Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-02

self, and motioning her to come and sit
there. She understood at once, thanked
me with a look, and nestled into the safe
place so gratefully that the old gentleman
glared over the spectacles at the rude per
son who had disturbed the serenity of the
child
Then we rum bled along again, the cal
getting fuller and fuller as we got down
town. Presently an Irishwoman with q
baby, got in, and before I could offer hel
my seat my little school girl was out Of
hers with a polite,
"Please take it, nam; lean stand per
fectiy WELL"
1t was pretti]y doEe, and I valued the
small courtesy all the more. because 1t evil
IDENTIFY cost the bashful creature an effort
to stand up in a car full of strangers, espec-
tally as she could not reach the strap to
steady herself and foundif difficult to stand
comfortably.
Then it was that the crustY nan showed
how he appreciated my girls good manners
for he hooked his cant in the strap and
gave it to her, saying, with a smile that
lighted up the rough face like sunshine:
Hold On to that, my DEAR"
"Ah"t thought show little can we Judge
from appearances. This grim old soul is
a gentleman, after ALL"
Turning her face toward US, the girl
held on to the stout cane, and swayed cas-.
| lily to and fro. as we bumped over the rails.
The IAishwoman's baby, a sickly little
thing, was attracted by the flowers, and
put out q small hand to touch them, with
a wistful look at the bright face above.
"Will baby have some?" said my girl,
and made the little creature happy with a
gay sweetpea and some red leaves.
"Bless your heart, honey, it's fond he is
Of the likes O. them, and seldom she gets
any, said the mother, gratefully, as she
settled baby's hood, and wrapped the old
shawl round his feet.
Baby stared hard at the giver of the
posies, but his honest blue eyes had no of
fence, and soon the two " re so friendly
that the baby boldly clutched at the bright
buttons on her sack, and crowed with de-
light when he got one, and we all smiled
at the play, and were sorry when the little
lady with a bow and smile to us, got out at
the church corner.
s'Now, [ Shall probably never see the
child again, yet what a pleasant picture
she leaves in memory L thought to my
self, as I caught q glimpse Of the brown
hat going round the corner.
But I did see her again many times that
| winter, for not long after [ passed down u
certain street near the winter quarters, I
came upon a 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 I do When [ meet a
party of sparrows on the common, and
was wondering what would become of SO
many budding women, when, all Of d sud-
den, I saw my little schoolgirl.
Yes. I knew her III a minute, for she
wore the same brown hat, and the rosy
face was sparkling with f II, as she told a
secret wit n a chosen friend, while eatinga
wholesome slice of bread and butter, as
only a hungry school girl could. She did
not recognize me, but [ took a good look
at her as | went by, longing to know what
the particular secret was that ended in
such 2 G tie of laughter.
After that, I often saw my girl as [ took
my walk abroad, and, IL day, could not
resist speaking to her when | met her alone;
for usually her mates clustered round her
like bees about their queen, which pleased
! me. since it showed how much they loved
the sunshine child.
I had a paper OF grapes in my hand, and
when I Saw her coming wiliskeG out a
a handsome bunch, all ready to offer, for
had made up my mind to speak this time.
She was reading a paper, but looked up to
| give me the inside of the walk. Before her
eyes could fall again [ held out the grapes
and said, just as | had heard say to Il com
panion at lunch time, Lets go halves"
She understood at once, laughed, and took
the bunch, saying with twinkling eyes:
'Oh. thank you; they are beautiful"
Then. as we went on to the corner to
gether, I told her why I did it, and recall
ed the ear. Il had forgotten all about
that, but my conductor is very kind and
| always waits for me-" she said, evidently
surprised that a stranger should take an
interest in her small self. l did not have
half lime enough with her, for a tell rang
and away she skipped, looking back to nod
and smile AT the queer lady who had taken
a fancy TO ler. a few days after and a fine
nosegay of flowers was left at the door for
me. and When I asked the servant who sent
them he answered:
"a little girl asked if q lame lady didn't
live here, and when L said yes, she told me
to give you these, and said, 1.-THE grapes
were very NICE"
I knew at once who it was, and enjoyed
the funny message immensely, for when
one leeds d quiet life, little things interest
and amuse.
Christmas was close by, and [ planned a
return of the flowers of a sort that I fan
cied my Young friend would appreciate. I
knew that Christmas week would be a hol-
iday, so the day before it began [ went to
the school just before recess, and left a
frosted plum cake, directed to MISS
Gcldlocks, from she knows Who"
At first [ did not know how to address
my nice, white parcel, for [ never had
heard the child's name. But after thinking
over the matter I remembered that she
was the only girl there with yellow curls
hanging down her back, so l decided to
risk the case with the above direction. The
maid who took it in for the girl went to a
private school) smiled and said at once she
l-..a.z xuLona I rnaaut I left the cake and