The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-22
WANTED...A DONKEY.


seat, only seven years Ole, and in trouble
down by that very small nose. What
was it all about?
y, This is what it was all about. Two
Nmonths before that had been her birth
day, and picnic, and donkey riding.
It was Maggie's first ride, and ever
since she had been thinking of donkeys,
morning, noon and night. Her great
idea was that if she could but possess
donkey of her own it would be the most
delightful thing in the world to be able
to ride every day.
So she set to work, living in hopes, and
putting by all her halfpence and pence
with the grand object of buying don
key; for she remembered hearing papa
say that money could buy anything;
therefore there were live donkeys to be
bought somewhere, though one never
saw them in shop window. Maggie
had collected in her money box the vast
amount of one and two pence three
farthings, when she heard the dreadful
news that her brother Tom had asked the
man at the stand, and the man had de-
clared he would rather shoot the donkey
dead than sell him for less than fourteen
shillings down!
That sum was far too much..for Maggie
to hope for. But there was worse still.
Tom had told their papa, and he had
said he could not think of having don
key; did Maggie want a stable built? or
would she stable Nsddy in the coal-cel-
lar, or have him jog up stairs every night
and be packed tightly into the toy-cup-
board, standing up straight with his
fore.claws on the shelf? Tom repeated
all this to her, and dwelt with great glee
upon the donkey being tight fit in the
toy-cupboard on the top landing, but
Maggie would not laugh with him.
All her hopes were over; all the don
key-dreams OF the future were gone;
what was the good of one and two-pence,
three farthings now?
Tom ran away down stairs whistling.
Maggie leant her head against the
window and cried.
All the day the trouble in the nursery
lasted. At last Maggie's tender-hearted
mother found out what was the matter,
and tried to comfort her.
Next week, my DEAR" she said, 81
am going out shopping; and if add an
other shilling to yours, We can bring
home beautiful grey Neddy from the
toy shop. Won't that be nice?"
"But 1 want it Tomorrow" answered
fretful Maggie, with not little self-will
in the tone, and her brother Tom now
came in and added his entreaties.
And in vain their mother argued that
the next week would come quickly.
Nothing but tomorrow would do for
Maggie; and so she had her way.
well, my dear children" said their
mamma ct last, ''you may choose for
p,,k 7 lilo Ohi1Irop ~ ha
patient, remember Maggie will have q
two-shilling toy next week; but if she
goes this week she must do the best she
can with her one shilling. And of
course Janet will go with you. if you
will 60 tomorrow"
At the last word Toms eyebrows were
beginning to look what Maggie called
"lumpy" with q frown.
Afterwards he told her he most de-
cidedly would not go, il Janet went.
He would not he led about with o
nurses apron strings-nOt he!
Maggie might choose either to have
him or to have Janet; and Janet could
not choose donkey properly; he would
choose one that wouldn't break-Janet's
donkey would be dead before night, and
done for.
Maggie was soon persuaded; and by
asking and pleading hard. they got leave
to go by themselves; but they were
strictly told not to delay for any purpose
either going or coming, and to keep to
the straight road and streets, and on no
account taking short cuts through fields
or by.paths.
Next day Maggie had three great pleas
ures
First. the weather was bright for the
walk with Tom.
Secondly, she was TO wear the new
dress that had been finished the day be-
fore, and very pretty dress it was, too,
all cream colored with broad crimson
sash.
Last and greatest, she learned that dear
good papa, the very day he had made fun
about the donkey and toy cupboard, had
written of to Uncle John, who had o
great house in the country and it was
very likely that Uncle John would invite
her and Tom to pay him visit.
OF Maggie went now all brilliant in
her new dress, hand finland with Tom.
They kept most obediently to the high
roads and streets, and after about an
hours choosing, they bought q donkey
not without wistful glances at the two
shilling large one, that might have been