Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-12-11
Ghildren's department.
MAMMALS PRESENT.

was desired in the garden. Pretty soon
big sun bonnet and tattered straw hat might
have been seen Topping about over two small
figures, as they moved down the path toward
the summer-house at the lower end OF the
garden.
"What you want with me?" asked Mabel,
as they sat down OH the low seat of the sum-
mer.house.
"Wait minute; III show you" answered
frankie. And diving his small hand deep
down into his pocket, he began vigorous
search for something First he pulled out
rubber ball, whip lash, two marbles, spool,
and several other articles which no one but a
boy could find use for; and last of all, he
produced a tivecent coin, and laid it with Il
triumphant air on the seat beside him.
Mabel's blue eyes opened wide as she look
cd at this vast wealth, and then asked:
"Whered you get it ?"
ooh got it from Uncle Will for keeping
chickens out of the garden. But you can't
guess what I'm going to do with it."
"Whatw
"Well-I guess-maybe, on the whole, III
tell you, seeing you're my sister," was the
patronising answer "You see, tomorrow is
mammals birthday, and I'm going to buy her
prescnt-that is, if l can find something
real nice," continued frankie, thrusting his
hands into his pockets, and leaning compa-
Gently back against grape vine.
"What are you going to buy?"
"Oh don't know yet; something nice,
though. I'm going to do it this afternoon. "
"May 90 aIong?" asked Mabel, anxiously.
"Well, you're so little, you might get lost
though-well-I 'spose you can CO." replied
frankie, condescendingly.
With this permission, the big sun-bonnet
went skipping back toward the house, and
the tattered straw hat followed more slowly.
If mamma had been watching, she might
have noticed that the children ate their dinner
very hurriedly indeed that Mabel was unu,
sually willing to help frankie gather up a
basket of chips and what was more strange,
asked mamma to tie the strings Of her sun.
bonnet. She might have noticed, too, that
frankie was seized with sudden desire to
improve his appearance by washing his face
and asking to "wear his Sunday cap" But
mamma did not notice; her mind was occu-
pied with other matters, and she saw them
pass down the garden.path without a suspi'
cion but that they were just going out to play
"Now, we'll 60 and look round at the
stores, and see what to buy" said frankie
and taking hold of Mabel's hand, the two
trudged soberly off up the street on their i'm
portant mission.
"Oh! know" said Mabel, after walking
a few minutes. "Buy horse!"
"No five cents isn't enough to do that A
live horse would cost as much as two dollars,
answered frankie.
"No, don't mean a live one. | mean a
candy horse, like Aunt Mary gave me when
she was at her house, and"
"Why, that wouldn't be any present at all!'
interrupted frankie. "Mamma would eat it
up right off. You see, 1 want to get her
something she can't eat, utwil keep forever
and ever"
That birthday present should be some
thing mamma could keep, was plain even to
Mabel. She said nothing more about the
candy horse, and they walked on in silence
until they came to drugstore. Here Fran
kie stopped, hesitated moment, then walked
boldly in, with Mabel following close behind.
An old gentleman was seated at the back
part Of the store reading newspaper as they
entered, but at the sound of their small feet
on the floor, he looked up.
81 want to see what you've got to sell, y
said frankie.
"What's that ?" asked the old gentleman,
glancing over his spectacles.
81 want to see the things you keep to sell,
cause guess maybe I'll buy something" re.
pcated frankie, with the air of one who had
large capital to invest.
The old gentleman could hardly keep from
smiling at his small customers but as he saw
the eyes under the velvet cap and big sum
bonnet were watching him closely, his face
became instantly grave, and he walked be-
hind the counter
"Well, what is it you wish to see?"
"Oh I don't know; what have you got p
asked frankie, his eyes wandering about over
the array of bottles, jars, and packages of
medicine.
"Oh 1 have most everything, from castor
oil down to toothpcks, answered the drug
gist. "Cal't sell you an emetic ?" he added
with an amused smile.
frankie hestated little. "How much
does one cost ?" he asked.
"Only FIVE cents?" replied the druggist !;
and reaching back, he took down jar and
placed it on the counter.
Both frankie and Mabel looked at it rather
doubtfully. They didn't know what an
"emetic" was, but thought from the looks of
it that it would hardly be suitable for pres
ent to mamma. So the jar was placed back
on the shelf again. After that they looked
at several things, but could find nothing they
liked-at least, nothing that could be pur-
chased for five cents and they finally left the
store.
Next they visited a dry-goods store, a toy
shop, a bookstore, and several other places,
but nowhere finding the present they wished,
or that their money would purchase At last,
Just as they were about giving up making a
present at all, they came to a tin-shop, and
went in.
In answer to Frankics question, the shop
man placed several articles before them, but
they were all too high-priced, and the chill
dren were about to turn away again. Just
then the man placed a small tin cup on the
counter. The cup was painted blue, and on
1t, III gilt letters, were tne WOruS, L or SoOu
girl" The children's eyes sparklcd when
they saw it, and when they learned the price
was exactly five cents, all doubt disappeared
from their faces. frankie hastily laid down
the five cents, the cup was wrapped up, and
the velvet cap and big sun-bonnet fairly
danced out Of the store.
"Isnt it nice =? Why, it's the very thing!'
said Mabel, as their small feet went Oh a skip
and jump toward home.
eyes" said Frankie "and we'll put it in
mammals shoe to night, SO she'll be spriscd
in the morning"