The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-27
Ghilarem's Column.
The Broken Promise.

and every tuesday to do the ironing.
She had always been happy faced, mer-
ry woman but one morning Stella Morse,
going into the kitchen to make pudding
for dinner, found a sad face over the
washboard.
GOOD morning, Mrs. Sticht," Stella
said.
Good mornin, Miss Stella" res
ponded the washer-woman soberly, look
ing up with tear-flled eyes.
Are you sick, Mrs. Sticht? You look
pale and tired"
I'm not sick, miss, but am tired l
didn't rest much last night" she answered
YEARLY.
Then you better wait until another
day to wash mamma would be willing,
I'm sure" Stella said kindly.
mo miss, I'll keep right on washin,
but thank you all the same for your
kindness I'll be just as tired to-mor-
row, an the day after too A mother
can't have much rest with sick child to
tend
Is your little girl sick, ma am ?"
She's bin sick these two weeks with
an awful cold she's that weak that she
can't hardly walk about the room, an
she's dreadful wakeful nights"
" Who stays with her when you go
out to wash p
No one but her little brother Tim !;
an he's only seven years old"
And you go out washing every day,
do you not?"
mo, miss; if 1 did I'd have more
money than I've got. This is. my only
wash-place the rest of the week | help
an old fruit-woman down in the market
but don't get much pay"
" Do you earn enough to support your
children 2"
Yes, miss; but my husbands long
sickness and death brought some heavy
bills for me to pay. cant get any ex-
tras for my little sick girl, though she's
that lonesome when I'm gone that Tim
says she cries most of the time"
should think she would be lonely
poor little soul What does she want
most, Mrs. Sticht2' Stella asked.
A smile fickered over Mrs. Sticht's
face. Perhaps this young lady would
do something for her little sick girl.
Her whole mind seems to be set on
doll she's never had a doll, and she
thinks she'd never get lonesome if she
had one she's lovin' little thing, Patty
Is"
"a She shall have doll before the week
is out, Stella said decidedly. ct have
a pretty wax one with golden curls and
blue eyes that used to play with my
self. [ have not had it out for long
time, and it has no clothes, but I'll dress
it up just as pretty as can, and-let me
see, to-day is Monday-by Wednesday
I'll have it ready"
Oh that is very good Of you, Miss
Stella" the woman said gratefully ;
Patty'll laugh for Joy sure. :"
Let me see, what is your number.
Mrs Sticht?"
Number Eleven, Spraker's Court. I
can come after the doll, if you saB so.
No, I'll not trouble you; besides,
want to see the little sick girl. Just
tell her for me, please, that III be there
on Wednesday with beautiful doll
dressed in ruffled blue silk, and will
bring her some other things too"
Stella spoke earnestly, and load was
lifted from the M theirs heart. Her
unspoken thought was, q believe the
child will soon get better when she gets
the doll she so longs for.
Patty's eyes grew bright when her
mother told her that dear, kind young
girl was coming to her on Wednesday
with q beautiful blue-eyed, golden-haired
doll, dressed in blue silk.
For my very own?-O mamma, for
my very own 2! asked Patty, clasping
and unclasping her thin white hands in
her excitement.
There were tears in her mothers eyes
as she bent her head and kissed Patty's
forehead, saying tenderly, " Yes, dear,
for your very own"
Wednesday came--a bright, beautiful
day. Patty's first words to her mother
were, 4" o mamma this is the day that
my dolly is coming. o mamma be-
lieve III get well quick when dolly
comes"
Mrs. Sticht did not like to leave home
that morning for some reason, but she
felt that she must, for the rent was near
ly due, and the doctor who came to see
the child cared more for filing his pock-
cts than for filling human hearts with
thanklulness. She came home very
weary, but with one glad thought, name
ly, suppose Patty is overjoyed with
her pretty doll. How good Of Miss
Stella to think Of my poor little one -
But as shestepped over her own TIRES
hold, a very weary little face greeted