Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-12-27
JEANIE's CHRISTMAS GIFT,

JEANIE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT,
AS Jeanie sat on the old meadow stile.
in the radiant splendor of the Septem.
Der afternoon, she was thinking of a
Sabbath morning when her father sat in
the cottage with the great Bible on his
knees, readipg the sacred word TO his
family. It had been bright summe
morn, and the very scent of the roses
and the lavendar, and the basy hum of
the bees seemed to come back to her.
1t WAS her fathers custom to reunirc
Jeanie and her little sister Dot to repeat
verse, when he had finished reading.
That morning Jeapie' verse was: "In-
asmuch as ye have done it unto one OF
the least of these, my brethren, ye have
done it unto Me-"
What does that mean, papa ?" Jeanie
had asked.
And papa had said:
"Why, my dear, it means this: If
you were to see poor beggar sitting by
the roadside and gave him food and
drink. or shelter, the great Lord would
regard your kindness just the same as if
bestowed upon Himself"
This was the memory that came back
to Jeanie as she sat on the old stile.
She repeated the verse softly to herself,
and then, with tears rising in her blue
eyes, she glanced over her shoulder in
the direction Of the village churchyard,
where her father now slept.
Childhood's sorrow, however, Is short.
lived. She soon dried her tears. and
began to jingle the two silver dollars in
her pocket. Two round silver dollars!
Oh, how hard and patiently she had
worked for them, picking berries in the
hot sun for the village market.
When they were earned, and she held
them in her little brown hand, mamma
had said:
They are youts, Jean; yon shall dc
with them as you like, Buy new hal
for yourself, Or
. Mamma, no, no. please.n Jeanie
cried, breatl,lessiy. Il will do withou,
the hat; let me buy the dolly with tbs
eyes that go to sleep and the DARLING
little bed to put her in, for Dot, the dear
Oh, mamma, she has wanted them sc
long,"
"Do just as you please, Jeanie, love
you worked hard for that money, " man.
ma said.
And now Jeanie was on her way tc
the village to make her purchase. Dol
was weakly and somewhat deformed-
poor little mite-and could not accom-
pany Jeauie. Bat Jeanis had kissed he,
when she set ont and said:
s.Now, sit here, and be patient, and
watch for me, Dot; I'll hurry as fast a.
ever i can, and you shall have the big
dolly in your arms the very mipute gel
back. /"
Jeanie thought of Dot, as she jinglet
the two silver dollars in her pocket, ani
springing from the style hurried acros.
the mesdow. When she came close tc
the great elm that stood by the waysidt
she stopped short. Sitting beneath il
was man with bandage across his
eyes, and o little dog at his feet. The
dog had forlorn look, and the master
was clad in rags. Jeanie looked on il
silence for some minutes, and then drew
a.little nearer.
nGood man, are. you blind?" she
asked.
No, not entirely" answered the
mon. I've had sunstroke, and the
light hurts me. !"
Jeanie's tender heart was moved. She
drew still nearer, and patted the little
dog.
What makes you sit here ?" she
asked at last. /" Why don't you &c
home?"
+" am trying to get there, but walk
ing makes my head hurt"
How far is your home ~
" Nearlysa hundred miles"
Oh, Oh! You surely don't mean tt
walk that far?" cried Jeanie.
did; but / can't make much head
way now"
Why don't you go on the cars ?"
The man laughed scornfuliy; sad
half desperate sort of laugh.
9 Because ] haven't got q cent, LITTLE
one. 81
e"Poor man, said Jeanne, !" are yor
hungry" ?"
Not very; got bite on the road.
!" But you're tired and sick ?"
= Yes. s,str.. - .-igS@.
There was'a silence o minute or two
The elm leaves ratified overhead, and tht
little dog watched Jeanie with wistful
entreatlng eyes.
/" How much would 1t take to carry
you home, poor man Z! she asked, sud
denly.
Two dollars.
The child recoiled, as If from a blow
A hot color rushed into her cheeks ant
her lips quiyered. She put her hant
into her pocket, and clutched the tw'
sIxvay ryrxIl Z - /. II u 4 g