South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-10-30
The Little Bare Feet.
ny GEORGE rnixsrE.


''Shall buy your tease, to-day. Katy ,"
ooh yes. mamma, am crazy for il; my dol
lar is in Your purse get me gold and white, or
just plain white; teacBps, ,eapo;s and plates
what shall ever DO when have a ;ea-sei all nay
own. Hurry back, mamma, hurry back, for
am almost crazy with waiting"
Mamms waved good bye minute af,crvard
70 Katy who was kissing her hand through the
little shop window, and made haste 10 pass down
the street.
She was not much more than gone whom
hungry, cold little boy came up on The step aud
bashfuliy ran away again, and lien came back,
going in this time and asking for bread
'Who are You ?' asked Katy, trying TO re-
mcmbcr where she had seen HIM
'l'sria's boy Who used 10 1--we with yoar ma
"Naria's boy Oh, yes, ! know" and she
whispered 10 Miss Nell who teaded the store,
''Look at his li;ue feet, how bare, and what
patched, thin clothes -nsl, him where his mo Their
il, ne looks so poor"
"She's sick said Bobbie, half hiding his
face, for ne loved bis mother aud she was very ill
GIVE him some breakfa't, please Miss Nell,
mamma would do it if she were herc-5ee how
lie shivers with The cold"
So Miss Ne,l took him into the room beyond
md Katy helped set gu, the dishes and m AXE
him something warm Ia eat and drink, stopping
70 whisper % Miss Nell, "Oh those poor little
feet if only hal my doIlar-if only had not
sent il away-uow, do no; know when shall
have another. lnever saw such poor, cold feet
Bobaie ate his breakfast and got warmed by
the fte and smiled when Miss Neil at Katy's
pleading wrapped u? some nice things FOR the
sick mother at homc-but after all Was done
what did It amount TO, for there were the thread
bare clothes and the little bare feet
Katy stepped out OF the room and when Miss
Nell found her behind the bedroom door up
stairs her face was vet With crying.
II was SO stupid, " she said, "aot to save for
something like this-to think Of spending dol
lar FOR tea-'ot when people have no shoes I
do not want 20 see it, Will not play with it
oh, Miss Nell what shall / do ?'
But there was nothing to be done but Tor Bob
bic to run home as fast rs he could, row that
he was warmed and fed taking his mother the
nice things, aud the cheering word that Katy
had said nc mast como soon again
/ But Katy could not be comrortei as she watch
| cd him out Of sight, and when mamma came
uy4It iA t-t'thh itie Nti eyes ana inquired what
waa the matte. with Katy, Katy herself explain
cd about the tbreaGbare clothes and the little
bare feet, and the usecssness Of tea-sets in sight
! Of such trouble.
! "t is pretty, mamma, very beautiful but I
cannot play with it, do not care for it when I
think Of what comfort that money might have
bFoueht-put it away, mamma, where cannot
sec it."
"Would you really rather have The dollar for
The shoes than the tea-set hich you have want
ed so long %
"oh yes mamma! shall never care Cor my
. Tea set now"
"Thcn viil put Tho tea-set in The shop win.
dow and cell it to some one who may want it,
and give You tAe dollar to buy shoes if You
wish it,"
"Namma' - was al, sic could say for nm in
slant, as the sunshine broke through Tie tears
ard mamma lail the dollar in her hand, which.
with a little added to it, was soon laid out Mt the
shoe-making shop f,r cover FOR tie tie bare
/ fvct.-Neg Iert C5scrcer