The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-11-20

ped before LOIS finished her work and
came also to rest her pretty weary head
on the coarse pillow-case, would wish
that there were fairies like the fairies
in her book, who came at night to put
shillings into good children's shoes
At last, the very day before Lois's
birthday, it seemed to Trot that this
happened.
Trot had hole in her shoe, right in
the sole, close to the edge where it was
fastened to the upper. 1t let in the
water in rainy weather.
1t was trap for pebbles and splin-
tiers, so that Trot was often compelled
to hop on one foot to doorstep and
take the intruder out.
And one day, when she had been buy
ing a penny mince-pe, not for dessert
but for dinner, something slipped in
that hurt her good deal, and that
seemed to her like button. But if
it is a BUTTON" thought Trot, "Ill
keep it, Buttons are useful"
She set her little basket down, and
held on by the area-railing, and ran
her finger into the shoe, and into her
palm dropped small shining silver
thing-a siXpence, really a siX-penny
piece, Now, siXpence is not large
sum; but when attained miracuously,
at the moment when one had ceased to
hope for anything, it might seem so at
Trot's age.
Some vague ideas that fairies really
were around, actually thrilled the
child.
Then the substantial fact fixed itself
in her mind,
A present of some sort Lois should
have, She could give it to her.
Trot had the treasure in the corner
of her pocket-handkerchief, took home
the pie, and kept her secret as she ate
the pie with her coffee.
Then, when all was tidy, away she
went, stealing out of the house with
great Importance, and staring at the
shops and pricing things, and finding
nothing tor six ence) that was worth
buying.
At last, in a small shop-window, she
saw some little pin-cushonS-two
scallop-shells set over a bit of colored
satin, with loop of ribbon to fasten to
ones belt, or a nail.
They might do, she thought
Alas! they were eighteenpence
apiece,
But the half-grown girl behind the
counter was good-natured.
look here, she whispered to Trot,
81 know how hard it is to get things
when you're young and amt earning
get, She charges eighteenpence for
.hese, but she buys 'em of an old sail
Or, who makes them himself for six
pence. You 90 down this street, along
he wharf to little yellow house.
There's toy-boats in the window, and
parrots, and bananas, and he's an old
man with wooden-leg; and jest ask
him, He'll sell you one, am sure
Its very nice of you to tell me,
said Trot, and, with grateful look,
she sped away; and though Lois would
have expected to see her killed out
right, did get safely through the
crowds of drays and carriages at the
waterside, to tn yellow house where
The old man with his wooden leg kept
his queer shop, and as the sign over
the door declared, "Boarders,n also.
Lame sailors smoked on the steps.
One whitfield at the end of the work.
room.
As Trot stood modestly waiting, a
.all man, with long beard, who looked
hin and i'll, and very sad, hurried past
ner, and went up stairs, 1t was then
that the old man asked her what she
wanted.
"One of them cushings?" he repeat
I'D, "Well, my dear, yes. BY the
dozen is my rule, but breaks rules for
pretty little lassieS like you. viii you
have blue, a pink, or a WALLER silk?
Make up your mind and I'll pitch down
what you choose. My darter fixes the
silk, gums the shells on and polishes
EN-, and so they're finished. She's at
work up stairs now. SO which?"
blue, please said Trot; and away
stumpnd the old man, When he came
lown he showed her the cushion, took
The silver and went to hunt up bit of
paper to wrap it in; and the whiting
sailor spoke to him.
That poor chap looked blue" he
said.
"Hc is blue said the sailor. "All
that's come and gone is nothing to
this" he said, "lle hoped agin hope
until now, But, you see, he's looked
for his gal a month now, and cant find
her; and he says either she's dead or
married, and he's talking of putting a
pistol to his head. | never see chap
so mortal down in the mouth aforc."
Folks has lived through it and mar
ried other gals said the sailor, whit
ting hard and turning very red.
Eyes, said the old man, "but don't
you see, he's had three years on u
desert island, and seen two men along
OF him die, one arter the other, and
was at staryation's door when Captain
Briggs picked him up, that weak he
couldn't stand. And now this worry
Sartinty can be borne better than on
sartlnty, be it ever so woeful. Here,
little lassie!n
But Trot, with eyes and mouth wide
open, did not even see the little pack
age he held out TO her.
A memory of nose and Of hair like
those OF the tall man she had seen,
burst upon her.
Jack had no beard, but oh-but OH
she was strong in childish hope, and
that childish expectation of fine end