St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-02-18
A Teenty-tonty bit of a Thief.
BN MARY HAINE> GILBERT.

"A pcmny'S worth of needles. sevcns.
hrtwccm>, please. said Jenny Ray.
Miss GoodnutS hustled about and got
down her small stock of needles. While
she took two needles, out OF the full pa
per and stuck them carefully in hit of
muslin. Jenny looked at the glass ar
filled with long sticks of candy that
stood further down on the counter. For
Miss GoodnutS. in order to make ends
meet. kept Il little of everything pins
and Sweetmeats. needles and sugar
tlimhlcs and bundles of wood. trumpets
and loavcS of bread. toy books and cal
Ico. queer looking little shop it was
and its uWhcI WAS quccrer looking still
She had Il very long. crooked nose she
wore green spcctaclcs over her green
eyes. and her gray hair was tied up in
Il small knot 1T the back of hrI head
With Il gay. red ribbon.
"Thcrc" said Miss Goodnut>. Il have
stuck The needles in 81 that yoH couldn't
lose them if N"u tried. Your m"ther'll
lind them very inc: I've tried them
my self. and they never break"
"lcSm. answered jenny. takin" the
needles. and She held ont Il tive-crnt
piece.
.'Oh oh ah my o. Aunty. quick -
Nv h"'> thai ," asked Jenny.
Miss G"ndnuts did not answer. for
she was already half way IL the green
d""l al the lenr of the shop. She stop
ped Il moment ON the sill.
III he back in II minute" she said.
and then disappeared.
Jenny waited one minute. five min
utr>. but Miss Goodnut<, did not come
back.
"IIow long she stays" Jenny COM
planned. IF | had a penny Id leave it
OH the counter and go"
She twisted the coin in her fingers
until il slipped from them and went
rolling along on the floor. Jenny pick
eel it up Just 10y the jar of candy sticks
Il wish it was Friday" she said. land
then cnnld huy Il stick; hut its only
Tuesday yet"
Every Friday Mrs. Ray gave her little
girl Il penny if she brought home Il good
report for the week from school. and
Jenny had earned II good many pennies
i'll this way.
.Ienuy'> fingers >troked the glass jar.
I'D choose IL lemon -Stick-I had win
ter"recu last week. If the lady would
let me have it now. I'd pay her Friday"
But Jenny looked up and SAW the words.
NO trust
No Trust. :" repeated Jenny. and she
sighed. Then she thought. Il could
pay her | could lay the penny "n the
counter when she wasn't looking. and
she would he sure To find it,"
Jenny put her pink fingers into the
glass jar. She shook. but she drew ont
il yellow lcmomStick and thrust it quick
ly into her pocket. Her heart went
thump. thump.
"Oh ! can't. | won't bc So bad" she
said, to herself, and she put her hand
into her pocket to draw out the lemon
stick again to put it back in its place.
waiting vet ?" she said. her face
screwed up.
..les'm," said Jenny. family.
Miss Goodnuts handed Jenny her
change. then she suddenly pattcd the
little girls hands.
"lou'rc Il nice, patient little thing"
she said. ''.J"hnny is patient, too. gen
orally speaking: but he screams ont
when the cramps take him-and he gets
very tired of staying alone 50 much
"lcS'm, said Jenny. her eyes on the
floor.
''lou see" went on Miss GoodmutS.
my sister died Il year ago and left him
to me. and his father died before that.
50 the child has only me, aud he feels
lonely like. If some nice little girl. like
YOU. would come and talk to him now
aud then it would brighten him up. |
am thinking"
"lesm. answered Jenny. her checks
quite scarlet.
"Ies." went on Miss Goodnuts. .and
if your mother'll let you. suppose YOU
drop i'll after school come this after
noon.
"lrs'm.' said Jenny again, and then
she went out of the little shop. her
cheeks burning hot. She ran home with
the needles, and then. as it was nearly
school-time, she went to school at once
When she came home at three o'clock,
she sat down with her hands folded in