIM il he
wanted .hoes. lie laughed aud nodded, SO
took him in. 0 uncle we got saeh a
splendid warm pair, and Mr., CIsxton gave
him two pairs Of old wooden socks besides, "
Did he give him the shoes p ,,q i.1l
r"For three dollars. He said they cost
that, ana Jimmy was SO glad, IL was
Afraid Le Was going 10 kiss mo-" ~
"Thrce dollars That wasa Lig sum
ont Of your money. ..
'ae" But Dollie's feet won't ache as jim
my's did" h .n~l,., NOS. ir1.
That's true. How about the tongs!'
qos" was going in TO buy the tongs whom
Ada Myers and her mother uet ME. TLey
were going over the hill to see Mrs. Mason,
Who was burned out in big fire LAST week,
and they asked me to go too. We found
Mrs. Mason at the little empty house whsls
Bob used to live, There is only one room,
voit. and she had all the children there. y
"How many?" y n "a
Five. One is-sueh dear baby. o,
Unct Charles twas so dreadful q Only
a(mattress on the floor and some blankets.
Tho pegRhors had given some cid clsthes,
bHt"-.lirdic was ,sobbing--" they all
locked se'csld and hungry. Mrs.n ..iyers
wrote downiall about it for sh hurch
meeting. and Ada and ran away
.af'ssEan away!"
IL. Down to the bakers and the groeers
We bought bread aud potatoes, anu q bas.
ket oil c0al and senle wood, aud when my
monsy was all gone, Aaa spsnt twenty.
6ye cents, and the man gave us ever so
much over, and let tho boy put all the
things on wheel borrow, aud come right
hack with us to the house. Mrs Mason
cried, aud the children shouted, and Mrs,
Myers helped make ihs fire, and--snd-l
never was so glad in my life, I" "a Er.
ss'"' So you got nothing with your mon
vs' si3ylaa 81 qa lad
Nothing !" cried Birdie, epening her
blue syesin amazon sns. 4e8 f5e...t
- Didn't the liunst fly of with fifty
cents .tgai 0s syi8if 3r iI{
I.' Yes. hg,aiafq ,t r
-'Aud Jimmy walkod away with three
dollars = ~ ,tl.i. tf4g s.ar
y"Yes." fr.a. aaff
bi"Ani Mrs. Mason. burned up what the
children did not ca, OF the rest q
"A" Yes, bnt--are you angry, Uncle
Charles ! do not need presents TO make
me love you, and thought you would no,
miad. You said was to get what !
pleased with the money" s8rststG
s"My daring.' said her uncle, arm
mt angry !; am very h.ppy Wswill
20 again 10 Mrs. Masop's this afternoon.
sntlsee what more ca,i be d,ne for her.
.s"Will yous Viii you help herr Oh !
] am 40 ghai1I wentl i wanted ever SO
mnc! money this morning, bu. now know
y yon vii llillelp her," lm4
~ "You shall tell me what to do. /" and
lncls Charles kissed the sweet. bright face.
mi sent BirAie to Aunt I'sssie, to tell her
A1v~nturcs. .ea 1.,-
a Birdie II q woman now. Wa call her
.Asy. nndllicr rhild.naac j., seldom heard
May birthdays haze passed over the bright
Mad. and many gift. tell OF fths ;oys law
ID stJ.cd UPON her. Lu, she never srents hsp-
pier day ,hsi, thai nih.ll hitnday. When