The Dickinson press., 1884-12-20

prattle ceased she said to herself,
as she glanced about her pleasant cham,
Der:
"Poor little things! they think Tn
rich, and envy me, when I'm only a
milliner earning my living. I ought to
have taken more notice of them, for
their mother has a hard time, I fancy,
but never complains. I'm sorry they
heard what I said, and If I knew how to
do it without offending her, I'd trim q
nice bonnet for a Christmas gift, for she
is a lady in spite of her old clothes. l
can give the children some of the things
they want, anyhow, and I will. The
idea of those mites making a fortune
out of shirts at six cents apiece!"
Miss Kent laughed at the innocent
deluslon, but sy%mpathized with her lit
tie neighbors, for she knew all about
hard times. She had good wages now,
but spent them IN herself, and liked to
be fine rather than neat. Still she was
a good hearted girl, and what she had
heard set her to thinking soberly, then
to acting kindly, as we shall see.
IF l hadn't spent all my money on
my dress for the party tomorrow night,
I'd give each of them a half dollar. As
I cannot I'll hunt up tho other things
they wanted, for It's q shame they
shouldn't have a bit of Christmas when
they tried SO hard to please the little
Ones"
As she spoke she stirred about her
room, and SOC had q white apron, an old
carnelian heart on o fresh blue ribbon,
and two papers of bonbons ready. AS
no stockings were hung up, she laid q
clean towel on the floor before the
door, and spread forth the small gifts to
look their best.
Miss Kent was so busy she did not
hear a step come quietly up stairs. and
Mr.. Chrome, the artist, peeped at her
through the balusters, wondering what
she was about. He. 1901 saw, and
watched her with pleasure, thinking
that she never looked prettier than now.
Presently she caught him at it, and
fastened to explain, telling what she
had heard, and how she "a trying to
atone for her past neglect of these
young neighbors. Then she said good
night, and both went into their rooms,
she to sleep happily, and he to smoke as
usual.
But his eye kept turning to some Of
the mice little bundles" that lay on his
table, as if the story he had heard sug-
gested how he might follow miss Kent's
example. I rather think he would not
have disturbed himself if he had not
heard the story told in such a soft voice,
with a pair of bright eyes full of pity
looking into his. for little girls were not
particularly interesting to him, and he
was usually too tired to notice the in
dustrious creatures toiling up midtown
stairs on various errands, or sewing a.
the long red seams.
Now that he knew something of their
small troubles, he felt as if it would
please Miss Kent, and be a good joke,
to do his share of the pretty work she
had begun.
So presently he jumped up, and,
opening his parcels, took out two
oranges and two punches of grapes,
then he looked up two silver half-dol-
lars, and stealing into the hall, laid the
fruit upon the towel, and the money
atop of the oranges. This addition i'm
proved the display very much, and Mr..
Chrome was stealing back we'll pleased,
when his eye fell on Miss Kent's door,
and he said to himself: "She, too, shall
have q little surprise, for she is q dear,
kind hearted soul"
plate, and this he filed with green and
purple grapes, tucked a sentimental
! note underneath. and leaving it on he1