The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-02

''Poor little boy" she said, as Ross
disappeared down the stairway, "Sister
| Gracia ought to pay him It must be
dreadful to have no fire and nothing to
eat. "
She stood for moment, balancing
herself on the tip Of one dainty foot,
her rosebud face grave and reflective; !;
then a sudden thought flooded her blue
I eyes with sunshine, and snatching some
thing from the table, she started down
stairs. The servant had just closed the
/ street door, but she futtered past him
! like huming bird and opened it.
On the steps sat Ross, brave little
fellow that he was, his face in his
hands, sobbing as if his heart wonld
/ break.
''What's the matter, little boy?"
( questioned Pansie
Ross looked up half believing that it
/ was the face of an angel looking down
upon him through the whirling snow.
go, I cannot go home without the
money" he sobbed "poOr mother
worked hard and Flora is sick and so
hungry"
/ Pansie's eyes gIistened like stars.
"Here, she said, edo you take this,
little boy, and buy her lots O. nice
things.-'Tis worth great deal papa
bought it for my birthday present, but
do you take it and welcome"
She extended her dimpled hands. and
I F.
tinllIed to the boys's feet. He caught
it up in amaze-a necklace of emeraIds,
Iustrous, cleaning things, set in tawny
Indian gold.
"NO, no" he cried, running up to
where she stood, 81 can't take this neck
Iace-take it back.
But Pansie shook her curly head.
'' You shall take it, " she commanded,
imperiously. GIVE lots of jewelry and
fine things-run home now and buy your
sister something to eat.
She closed the door with bang, and
/ Ross stood irresolute in the stormy
gloom. Should he ring the bell and re-
turn the jewels to Pansie's father, or
/ should he do as she had bid him? He
thought of his mother and poor hungry
! little Flora watching wishfully for his
return. He could not go back and see
them starve. With sudden feeling of
desperation, he thrust the gIi-tering
/ necklace in his bosom and dashed down
/ the snowy street.
The gas light blazed brilliantly in
fashionable jewelry establishment, and
it's bland proprietor looked down in
! quiringly on little Ross as he approach
ed the glittering counter.
"Would You like to buy this, sir?"
There was a tremor in the boys voice
as he asked the question, and the hand
that held mp the emerald necklace shook
visibly. The iapidary took the gems,
examined them closely for moment,
and then shot a sharp glance at the
child.
''See here he said presently, his
voice stern and commanding, ''I want
to know how you came by this
The boys clear eyes fell, he blushed
and stamm red, evidently embarrassed.
The ieweler put aside the emeraIds, and
and taking the lads arm, led him into
small ante-roOm.
g You are a thief, sir" he added.
"That necklace belongs to Mr.. Fontenay
he bought it of me not one month
ago. You stole it. You are thief"
The little fellow Strengthened himself
and his brown eyes blazed
''I am no thief, he retorted. "A
kind little girl gave it to me, and know
it was wrong to take it, -but-ny
mother and sister are starving"
The ieweler hesitated.
'' You don't look like thief, " he said,
- but I Will send for Mr.. Fontenay, that
will settle the matter at once"
He dispatched a message accordingly
and Ross sat down in one corner, and
sobbed bitterly as he heard the driving
winds, and thought of his mother and
poor little Flora. In half an hour Mr..
Fontenay came, bringing his daughter,
little Pansie, with him. The little
creature darted like humming bird,
her cheeks abIoze, her eyes flashed like
lightning.
" He didn't steal my emeraIds p she
cried. Il gave 'em to him to sell EN-
and buy bread for his little sister.
Ross sprang to his feet, struggling
Fbard to keep back his tears. He put
ut his little brown hand which Pansie
instantly clasped in her chubby palms.
ct am not thief, sir" he said at
last, addressing Mr.. Fontenay;" 'I
never stole anything in my life. know
it was wrong to take the neckIace-but
-but, sir, my little sister is starving. "
The merchant drew his hand across
his eyes.
You're manly little fellow" he
said, patting the lads head, d" and I do
not in the least blame you, but will
take Pansie's emeralds, and she shall
give you something more available.
Here, Pansie, give this to your little
friends
He put a gold piece into Pansie's
hands, which she rendered to Ross,
with the injunction that he should run
straight home and buy lots of goodies
for his sister-a command he was not
slow to obey.
% think we viii not lose sight of the
little fellow" continued Mr.. Fontenay,
as Ross disappeared in the stormy
darkness, " shall we, pet? He's a
promising young lad and an honest one.
I'm sure, Mr.. Lenoz, you're in need of
an errand boy, why not try him I
wish Won would.