Fair play., 1883-01-06
BEsSl'S AAPPIEST- NEW YEARS
DAY.

Little Bessy Barton and her neither
had just LEFT their beautiful home on the
main street Of CLAYTON Village, one
morning 4 few days before New Year s.
and were. on their way to buy some
toys at Mr.. Dayton's large store, when
another little girl. pooriy-ciad. with a
thin. pale iaeesslopped them. AND
said
"Plcasc. ma'am. mayn't 1ido some
work Tor you?n 81 t.t1gI-r e. 81.
Work for me- exclaimed Mrs.
Barton '.W'hat can such little Tot
aSvou do? " nv. yOu are smaller than
my. Bessy. and don't te!ieve Bessy is
old enough Yet 10 he of much use in
horsework.'
.'i'm older than I'm big. ms'nm.
I'm almost eight, an can wash dishes.
run errands. an mind the baby"
J. "Where do you live and whv- do. Won
want q placs!' asked the lady. gently.
won by the earnest blue eyes that looked
so plcadincly intOhcrs.
'.We live down at the Montana fac
tory. You see, father got hurt in tire
machinery last fall. an mother can't
take care Of us all, 81 | thoHwht I'd hire
out. oh. ma am, we're 80 poor! l.
haven't had any breakfast"
The voice hesitated. and tears came
into her blue eyess
.'Ell give you quarter 10 buy one"
replied Mrs. Barton, opening her prrSe.
But the little one drew back. saving:
''Mother wouldn't want me to beg"
20 mamma. do let her come help
nurse run after Eddy. she says she is all
tired out every night" said Bessv.
eagerly. ..a 4g s.. .
Mrs. Barton looked from one to the
other. and Thought q Suppose it was
NV chill wanting food" Then she
said. ..Come. well 20 back. and YOU
shall have good warm breakfast, then
help amuse the baby. II you do well.
may hire You by the week. What is
your names'
"Susy Davis. o ma am. Pl do my
best, for We are to be turned out Of our
room by the middle of next week If
mother don have the rent
.' "Well. we will see how you behave"
replied Mrs. Barton. as they returned
TO the house. There she told the old
nurse Susy's story. and what she want
ed her to do. an said that she intended
going right down TO Montana TO see her
parents
Eessy begged permission 10 accom-
panv her mother. and in a short time
they found the tenement house where.
in one room, the family lived. The
sick father lay upon a straw mattress
on the floor, and beside him sat his
wife, sewing on some coarse garment.
while little girl, smaller than Susy,
held pale, sickly baby in her arm,
rocking to and fro. irving to hush its
cries. There was no fire, although the
weather was freezing.
Mrs. Barton told them that she had
met Susy, anu hal heard of their trouble
from her. and had now come TO scehow
she could help them.
She listened to the story of the acci-
dent, and how gradually all their mon
ey wa used up; then she gaze them
enough to buy food and wood for their
present need. and said she had engaged
Sesv to run after her two year old boy.
and she would see what more she could
do 70 L.eir them.
When they ieIr rnc housv II Il Rarton
sad to ReSsy: Now, dear. We will 90
buy your TOYS"
But. mamma ] think I'll rather
give the money TO thoe poor reop!e.
When papa read that verse this MORN
ing: II is more blessed TO give than to
r ceive.' thought | Il never find it so.
vet now believe il would be great
deal IL Ger TO see how happy it would
make them.
"Wait TIL tomorrow. love. and think
it all over. and il YOU still want 10 give
it to these poor children YOU shall de-
eide what TO get them
Early the next morning Bessy ran
into ! er mother room, saving: NAM
ina. I've such nice plan for Mrs Da-
v.s and all. ii you will only consent.
You know that our old gardener is gone.
the cottage a, the gate Is empty. all but
Johns room. Why couldn't We bring
them there 10 live? Then Mrs. Davis
could take care If Johns meals. and
Susy could 90 home every night
II declare that is not ad plan
Ressy. Ill talk with your papa about
it but don't tell Susy till we decide.
The next day Pessy's parents gave
their c5nsent, and Mrs. Barton had the
rooms put in thorough order. II was
MT a very difficult thing TO do. for the
old gardener had not been long gone:
and Bessy enjoyed herself much in set
ting things right
Early New Years morning Bessy
went with her mother 10 tell them of
the happy change in their prospects.
Mrs. Davis wept :or JOY. and her hus-
band, when told that the plan was all
Bessy's, put his hand IN her head. say
ing: "God bless ,ou. M child; YOU
have no do bt saved m life bv your
kindness. for feel sure l shall get we'll
and strong there
Re:ore night they were moved into