Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-08-23
The Three Good Gifts.
A GRowN-Ur FAIRY STORY.


There's some one coming down the
road"
Lill Pentield started to her feet with
alacrity, thus ruthleSsly destroying MI
the bright visions which had built
themselves up AROUND the glowing
logs in the deep chimney,
How much is it for foot-passen-
GER" said she, calling up the narrow,
wooden stairway,
"But it isn't a fo0t-passenEcr, irri-
tably rctortcd Della, with her mouth
full of hair-pius. It's old Miss Merry
deer. with her donkey-cart Ten cents"
1t was a stormy March sunset, red
and threatening along the west, with
frozen breath Of iciclcs in the air,
and black masses of cloud piled over
head, through which old Miss Merry
dcer's cart seemed to advance.
Lill Pcntield stood on the dollhouse
porch, looking with surprised eyes at
the gaunt, old woman. who sat on a
heap of cut branches and whipped up
phlegmatic donkey in front of her.
"Oh you're always ready enough to
stop" satirically remarked old Miss
Merrydcer, As the donkey came to a
dead halt in front Of the toll-bar.
Now, then, young woman lto LilD
why amt l to he allowed To- 90 on
''Ten cents, please" said Lii. timid-
ly holding out her hand, with all that
she had ever read, dreamed or heard
about witches coming back into her
mind at the sight of the yellow. old
face, with its fringe Of white elf-locks,
the red cloak and the nose that was
hooked like a bird OF prey.
Ten cents" shrilly repeated old Miss
Merrydeer. and what for. | should
like 10 know"
Its the toll-gate, please" explained
Lill, wishing more than ever that her
cousin would come down stairs.
al don't know anything about toll
gates, said Miss Merrydeer. stand
aside and let me go through, The
road was here long afore they built
the toll-gate. It's swindling - that's
shat it is. Get up. Ncddy"
She settled herself back among the
green spruce boughs and protruding
roots with an air Of determination,
and chirruped to her drowsy steed, As
If she meant to ride roughshod over all
opposition; but just here Della Penfeld
came running down stairs and swung
The bar back into its place.
Ten cents, Miss Merrydcer." said
she, cor you can't pass. That's the
law"
Miss Merrydeer uttered curious
grunt Of dissatisfaction.
"If it's law, it amt justice" said
she, fumbling in the pocket of her tat
tered old coat-a garment which had
evidently been cut down from mans
ulster. There, as true as you live,
that there dime has fell out and got
lost in the woods
That's nonsense said Della. tartly
Ten cents-and do hurry. can't
stand here in this wind all night"
"But han't got IT," bluntly spoke
out the old crone. "Lemme pass"
mot without the ten cents" said
Della, resolutely. 1--WE pas orders.
and must stick to 'em. If you haven't
got the money you mus, 20 around by
the mill road"
"But that's four miles further" said
Che old woman, dcspairingly. "And
Neddy's dead tired aud 50 avn I. And
its CROWN colder every minute. and
these March winds is hard on my rheu-
matics."
"You should have thought of that
before" said Della, indifferently.
"Delia, why don't you let her pass -
whispered Lii. she's 50 old and"
"Old?" pettishly repeated Della.
-Why. she's the worst old harpy in the
country We always have just this
wrangle every time she goes through
the gate"
And she bolted the bar with osten-
tatious noise. Old Miss Merrydeer was
slowly and reluctantly turning the
donkey's dropping head around, when
Lill herself came to the rescue
'Stop a minute, Miss Merrydeer."
Said she. "lIere is a ten-cent piece
Il seems such pity for you and the
poor old donkey to go so far around
this bitter cold night. And and you