The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-09

corner.
But ! did see her again many times |
that winter, for. not long after. |
passed down a certain street near my
winter quarters, / came upon Il flock
of girls.-eating their luncheon as
they walked to and fro on the sunny
side-pretty, merry, creatures. all
laughing and chattering at once. as
they tossed apples from hand to hand.
munched candy, or compared cookies.
I went slowly to enjoy the sight. as |
do when I meet party OF sparroWs
on the common. and was wondering
what would become Of SO many bud
ding women. when all Of q sudden
saw my little schoolgirl.
Yes knew her i'll q minute. for she
wore the same brown hat, and the
rosy face was sparkling with fun. as
she told secrets with q chosen friend
while eating a wholesome slice OF
bread and butter, as Onlya hungry
schoolgirl could. She did not recog-
nize me, but I took good look at her
as | went by, longing to know what
the particular secret was that ended
in such gale Of laughter.
After that. | often saw my girl as
took my walk abroad, and. one day,
could not resist speaking to her when
I met Der alone: for usually her mates
clustered around her like bees about
their queen. which pleased me. since
it showed how much they loved the
sunshine child.
| had paper Of grapes in my hand.
. and when | saw her coming Whlshed
out handsome bunch all ready to
offer, for had made up my mind to
speak this time. She was reading q
paper, bnt looked up to give me the
: inside of the walk. Before her eyes
could fall again I held out the grapes
Z and said. Just as ! had heard her say
/ to school-mate atlunch time, Let $
90 halves.' She understood at once.
Y laughed. and took the bunch. saying
/ with twinkling eyes:
t ooh, thank yon! they are beautiful.
\ Then as we went ON 20 the corner
\ together. I told her why l did it. and
: recalled the carriage. I'D forgotten
4 all about that. but my conductor Is
d very kind and always waits tor me-
t she said evidently surprised that q
/ stranger should take an interest III her
: small self. | did not have half time
e enough with her, for a bell rang and
D away she skipped, looking back to noe
/ and smile at the queer lady who hae
taken a fancy to her. 4 few days
q after and fine nosegay Of flowers
t was left at the door for me. and Whel
I I asked the servant who sent them h
T. answered:
a "A little girl asked if lame lad,
@ didn' live here. and when | said yes
1t she told me to give you these. an.
y said, The grapes were very nee.
II ] knew at once who it was. ant
e enioved the funny message lmmensel.
for when one leads quiet life lttl
V things interest and amuse.
,e Christmas was close by. and | plan
II ned a return of the flowers Of sor
81 that fancied that my young frien
,e would appreciate. I knew tina
81 Christmas week would be holiday
n so the dav before it began l Wentst
Y. the school just before recess and LET
d a frosted plummy cake, directed t
to "Miss Goldlocks from, she know
I'd Who
10 At first | did not know how to at
I'd dress my nice white parcel, for neye
it had heard my child's name. Bl
Q. after thinking over the matter
ad remembered that she was the onl
at girl there with yellow curls hangln
lis down her back, SO decided to Ills
al the case with the above direction
The maid who took it III for the q
he went to ii private school. smiled. III
.ot said at once she knew whom / men
an I left my cake. and strolled aron1
I'D the corner to the house of q frlen
irl there to wait and watch for the su
cess of my Joke. for the girls alwa
nd went that way at recess.
Presently the little hats began to
ed bobbinc BY. the silent streets to eel
10. with laughter. and the sidewalk
ne bloom with gay gowns, tor the Gil
ar were all out lin winter colors nov
he From behind a curtain peeped
DIV them. and saw. with great satlsfactlo
nd that nearly all had bits OF my cake
their hands. and were talking it ov
AN with the most flattering interest J
Is particular little girl. with a friend
me each arm. passed so near me that
mo could see the happy look in her ey'
his and hear her say. with Il toss OF
bright hair;
Mother will plan it for me. am
we can get it done by New Year. Wo
i'm it be fun to hang it on the door so
day and rum
the I fancied that she ment TO ma
md something for me. and waited "
ped patience. wondering how this 0
ms frolic with my schoolgirl would 81
,ac- New Years day came and pass'
lall but no gift hung on my door: $
iful made upmy mind it was all a mista
and being pretty busy about that tin
my, thought no more of the matter. III
zap some weeks late. as came into to
red one day after visit in the count
/ fond of observing faces and seld
ond forget one if anything has particula
lom attracted my attention to it. 50 {
ate morning. as | rode along. | looked
and the conductor. as there was no
eet. else to observe, and he had pleas
the sort of face. Somehow it looi
had familiar. and after thinking abou
3 so idly for a minute. | remember
| at where | had seen it before.