The Red Cloud chief., 1881-11-10

sew only q little bit. Moreover. her
wasn't nice" rs she kersef
informed me. While ] was pulling
brains with a vain effort 20 tsipk o
some pretty little useie.s thing. VII ch
Angie might yaluc As 4 keepsa 3.
:be letter OF darling Aunt Lizzie came
suddenly into nv mind anil suggested
an idea The list .. books which Angie
could read was necessarily ShpsL Way
cogIdn t Stella add one "a ti.e collection
by prickins OF 4 nice little story f0r her
upon good. stiff faper?
The more l though; Of my plan the
more il grew Ia favor with me- eyca
stopped IN a Lee * Moore s. on my
way home 20 dinner, 10 LOOK at nice
wrapping paper-ihat seeming u the
the most suitable. ~ well as the least
expensive. Finding just what ! want
ell, wended my way again 10 the Dbl
Ley tenement aud briefly made known
my project
1 was 10 cut the leaves and write the
story, which Stella would select. in a.
plain a hand rs | possibly could She
WAS TO prick every letter through. very
carefully. This. ! explained. would
nf De an easy task, a. all the pricsing
must be done from the under side Of the
paper; but difficulties only male Stella
more anxious Z benin
''But the story! the story she cried.
What shall 1 chooseP"
suggested ore or two. which were
vetoed al once.
Shes heard those. Sizes heard
everything. Her mother reads TO her
every day" (And here Stella's face
clouded.) We could never hit upon
au,thinD that she had not heard"
Here was a dilemma. for we were
something new. Stella sat thoughtful
for q moment Then she said. eagerly:
Couldn't YOU write her a story. Mr..
Keller? Something entirely out OF your
own hcad?"
The idea OF my writing q story seemed
so very absurd that ! couldn't help
laughing. but Stella persisted.
You could write about something
tina. happened 10 YOU when YOU were Il
boy. Things did happen to you, didn I
they? Oh. n real. T story wou.d be
just splendid
Aud so all at once | found myself
transformed into an author. Remem-
herring sundry amusing escapsdes OF
nv youthful DAYS, | decided to put
them 10 paper. making of them four
thrilling tales. To each of which gave
an appropriate name. These | submit
ted To Stella's approval. which she. gra-
%ciously gave. She also chr!s;ened the
book for me. 1t was 70 appear under
this imposing title: True Tales OF a
Postman's Boyhood."
Well, the leaves were cut and the
stories written. Then came Stella s
work'of pricking them in. This was no
small undertaken. and the difficulty
was increased bv the frequent visits OF
the blind girl herself. who seemed 10
count each day LOST of which she did
not spend some portion with her poor
little friend.
And | wouldn't for the world take
it out when she is here said Stella.
dcspairin-ly. ..Shc will see every
thing, if she is blind"
But the eyenin IS remained and Stella
was diligent. Two days before the
birthday The stories were ready. The
little girl closed her eyes and passed
her hand complacently over her work.
..lf fingers can see ANYTHING, I'm
sure they n see this" said she; and ]
thought so, too.
Out of a pretty ~pasteboard box We
made the covers. into one of which
pricked the title With "a shoemaker
awl. When our work was finished,
there was nothing about the book
which Angles fingers could not see,
but the different colors of the leave.
and covers and the bri hit little bows oi
ribbon which tied them together.
And now cried Stella. LETS dc
il up; but first YOU must write her name
upon the wrapper, and I'll prick tina,
in, too"
So the wrapper was carefully directed
to Miss Angie Trowbridge.' Then
wrote in n corner these words: a
birthday gift from her friend. Stella"
When all this was pricked in the pack
age was ready.
Another whole night before TO.
morrow exclaimed Stella Dear
me, | can't wait"
Anu L WAS SCsllCclN ICSS iuBtiiSiiI-
OF course. il viii seem very foolish t.
any sensible person. but must confess
that | slept very little that night; but
morning came AZ last. As | turned into
Beverly street | saw Angie at her gate,
and | gave an extra emphasis 10 the
..click" of my stout boot-heels. which
she had learned to know SO well.
She came at once to meet me. ANY
letter for me to-daypn
Il believe not" said /, trying TO
speak calmly, but here is a mysterious
package which has come into nv hands.
It is as funny as that letter you once
showed me. See if you can make il
out"
She took it eagerly (the u~nravelipg oil
mysteries seemed ALWAYS a keen pleas
ure to herr and passed her fingers over
the wrapper. / watched her earnest,
changing face. at first simply curious.
then eager. then delighted.
Something from Stella" she cried.
"A birthday gift lsn't she good? Oh.
Mr.. Keller. could you stop just a mo-
ment, TO unite it for me?'
i cut the string. With hands almost
trembling with eagerness. she removed
the wrapper. Her fingers saw the book,
saw the leaves; scanned them as peo-
pies eyes are wont to do before read
ing; then they read for her the title
upon that over.
New stories for me. Stories that
even mamma doesn't know. l can read
to her now. Can't l? OH l thank
Stella so much, l can eve tell her
half And the enthusiastic little
maiden put the book to her lips and
kissed II.
Her childish gratitude so touched me
that l could not speak for a moment.
Before / could recove nv vo.ce the
busy fingers had read the rest of the
title.
TRUE Stories of . Postman's Boy
hood Oh! 1 hope you wrote them,
Mr.. Keller"
L pleaded guilty.
And they are really. truly true?"
Really. truly true"
She drew q long breath. as if the
prospect OF the coming enjoyment were
too much Tor her. Then she took my
- .- soraa,aI =. ,;~b,