The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-14
Childrtn's Column.
Bobbie's Birthday Gift
az KArE W. HAM1LToN.

smilingly, over the counter and waited
for her to decide Uncle Jack, who had
only met her at the door, and who knew
nothing about Bobbie, laughed at her
perplexity. None OF the family, except
Dollie, knew much about Bobbie lone
OF her back-fence acquaintance" they
playiully called him for around the
block, on another street from the pleas
ant one where Dollie lived, were little
houses on narrow lots that ran back to
the wide, handsome ones, and there a
high, close fence separated them as en-
tirely as if they belonged to different
worlds But Bobbie and Dollie had dis
covered loose board Fin the fence that
divided their yards They made it loos
er still, and then the blue eyes under the
dainty hood and the brown eyes under
the ragged cap had peeped through the
hole and grown acquainted.
1t was because Dollie had learned that
Boobie % never had any birthdays at his
house" that she had determined to spend
her twenty-five cents in buying some
thing for him. l do wish knew what
he'd like best, she said and then sud
den thought came that made her cheeks
flush and her eyes brighten. She put
down the toys and said timidly but ca
gerly, guess I'll wait little while
before buy anything and hurried out
Of the store
I'd rather have grandma's eyes good
than anything else Bobbie had said
week or two before, when he was telling
her how she could not see to sew any
more, and everything was growing dark
er, most like night"
She remembered that, and she remem-
bered also something she had seen on her
way up town that very day-a window
and its contents. She went down the
street until she found it again, and then
she stopped and looked in There were
spectacles by the quantity, EYEGLASSES
and lenses, and variety OF instruments
Of which she did not know the name or
use; but it was not these that attracted
her attention so much as a placard about
artificial eyes. Slowly she spelled
She knew that when a person lost a leg
there was such thing as getting an ar
tihcial one to walk with-she had seen
Mr. Jones' they said his was made of
cork, though she did not know where
anybody ever found a cork big enough
and when persons lost their teeth they
could get new ones to eat with Why
should they not get new eyes to see with,
too? If she only could buy some for
Boobies grandma
She pushed open the great doors and
walked in, half frightened, but very earn
est, and looked up at the man behind
the glass cases. Have you any ar-ar-
tifckal eyes to sell?" she asked stumb-
ling a little over the long word.
Any what, my dear ?-artif .ial eyes
asked the wondering proprietor.
Any that you'd sell for twenty-five
cents p added Dollie, rodding assent to
his question.
Why, you don't need any, surely"
he laughed into the bright blue eyes.
" No, sir; but Boobies grandma does.
She used to sew and earn things for him,
and now she can't do it any more. It's
most dark like night to her, and he says
lie don't know what they II do, explained
Dollie eagerly. The doctor said he
couldn't help her.only if she could go
way off to New York he thought some
body could cure her but she didn't have
money enough. guess she didn't know
about buying new eyes, though and if
you have any"
My dear child the owner of all the
spectac!es and glasses looked kindly into
the flushed little face, but shook his head
-" you have made mistake I cannot
give her anything that she can see with.
But Just then another gentleman came
forward Tell me about her, he said
VITO is this Bobbie and why do you
care so much for them ?"
So Dollie poured out the whole story
the talks through the fence, how much
she liked Bobbie, and what he had told
her, what little house he lived in, and
how he had no birthday presents. Her
listener seemed interested in all the sim
pie details, and he and the other gentle
men exchanged glances now and then.
At last he said, Suppose you take me to
see her Maybe 1 can do something for
her. / know something about eyes my
self
You can't find anybody in New York
that knows more, interrupted the other
gentleman.
So Dollie led the way to the home Of
Boobies grandma-who was not very
old lady, after ail-and the strange doc
tor explained the cause Of his call, while
the two children waited and listened in
corner.
Wall MADAM ~ he aid oc,o~ - oo,of,1