The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-04-26
FORTUNES CHILDREN
BY THEODORA Il. JENNES.


$50 many homes up yonder and
not one of them Tor us. Was that
what grandma meant when she
said we'd be Fortunes children 1t
doesn't seem as though God meant
it to be so. DO you know, Prissy,
peeped in through the bridge
house window while you were talk
lug to the toIlmen and saw lots of
twisted doughnuts heaped up Oh Il
plate before one little boy! Oh,
it made me feel so hungryw
"Hush, Violet, hush. You know
we promised each other we'd be
very brave. I'm sure we'll find the
Home when morning comes if the
tollman will only let us pass with.
out the pennies. Here, darling
are some bits of bread and cheese
l saved for surprise in case you
should be very hungry"
The smaller of the wee ones sit
ting in the cleaning near the end
of the long tollbridge, seized the
offered bits with eager hands; but
after looking at them wistfully she
divided them and laid the larger
share into her sisters lap"
"Poor, dear Prissy, you're hun
grier than |, for you've been going
without all day for me. Yes, sou
shall eat them,' she insisted, seeing
that Prissy was about to give them
back a second time.
Making another division, Prissy
kept but a small share for herself,
and Violet reluctantly received the
rest. When the crumbs were eaten
the sisters nestled closer to each
other, listening to the water sweep
ing down beneath the bridge, max
ing noisy whirlpools round the
wooden piers.
I" Prissy," said Violet, in low,
awed tone, cit would be dreadful
if we should have to stay here all
night. When the lights up in the
town are out, and there's nothing
but the sky and water, and the
queer, frightening noises one al
ways hears out in the dark, then |
know you'd be afraid"
"No, DEAR" Prissy answered. |
should be IL little lonesome, but not
afraid. It's such a soft, still, prct-
ty night, and Gods stars are watch.
ing us up in the sky. See, Violet,
that great, warm prairie fire burn
ing over yonder. Let's play tits
ours, for company, and that we have
kindled it to cook ii splendid dinner,
to winch all the grand folks in the
country are invited. Well bake
cakes as big as haystacks and have
whole herds of roasted deer"
"Oh, yes" cried Violet, with de
light, "only the deer must like to be
roasted for 'twould be Il shame to
kill them it they wanted to live.
Aud I'd rather have all the hungry
folks at our dinner, cause the grand
ones can get enough to cat if they
don't come"
While the little waits were in
dulging III these cheering faucies,
such as childhood can always sum
mon at it's bidding, pairo horses,
drawing ii light wagon, came across
the bridge, approaching very near
the spot were Violet and Prissy sat.
Surprised and startled the children
sprang up, giving the horses IL
fright. They began to rear and
plunge, and in her efforts to escape
Violet fell beneath the horses feet.
"Whoa, jess y shouted a deep
voice, while pair OF strong bands
pulled the reins, checking the hor
ses promptly.
With Il cry of terror Prissy
sprang before the trembling ami
mails, and, snatching Violet, carried
her aside, bending over her in great
distress. .....
"Bless me what have we done ?"
exclaimed man, jumping from the
wagon.
"Oh, Violet's killed " moaned
Prissy, seeing that the little face,
upturned in the starlight, wore a
deatbly pallor.
No--spare us,r said the man,
raising Violet quickly in his arms.
Heaven bepraised! she's opening
her eyes. Little lass, arc you much
hurt ~ ...
The kind anxious voice acted like
charm toward restoring Violet.
Lifting her head from off the great
rough breast she murmnrea weakly.
"No, Ouly dreadful scared aud
faint. Is sister safe ~
ayes, kitten, she is safe but tits
a WONDER" said the man, while
Prissy sobbed with thanktnlness.
"Jess and Jean are faithful beasts,
but you can't blame them for scar
ing when two spirits like you spring
up in their path. How come you
out here i'll the dark, my little
frieudsp
Please, sir" said Prissy, we are
Fortunes children. We lived III
Mayville until grandma died, aud
then we hadn't any place to stay.
We heard there was a Home up
here for friendless children, so We
came to find it. A kind farmer let
l. s,nI ra