Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28

silly or heartless, and, in a more thoughtful
MOOD, she would have observed that Tom was
lie had come to Claim a reward, and his clothes
showed that he needed 1t; but his manly,
straightforward bearing. his refined, sensitive
features, and intelligent expression, were Gre
dentlals that should have been respected; and
the boy knew it.
He felt himself outraged BY the implication.
and such sighting mention of his mother was
rot TO be endured. He had borne all the pre-
vious chatting patiently, but this was the straw
too much, and he turned away, swelling with
wounded pride.
"why don't you take your money!" asked the
captain.
al would rather not, if you please. 1 sh all
60 home, sir" was the answer, in a tone tn II
neither of them could mistake. And Miss
tension.
"we have hurt his feelings," she exclaimed
remorssfoliy. why. nv dear child. | was only
in fun. You are not like those little begyars
at sll-is he, Aired? Look! what nice features
mans son."
I'VE didn't want money when nv father was
al and don't want il enough now to stand
beNg called thief and begg4r-sn1 TO have
my mother talked about!" he cried, holly.
We'll, then, she shan't be" said Miss Della
beld, with her sweetest smile, taking Toms
hahd ana slipping the money into 1t. "Your
motner IS lady, I'm sure, and like You Tor
taking her part so manfully. You are a rery
nice little boy, and would like to 90 and see
your mother some time. Nav I?''
"Come, now!' cried the captain, making a
that. yen lucky little cuss. What have Won
done, wonder, that she should call Won nice
boy? She doesn't call me one."
because you are such goose" Miss Della
field retorted; bat she smiled at HIM bewitch.
ingly, and Toms vexation melted in the sun
shine of her loneliness. He tried to make little
speech of thanks, but he broke down between a
laugh and cry. And then the young lady did
~
She pstted his smooth, rosy cheeks with her
two little hands, and kissed his white forehead:
and the captain pretended to 60 into tit of
Jealous rage that was funnier than anything.
He stalked up and down the room, and quoted
poetry, and scowled at Tom, until Miss slafieId
iairly screamed with laughter; and Susie bark.
cd and scampered and made frantic leans al
everybody, like poodle gone crazy.
Tom was dismissed after a while, but not
until he had been asked great many question,
and had grown very confidential. He told Miss
Delaheld his mother was an authoreSs, and
that she wrote books and stories; and no " badly
she felt when that MS. was rejected; and hO "
much he had wished to earn some money to
help her; and how, when he found Susie, and
saw that advertisement, he was so delighted to
think that he could bring her the money. He
told her about his little sister, too, and how thew
bad found out the poodle's name through cali
ing susie; and how ne meant to buy her "sach a
oolf Tor Christmas gift.
ono, you shall not" Miss Delafield said
You must take all your money home to Your
mother, and let me bring the doll to Susie
understand much more about buying dolls thu
You do, and to morrow is Christmas day. You
watch at the window about three O'Clock to-
morrow, and see what you will see."
SO Tom went home, and felt like boy tn AZ
had been to fairy-lsBd What history ne had
to tell his mother. and how bresthlessly Susie
listened to everything-and how merry and ex.
cted they all were; For Mrs. Kent had news
for Tom, too-excellent news.
"That manuscript WAS not reiected after
all she said, with her pretty face all in glo
OF pride and pleasure. at had only opeued II
AZ first. would have saved AL the trouble we
felt. For 1t was only sent back to be made a
little shorter and changed a little; and wheu
that is done, the editor says-In such a pleasant
Ionte note, Iom-thst it will be a charming
story! And he would like another, toe; think
or thatl''
go mother, that's better news than m;ne {,
Tom cried. "All the same, though, you're no,
10 siGht my christmas gift, you know" he add
ed, jealousy.
HIS mother gave him a squeeze. "Asif
could, my precious boy! And a. if [ did not
know something else you had been doing. too.
your mother"
And then it appeared that Toms Old Jacket
had betrayed him. His mother had taken it to
mend in his absence, and found the neHspaDeI
money IN his pocket, and copy of the hiero.
giyphic advertisement, with Toms memoran.
dunn OF sales on the margin. She had put two
and two together, ard made pretty clear
guess at the truth. And, though she gave hi 10
scoldiHg for doing such thing, am sure shp
DID not love him any the less --
Tom bought a little savings bank STRAIGHT
way, and put the seventy-hSe cents in it as a
menentO OF his hrst business transaction. And
"i'h the fifty dollars, they paid all the bills aud
kept merry Christmas in something like the
dear old way.
The Bleecker-street folks we're astonished a,
the parcels that came in for the Kents, but tn Al
8stoDisbment was as nothing to the wonder
when Miss Delafields coach, with her superb
driver and footman, rolled up to the door, pre-
IN Ehrils
body. In all the different rooms below-sta Airs
Feeped out to watch the beautiful young Iady
and the elegant young gentleman as they
assembled the three flights to Mrs Kept's anart
ments. Miss Delaieid's velvet dress. and ber
fuTs, and her plumes, and her diamond ear.
drops, were matter of wonder for a month
atterward; and Suse's Paris doll broke the
envy.
For Miss Delafield had not forgotten the doll
and Captain Meredith had brought Tom such a
par OF skates, and such four bladed knife. as
ne mad never dared to dream of, to say nothing
OF box Of French bon-bOns, that was ga
sweeties lasted!
Never was such merry Christmas-in
Bleecker street, round the corner from the
BoweIy, at all events. And the best of it was,
for the Kent family. Miss Delafeid was an
thing in hand; and Captain Meredith was only
too happy to join hands with her in any way,
literally or metaphOrically. Between the m they
secured for Mrs. Kent the literary recognition
and support that she deserved. Thew read her
little books, and told people about the author:
they sent her poems and stories to clever editors
who appreciated their grace and freshness; the
found way, without hurting her pride or deli
cacy, to get her established in more Suitable
quarters than the Bleecker-street lod,inp
house, and so put her in reach Of social adyan-
tages.
The dwellers on Ma 'ison square and Park
avenue are not always shoddy or Flora Nc
Fiimsey. There are plenty who fare sumptu-
Ously every day, yet are glad to reach GU,
warm, helping hands to the toilers below them
And the captains adorable" and the Captain
himself-to his own astonishment when be
walked up to the fact-belong to this "betteI
part' of our modern society. They might not
However, have discovered the talent they pos
sessed for doing good, If it had not been fol-
Susie, number two. So merry Christmas *
you, Susie, pampered little absurdity as you
are; and may your cushions be soft, and YOU
chicken-wing tender, and your shadow never
be less! MARY r. BRADLEY.
WHAT two letters signify written article'
5. A. essay. What birds name can be spell
with two letters? p. n. (pea-henl. What pun
gent powder can be spelt with two letters? X. N
(cayenne). What word, signifying anythin,
taken, can be spelt with two letters? c. Il
lseiZed). Why Is the letter ID like a sailor
Because 1t follows the G. (sea). Why are e ant
ID in the alphabet like England and Fran ce'
Because there is 9 (ses) between them VIA,