The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-07
Fortunes Children.
BY THEODORE r. JENNESS.

WnaC NTdUullla illSdllI WIFI SIG Sdlu VIC u
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
talking to the tollmen and saw lots of
twisted doughnuts heaped up on a plate
before one little boy? Oh, it made me
feel so hungry"
"Hush, Violet, hush. You know we
promised each other we'd be very brave.
Pm sure We'll find the Home when
morning comes if the tollman will only
let us pass without the pennies. Here,
darling are some bits of bread and cheese
saved for a surprise in case you should
be very hungry"
The smaller of the wee ones sitting in
the cleaning near the end of the long
toll-bridge, seized the offered bits with
eager hands; but after looking at them
wistfuly she divided them and laid the
larger share into her sisters lap.
"Poor, dear Prissy, you're hungrier
than ], for you've been going without
all day for me. Yes, you shall eat
Them" she insisted, seeing that Prissy
was about to give them back 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
sweeping down beneath the bridge, max
ing noisy whirlpools round tie wooden
piers.
"Prissy,<' said Violet, in low, awcd
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 fri ghtening noises one always
hears out in the dark, then l know you'd
be afraid"
"No, dear" Prissy answered. l
should be little lonesome, but not
afraid. It's such q soft, still, pretty,
night, and Gods stars are watching us
up in the sky. See, Violet, that great
warm prairie fire burning over yonder.
Let's play tits ours, for company, and
that we have kindled it to cook splendid
dinner to which 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 delight,
"only the deer must like to be roasted !;
for 'twculd be shame to kill them if
they wanted to live. And I'd rather
have all the hungry folks at our dinner,
cause the grand ones can get enough to
eat if they don't come"
-, Ia &c nd 11,yin
in these cheering fancies, such as child
hood can always summon at its bidding,
a pair of horses, drawing light wagon,
came across the bridg approaching very
near the spot where Violet and Prissy
sat. Surprised and startled the children
sprang up, giving the horses a sudden
fright. They began to rear and plunge,
and in her efforts to escape Violet fell be-
meath the horses feet.
"Whoa, Jessw shouted deep voice,
while pair of strong hands pulled the
reins, checking the horses promptly.
With cry of terror Prissy sprang be-
fore the trembling animals, and, snatch
ing Violet, carried her aside, bending
over her in great distress.
"Bless me! what have we dcne% ex-
claimed man, jumping from the wagon.
"Oh, Violet's killed"' moaned Prissy,
seeing that the little face, upturned in
the starlight, wore deathly pallor.
"No-spare U.S." said the man, raising
Violet quickly in his arms. "Heaven
be praised she's opening her eyes. Lit
tie lass, are you much hurt?"
The kind, anxious voice acted like q
charm toward restoring Violet. Lifting
her head from off the great, rough breast
she murmured weakly, No, only dread
full scared and faint. Is sister safe?
Yes, kitten, she is safe; but tits {
WONDER" said the man, while Prissy
sobbed with thankfulness "Jess anc
Jean are faithful beasts, but you cam
blame them for soaring when two spirits
like you spring up in their path. How
come you out here in the dark, my little
friends%'
please, sir" said Prissy, we are For
tunes children. We lived IN Mayvill,
until Grandma died, and then we hadn'
any place to stay. We heard there wa
Home up here for friendless children
so we came to find it. A kind farme
let us ride as far as he was coming, an,
we walked the rest of the way. TIL,
tollman said there WASH amy Home, ant
told us to 60 back and ask if we Nigh
stay till morning at one of the house
over there; but we didn't like to, so w
sat down here to rest"
That was the story, but the Patio
ouivering through the childish voice Cal
not be written here.
"Poor little babies!" exclaimed tn
man when she had finished "A prett,
pass for two tender infants to be roamin,
the wide world alone. There is a home
and you shall find it ere the stars do set
Jump up, birdlings, into this soft nest o
hay, and l will take you there as FAST
jess and Jan can travel"
Laying Violet down tenderly upon
bunch of fragrant hay behind the WACO
seat, he lifted Prissy up beside her, GOV
ering them snugly with a blanket
Then, climbing 10 the seat himself, h
chirrupped his horses into brisk trot.
Locked in each others arms the littl
wayfarers slumbered sweetly on, Will
they were carried far, far out beyond tn
prairie fire that lighted the horizon wit
its rosy glow.
At length they awoke, to find then
selves before cottage in whose windo,
light was burning brightly, and i
whose doorway appeared a little woma
with cap of snowy white upon he
head.
"WelI, mother Marie, we have come,
announced the man.
"And none so welcome" was the lii
lie wo.:.;ssgs. answer "Wty, bless me
who have you there9" she added, seein
two small faces Peeping shyIy from tn
wagon.
WTwn snarrows love whom God di