The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-27

he thought, after all, what a foolish
brook it was, for it might have lived
forever, when it only lived a day."
| Will looked rather bewildered, but
seemed deeply impressed by the re-
warded virtue of the good brook, and
clamored no more for plum-pudding
Say had made the moral of the story
rather more prominent than hel
mother had done when she had told il
to her.
Mamma" said Say, after a little
serious meditation. "things happen tc
everybody else; why doesn't anything
happen to us? Everything's always
just the same. Nobody comes to see
us. and we never 60 to see anybody
and you do nothing but just work,
work, all the time. There is Hettie
Eaton, she's poor, too, but her uncle
came home from sea one day and
brought her q parrot; and sometimes
two aunts come to see her. Then
there little Mary Murphy, she's awful
poor; her mother washes, but she's
going to have company to-day. Her
mother told her she might invite
Bridget Collins. wish could invite
somebody to dinner. Wouldn't it seem
more thankful to have somebody be-
sides ourselves, anyway"
"Who would you invite, my dear?'
said Mrs. Harris, laughing. II don't
know of anyone who would be likely to
come, with the exception Of old Uncle
Toby. He would be highly flattered by
an invitation from you, I've no doubt. -
Uncle Toby was an old colored man
who sawed wood in the neighborhood,
and with whom Say was very intimate.
She was socially inclined, and made
friends with him in the street.
"Uncle Toby has been invited to his
daughters and he is going to have tur-
key for dinner" said Say, regretfully.
The unfortunate mention of turkey
reused Will again, who after the quiet
ing influence of Says story, had med
itatively pulled off the head of his Sis
ter's rubber doll.
"Don't fret, Will, and I'll take you
out to walk, after l have helped mann
ma set the table," said Say, coaxingly.
Mamma, if I meet anybody while
I'm out-any very poor body, perhaps
who would not be likely to have as
good a dinner as ours, may l ask her
to come and dine with us? May l ask
anybody that 1 please? I'll only ask
one."
And Mrs. Harris, whose thoughts
were far away in happier Thanksgiving
days, said yes, though she had not
needed Says question.
So Say smoothed every wrinkle out
of the snowy table-cloth, arranged all
the dishes with the incest care, and, af-
ter everything else was completed, she
plucked bright scarlet blossom from
her geranium, and, shading it in the
most artistic manner with . few green
leaves, placed it in the center OF. the ia.
BILE in little crystal vase. The SUM-
shine came in. and made q great bright
ness Of its rich petals, the glasses
sparkled like silver, and Say thought
things did begin to look little like
Thanksgiving, after. ALL, It was clear,
bright day, with just enough snow on
the ground to make it look like winter.
Says shoes were so thin and old that
her feet were cold, but she had grown
SO light-hearted all of a sudden that she
did not mind that at all.
Mamma says sometimes that she
feels as if something was going to hap
pen, and l feel exactly so now" she re-
marked to Will, who trudged sturdily
along by her side. "And it's something
good. Will-something very good, re-
member"
"rse been good to-day, haven't T.
said Will, doubtfully. He had implicit
faith in Say, and the idea of any good
things happening made him reflect that
he might be shut out in the cold. The
bad boys in Says stories were always as
mercilessly punished rs the good ones
were vigorously rewarded.
Well, pretty good" said Say, wish
ing to be as indulgent as her conscience
would allow.
Il think should be gooder if were
to have some candy" he remarked. as
they stood before the tempting window
Of confectionery shop.
Say never could pass that window
without peeping in. 1t was little con-
ISOLATION to be allowed to look at such
good things. There was a great candy
castle in the center with a little candy
lady standing in the door, taking a view
of the tempting heaps of bonbons that
were piled up in her dooryard. Will
wished he was in her place. Then there
were dainty little baskets full of choco-
late cream-drops and caramels, and
wine drops; gilded sheaves full of rich
colored fruits, a great cake under a
white frosting of lilies; and in the
midst of this wilderness of sweets, in
the courtyard of the castle, played a
clear little fountain, whose trickle was
wonderfully suggestiveof melted sugar
F.Couldn't you get only one checker
berry peppermint" pleaded Will, catch
ing at Says dress.
"No, dear, not to-day. I haven't any
pennies. Some day will. 10
/. !" We'll, l can't be good without it, -
he announced, desperately; and began
to cry with all might.
"Dear metz said Say; ST ought to
have known better than to stop here
with him. Will, you must stop crying,
or 1 shall take you home now. Some
day IN buy you a lot of candy, if you
."Taint no use to be good,r said
Will, despairingly. 81 has been good"
whats the. matter with the little
boyP" said . gentleman who had been
standing near by for some time, strange
~ observant of Says pretty Wistful face
under the old red hood.
Wants candy" said Will, speaking
for himself.
~ Say blushed and tried to draw him
away from thsaspot; but ray of hope
had creptr into his greedy little mind,
and he refused to stir an inch.
Twill you tell me what your name
is?'' said the gentleman, coming near,
and bending over poor mortified Say.
"My name is Sarah Fairlee Harris
said she, smiling up intohis face.
II like him. He looks good" she
thought; !" and he lis handsome! He
looks like the picture of the brave
Knight in my story book" sg :,
The gentleman changed color, and
looked down at the child's ragged old
boots and faded gown, with an express
sion on his face that puzzled her very
much. ---
"And what's the name of the boy that