The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-24

flannel shirts we may be rich by-and-
by. / should give mother new bon
net first of all, for l heard Miss Kent
say no lady would wear such a shabby
one. Mrs. Smith said fine bonnets
didn't make real ladies. like her best,
but / do want a locket like Miss
Kents."
IL should give mother some new rub
bers, and then | should buy white
apron, with frills like Miss Kent's, and
bring home nice punches of grapes and
good things to eat. as Mr. Chrome does.
| often smell them, but he never gives
me any; he only says: 'Hullo, chickr
and IL rather have oranges any time"
at will take us long while to get
rich, I'm afraid. 1t makes me tired to
think of it. guess we d better 60 to
sleep now, dear"
Goodnight, Dolly"
Goodnight, Polly"
Two soft kisses were heard, nest
ling sound followed, and presently the
little sisters lay fast asleep, cheek
against cheek, on the pillow wet with
their tears, never dreaming what was
going to happen to them tomorrow.
Now Miss Kent's room was next to
| theirs, and as she sat sewing she could
hear the children talk, for they soon
forgot to whisper At first she smiled,
then she looked sober, and when the
prattle ceased she said to herself, as
she glanced about her pleasant cham
| Der:
Poor little things! they think I'm
rich, and envy me, when I'm only a
milliner earning my living | ought to
! have taken more notice of them, for
| their mother has a hard time, | fancy,
but never complains. I'm sorry they
heard what | said, and if | knew how
to do it without offending her, L d trim
a nice bonnet for a Christmas gift, for
she is lady, in spite of her old clothes.
| | can give the children some of the
things they want, anyhow, and will
The idea of those mites making for
tune out of shirts at six cents apece!'
Miss Kent laughed at the innocent
delusion, but sympathized with her
little neighbors, for she knew all about
hard times. She had good wages now,
but spent them on herself, and liked to
be fine rather than neat. Still, she
was a good-hearted girl, and what she
had overheard set her to thinking
soberly, then to acting kindly, as we
shall see.
IF hadn't spent all my money on
my dress for the party to morrow night,
I'd give each of them half-dOllar. AS
| cannot, I'll hunt up the other things
they wanted, for it's a shame they
shouldn't have a bit of Christmas, when
they tried so hard to please the little
ones"
AS she spoke she stirred about hel
room, and soon had white apron, al
old carnelian heart on fresh blue rib
bon, and two papers of bonbons ready
AS no stockings were hung up, she iaiC
a clean towel on the floor before the
door, and spread forth the small gift.
TO look their best.
Miss Kent was so busy that she die
not hear step come quietly up stairs
and Mr.. Chrome, the artist, peeped a
her through the balusters, wondering
what she was about. He soon saw, anC
watched her with pleasure, thinking
that she never looked prettier thar
now.
Presently she caught him at it. anC
fastened to explain, telling what sht
had heard, and how she was trying t.
atone for her past neglect of thest
young neighbors. Then she said good
night, and both went into their rooms
she to sleep happily, and he to smok
Us usual.
But his eye kept turning to some 0
: the mice little bundles that Law OF
his table, as if the story he had heart
suggested how he might follow Mis-
Kent's example. | rather think h
would not have disturbed himself if h
had not heard the story told in such
soft voice, with pair of bright eye
full of pity looking into his, Tor littl
girls were not particularly interestin,
to him, and he was usually too tired t
notice the industrious creatures toilin
up and down stairs on various errands
or sewing at the long red seams.
Now that he knew something of thei
small troubles, he felt as if it woul
please Miss Kent, and be good joke
to do his share of the pretty work sh
! had begun.
So presently he jumped up, and
: opening his parcels, took out tw
: oranges and two punches of grapes
then he looked up two silver half-do
lars, and stealing into the hall, laid tn
| fruit upon the towel, and the none
atop of the oranges. This addition in
proved the display very much, and MI
7 Chrome was stealing back well pleased
when his eye fell on Miss Kent's door
and he said to himself "She, too, sha
: have little surprise, for she is dear
| kind hearted soul"
| In his room was prettily painte
= plate, and this he filed with green an
, purple grapes, tucked sentiment;
. note underneath, and leaving it on he
+ threshold, crept away as stealthily as
burglar.
5 The house was very quiet when Mr.