St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-03-08
DORA'S IDOL.

She put the long, queer word at the
head of page in her account-book.
Higgledypiggledy represented the odd
pennies and five-cent pieces and dimes
that found their way out of Dora's little
hand, and found their way into the till
at the confectioner's and the pastry
cook s.
And how hard it is, indeed, for
pennies to stay in little hands! They so
long to get out, and so do the little
silver dimes and the big quarters.
Now Dora was a dear fat little dim
pied dumping. You couldn'the low
ing her the moment you saw her, and
you are supposed not to be q bit of her
relation.
OF course, her cousins and aunts and
uncles and big brothers and sisters were
ready to eat her up.
And it was: Here, Dodo, is penny
for you" or: 'Here, Dodo, is dime;"
and sometimes it was quarter, or even
silver dollar somewhere near as large
as the moon.
Once in awhile it was dear little
fascinating gold piece, yellow as sun
shine.
Dora had tender heart, and she was
ever SO sorry for poor people, especially
poor children near her own age. She
knew that there were hungry children
and ragged children, and children with
pale, pinched faces, and even little
babies, with no pretty red roses in their
cheeks.
:" I'm going to save most every bit of
my money she said to her mother.
one day near New Years. sI'm going
to save it for poor children. I'm going
to buy some shoes for Betsy Ann Ba-
ker's little Tom. Why, only think, /
saw his toes sticking out in the snow
when he came here with his basket for
cold bits; and they were awful red.
Then I'm going to. buy new red fan
mel dress for Mrs. O'Flaherty's Biddy.
Her knees are just as bare as little TOMS
toes. She wears an old light calico
dress. and it's all torn and horrible.
'And there's Mike Conroy; he hasn't
any thing but a crown to his hat, and
can't go to Sunday-school; and Jim
Conroy hasn't any stockings. He told
me SO when | asked him why he didn't
keep EN- pulled up. He had nothing
but old feet made out of flannel rags.
Oh dear, there is so much to buy!''
''But you have ever so much MONEYS
said Dora's papa. ''You are the rich
est little girl know
''Oh yes, have a whole pocket-book
full, !" said Dora.
eff only Higgledyplggledy don't get
it, (" said mamma.
''Who is hep" asked papa.
"A giant that gets money from little
people," said mamma.
''He got some of the missionary
money last week. said Dora, blushinG.
''He must be an idol,n said papa.
81 will give you two little account
books, and you shall put the idols
name at the head Of one, and devote the
other to poor people at home, and in
lands that we call heathen."
Good" said Dora, clapping her
tiny white hands. s.You shall see that
old Higgledy won't get much.''
Il hope so,n said papa, taking up
his evening paper.
But as I told you few minutes aco.
little children find it hard to keep
money.
The candy-storcs are SO very tempt
ing! Candy men ought to hide their
pretty confectionery, and not puttit in
the window where all the children can
see it.
And then the red apples and oranges
and bananas-they taste so good! And
it is SO nice for little girl like Dora to
treat her little friends.
At the end of a week papa took up
the aecount-books and looked at Dora's
little crooked figures and printed let
ters.