The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-25

learn what took place before they started
out.
CHAPTER III.
For many day passed little Polly had
been saying anxiously,
"Oh, mother! l hope / shall be well
enough to 90 out with Arthur on fathers
teetotal birthday. Even if it SHOWS, l
may go, mayn't /? A bit of snow,
wouldn't hurt, if 1 get deal better;
and oh, I do want to help to buy fathers
book"
"Now, you'd better not say any more
about it till the day comes" Arthur
said one evening; for if you keep on SO
about it, know you'll let the cat out of
the bag before father, and that would
Just spoil every thing. And seven and
sixpence is too much to pay, after having
our plan spoilt. Hi seven and sixpence,
mother" he added, with a happy laugh,
"isn't it a lot to give for book? ]
never spent so much money in my life
before. l do hope, when we 60 out on
Christmas eve to buy it, that we shan't
meet any pick-pockets."
"You mustn't trust in your pocket,
Arthur; you must carry it tight in your
hand" said little Susie, with wise nod
of her curly head.
"There's knowing Susie" cried Ar
thur. "Now that's just what I'll do, If
you'll walk without holding my hand"
Seven-and-sixpence for a present for
the father! 1t may be asked how they
could get such sum for such purpose,
and the answer is, that it was the fruit
of selfdenial and affection. Fathers
first teetotal birthday" that was COM
ing, had been talked Of many times
during the past year, and the children
had resolved that he should have some
little present in remembrance. 80 they
saved by every halfpenny they could
get, Arthur frequently earning few
pence by running errands for persons in
the neighborhood. And when Polly fell
ill, and kind friends dropped in to see
her, she had pence often given her with
advice to buy eggs, or oranges, or cakes
with them, or tempt her poor appetite.
But not a penny would she spend on her.
self She remembered the want and
misery of the time before her father had
signed the pledge; and she thought he
had been such dear, good father ever
since last Christmas that she could not
possibly do too much for him. Besides,
the present they had set their hearts
upon getting was 50 expensive for them,
that it was urgent they should save every
penny that came into their hands.
At first they were very undecided
about what to get. They frequently sat
down in solemn conclave over the ques'
|. ton. but could not come to a decision
Arthur voted that they should get at
least five shillings for the present, and
that was too large a sum to be lightly
spent. Should it be something to wear
to eat. or to use? They decided that II
must not be anything either to wear OF
, to eat, because they would like it to bt
kept for wears in remembrance OF the i'm
: portant occasion. at should be some
thing to remind father on every Christ
t mas to come, what happy day his firs
teetotal birthday was" said Mrs. Cosnett
S One day the question was decided al
5 of a sudden. Arthur came bounding il
g from school, with face glowing like
t June rose, though his jacket was pow
7 dered with snow.
! "Oh, motherw he exclaimed, CIV
l seen something that would be exactl,
l the thing for fathers present. You know
y RobinsOn's old book shop? Well, L wa
: looking in, and l saw such a gran
n Bible it isn't new, but it looks as goo
t as if it had never been used, and it ha
S such lovely pictures. 1t is famil
Bible, beauty! and I went in to loo
' at it, and ask the price. Guess what
was" ,,,.
n "If it was more than five shillings
I isn't much good to know the price" sal
o Mrs. Cosnett.
3 "Well, it was nine. mother. and whe
I heard that / could have cried, te
e so sorry. l said to Mr.. Robinson ths
u we should not be able to have it, as
e was too much; and he asked me lot
questions about who it was for and a
n that. and at last he said we should hay
a il for seven and six-pence, and he woul
e keep it for us until l brought him d'
P cided answer. Now you see there
q halfa-crown of mine, eighteen pence
II Polly's, six pence of Willie's and 81
, pence of Susie's-five shillings. Ho
y could we manage to get the other hal m
!; crown! DO you think you could afior
J to help, motherT'
ls Mrs. Cosnett thought of a small SUI
- of money which she had put by, ST.
y : pence at a time, to buy herself pair
u boots. which she had needed very muc
y "Just think" Arthur went on plea
&c ing. chow nice this book would b
- something to be always using, and y
~, ~ something to last all our lives"
= "And something to be real blesslI
u y to us all" the mother added. And whi
=, she spoke she resolved to wait for n
a 10 boots, and add halfa-crown of her mon'
% % to the children's precious store.
VI "Yes, you shall have half-a-crown fro
~ = me-" she said. "There could be nothil
u u better for fathers teetotal birthday th'
NJ that"
70 So Arthur called next day to tell {
No. old bookseller that they would come al
,gSt buy the book on Christmas eve. Al
ot when the day came Polly prevailed up
90 her mother to let her go on the hap
w errand with the others; she was sure S
i was we'll enough, and she did't care h'
~, much her mother muffled her up so s
wv wv might go and carry her eighteen per
re. to the shop.
nv OFF they went; and as they neared
es. place in the dim light Of the fading aft
in noon their father overheard the wor
RI? "Won't father be glad 2" from Will
on "Wholl have to give it him 7" FRI
nd Susie; ave shall see when the ii
ew comes" from Arthur; and mind y
in. don't lose your sixpences, Susie q
en- Willie, or we shan't be able to buy !
ry from Polly.
- When the father had heard so much
he sense of honor forbade him to pry fart
Nv. into their glad secret. He guesses Il
in. thew were Intending and hoping to z
w, him surprise, and surprise he resoi'
the il should be. He would not even look
see whittier they were going, but turI
irn directly back towards home.
he What change the sight of them, 9
ne. the sound of their words, had wrou
the in his feelingsl A great weight seen
ell to be lifted off his heart. He thought