The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-12-19
uties of this everyday world.

tt~utatC Nfas AONAthE AoNhs hC
saw a bonnie little maiden by his
side, pulling his ulster. aud sobbing
between her low and troubled |
words.
"Please, sr!-O, sir! I-don't-
know-where-I-am.N
Gently smiling down uron her,
he put his hand over hers with a
strong, reassuring clasp.
"Never mind, little one, you are
all right now. Aud do you know
where yon would like to her
81 want to go home,7 said the
winsomc maiden, desisively, lifting
her tear stained tace, and shyly, yet
willingly, transferring her grasp
from the ulster to the friendly
hand.
"But tell nc, where is home,
bfight.eyed little Miss Blue.HOoGf !
We can find the way, am sure"
"It's on Edmonson Avenue tue
child replied. ave havn't lived
there very long, and SO got lost"
The graceful mouth began To qulver
at the recollection.
20! that in real easy to find.
Come on, Christmas Berry Lady,
and see il we don't have surprise
patty
They went along the street, side
by si,le, and almost gleefnliy, tor
the child had forgotten her dread,
aud Dean found pleasure IN her
merry talk. "What conilding
little puss il is,n he thought.
$50 Alice is your name '"hc said.
"Naw | think that Nem0phlla
would have suited you better, or
Pansie, ii that is too long. But
what is your pct namef What
does your father call you ~
"Somctimcs 'MinX aud now aud
then BLOSSOM Mother says | am
an awful case, and I'spose am."
She informed him, by degrees,
that her whole name was Alice
Merritt, that she WIS six years old,
and was going to be sent to school
pretty soon; but her mother had
taught her ut home. She explain
cd that she had gone to l'lay with
u neighbours little girl on another
street, and had followed II company
ut soldiers s'lo see them march,
and then, taking the wrong turn.
ha,l found herself IN "a strange re
zion. Then, Ms she said:
ii just walked, and walked, and
walked. evei'n, ever'n so far, Ant
people kept soin', and soin' by,ant
never once a'.looking AT me. And
| said 20. dear me whatever shall
| do. And then | spoke 10 biz
man, but maybe he Didn't know
what | wanted, for he walked right
along. Then | didn't know what
IN the world to do. And thought
maybe God knew, so | SAID 'Deai
God, please don't let me stay lost !
and tried to think what little
girls did when they didn't know the
way. Then walked some more,
and 1 got dreadful tired.'
She looked up iu Dean's face
with bright and trustful eyes
"Then saw You coming AMI
looked all over you AMI | ran and
caught hold of your coat. 1t just
seemed as ii couldn't bear 10 bt
lost any longer"
The child's simple words touched
Deans heart deeply: "Childrcn
and birds, and flowers,Hhe said
"What else in all the world Is II
worth while to trust "
Suddenly he remembered The
long forgotten cluster Of Violet, ant
drew them fourth from the deeI
pocket.
"Here, Maiden, these arr
posies for you," he said, holslin,
them out for the tiny brown handl
to clasp.
The chil,l's face shone with sucl
, delight that the stoutrst old mis-
anthropc would have melted at TIN
vision. She was born flower
lover, that was evident; aud Dean
looking down in the soft, clear ewes
, thought to himself: How she vii
: revel In the fairest and costliest 0
: of Roses, a dozen years or SO, Iron
now, when she sits gloriously u
+, the opera! Oh. little maiden, may
yon ever keep the fresh heart 0
your childhood.
; "Do you like them, Midget Y h'
said, smiling upon her.
Q uFlowers are 80 comfortable sh'
Q responded gravely, smiling con
tentedly and rapturously at th
9 lilac.blue blossoms.
\ "And now, you shy Marjorie
!, don't you want some candy I"
Il She thought that this must meal
! going into a storc, and conseqnen
Q delay in their progress.
mo sir; | want to go home,' witt
e little tlutter of the sensltlv
= throat.
d "We're going there as fast as v
j possible can. Poke your han
Q down In my pocket, and see wha
d yon tind-"
!. ssAIother says for me never I
9 put my haud in grown up folk
/, pockets responded tho witcl
It with gravely severe asd astonisl
d ed tone.
|. eyes, that's exactly right, {
course,n said the much abasbe
i raono man tryinp flnsl}nrltply