The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-06-05
4nt Eeps xud @irts.
TWO LITTLE TRAVELLERS.

THE first Of these true histories Is
about Annie Percival, very dear and
lovely child, whose journey interested
many other children, and is still re-
membered with gratitude by those
whom she visited on far-off island.
Annie was six when she sailed away
to FayM with her mother; grandmam-
ma and "Little Aunt Ruth" as che
called the young aunty who was still
schoolgirl. Very cunning was An
MES outfit, and her little trunk was
pretty as well as curious sight, for
everything was so small and complete
it looked as if doll was setting off for
Europe. Such 6 wee dressing-case,
with bits of combs and brushes for the
curly head; such cozy scarlet wrap
per for the small woman to wear in her
berth, with slippers to match when she
tr0tted from state-room to state-room;
such piles of tiny garments laid nicely
in, and the owners initials on the out
side of the trunk; not to mention the
key on a ribbon in her pocket as grown
up as you please.
I think the sight of that earnest, sun
shiny face must have been very pleas
ant to all on board, no matter how sea-
sick they might be, and the sound of
the CHEEKY little voice as sweet as the
chirp Of bird, especially when she
sung the funny song about the .:Owl
and the Pussy Cat, in the Pea Green
Boat" for she had charming ways, and
was always making quaint, wise or
loving remarks:
Well, "they sailed and they sailed"
and came at last to Fayal. where every
thing was so new and strange that An
MES big brown eyes could hardly spare
time to sleep, SO busy were they look
ing about. The donkeys amused her
very much, so did the queer language
and ways of the Portuguese people
round her, especially the very droll
names given to the hens of a young
friend. The biddies seemed to speak
the same dialect as at home, but evil
IDENTIFY they understood Spanish also,
and knew their own names, so it was
fun to 60 and call Rio, Pico, Cappy,
Clarlssa, Whorpie and poor Simonene,
whose breast-bOne grew Out SO that she
could not eat, and had to be killed.
But the thing which made the deep
est impression on Annie was visit to
charity school at the old convent of
San Antonio. 1t was kept by some
kind ladies, and twenty-five girls were
taught and cared for in the big bare
place, that looked rather gloomy and
forlorn to people from happy Boston,
where charitable institutions are on
noble scale, as everybody knows.
Annie watched all that went on with
intelligent interest, and when they were
shown into the play-room she was
much amazed and afflicted to find that
the children had nothing to play with
but heap of rags, out of which they
made queer dolls with raveled Irvine
for hair, faces rudely drawn on the
cloth, and funny boots on the shapeless
legs. No other toys appeared, but the
girls sat on the floor Of the great stone
room-for there was no furniture
playing contentedly with their poor
dolls, and smiling and nodding at Is the
little Americana" who gravely regard
ed this sad spectacle, wondering how
they could get on without china and
waxen babies, tea sets and pretty chairs
and tables to keep house with.
The girls thought that she envied
them their dolls, and presently one
came shyly up to offer two of their best,
leaving the teacher to explain in En-
glish their wish to be polite to their
distinguished guest. Like the little
gentlewoman she was, Annie graciously
accepted the ugly bits of rag with an
swering mods and smiles, and carried
them away with her as carefully as If
they were of great beauty and value.
But when she was at home she ex-
pressed much concern and distress at
the destitute condition of the children.
Nothing but rags to play with seemed
peculiarly touching state of poverty
to her childish mind, and being a gen.
erous creature she yearned to give of
her abundance to "all the poor Or
phans who didn't have any nice dol
lies" She had several pets of her own,
but not enough to 60 round even if she
sacrificed them, so kind grandmamma,
who had been doing things of this sort
all her life, relieved the child's per-
plexity by promising to send twenty
five fine dolls to Fayal as soon as the
party returned to Boston, where these
necessaries of child-life are cheap and
plenty.
Thus comforted, Annie felt that she
could enjoy her dear Horta and Chica
Pico Fatiera, particular darlings re-
christened since her arrival. A bundle
of gay bits of silk, cloth and flannel and
a present of money for books, were
sent out to the convent by the ladies.
A treat of little cheeses for the girls to
eat with their dry bread was added,
much to Annie's satisfaction, and
helped to keep alive her interest in the
school of San Antonio.
After many pleasant adventures dur
ing the six months spent in the city, our
party came sailing home again all the
better for the trip, and Annie so full of
source of amusement to hear her hold
forth TO her younger brother in her
pretty way '''splaining and 'scribing
all about it"
Grandmamma's promise was faith
fully kept, and Annie brooded blissfully
over the twenty-five dolls till they were
dressed, packed and sent away to
Fayal. A letter of thanks soon came
back from the teacher, telling how sur
prised and delighted the girls were, and
how they talked of Annie as if she we're
a sort of fairy Princess who in return
for two poor rag-babies sent miracu-
lous shower of splendid china ladies
with gay gowns and smiling faces.
This childish charity was made men,
orable to all who knew of it by the fact
that three months after she came home
from that happy voyage Annie took
the one from which there is no return.
For this journey there was needed no
preparation but a little white gown, a
coverlet of flowers, and the casket
where the treasure of many hearts was
tenderly laid away. All alone, but not
afraid, little Annie crossed the un-
known sea that rolls between our
world and the Islands of the Blest, to
be welcomed there, am sure, by spir-
its US innocent as her own, leaving be-
hind her a very precious memory of
her budding virtues and the relics of a
short, sweet life.