Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-25
QUITE A BLUNDER.

1 HOW KesSie Earned Five Dollars and NINE.
teen Cents for New Years Present.
I Tessie was just learning to add.
Dreadful work she made of it some
/ times, and occasionally, when she was
all mixed UP, she would declare that
she hated numbers with all her might,
so she did, and she wished the man who
made the addition table had got lost in
the woods, and never found his way
/ out.
Getting lost In the woods was some
| thing that Tessie lived in terror of.
Grandpa mad e great pet of Tessie.
and was always trying to help her out
of her troubles.
One night in the, midst of his news
paper reading he heard Tessie wailing;
| not over the addition table this time,
!, but over the. fact that she had SO little
money. Her church subscription was
due-she gave two cents q week to the
| building-fund for the new church 1t
all the people had done as wen as that
/ in proportion to, their wealth they
would soon have had new church.
She belonged, too; to, the Children's
Band of Foreign Missions, and gave ten
hands were FULL. Just now was a new
call.
A New Year'sspresent to- Miss Keith,
our own missionary-that was the way
all the children of the band spoke of the
lady out in New Mexico,, who sent them
letters. Tessie wanted. to. give TO Il,
but some bright-colored paper-dolls in
the window of the toy-Store. had been
too much for her and her money was
all gone. No wonder Jessie walled
whats all this?'' said grandpa, put
ting down his paper and looking over
his glasses. Jessie, with the, tears still
shining on her lashes, explained.
Grandpa never could endure. tears in
her eyes. His handi went into his
pocket.
..See here,'' he saidj ssseems to me I
wasn't to give you any more money for
week; but there is no law against your
earning some. Wen make al bargain.
If you count what I've got in my hand
and get it right the first time, you may
have it for your dear Miss Keith.''
Joyfully Tessie agreed to, this. She
did not like adding, but she could afford
to try very hard and be very careful
with such an object in view. So the
small handful of pennies was passed
=
she curled herself into the great chair
and commenced her task.
'.Only one count, remember" said
grandpa. So her lips moved slowly and
carefully. At last she looked up.
s'Grandpa, there's FIVE dollars and
nineteen cents.
s'What! what! what" said grandpa,
in great astonishment. s'Why, my lit
tie Tessie! How could you make such
big blunder as thatps Lettme seer
1T is true," said Jessie, with a gay
little laugh, covering up her treasure,
and turning herself away from grandpa.
But finally she condescendadl t0count
it for him. Look, grandpa! There's
five cents. and five cents, that makes
ten cents
'.Aye," said grandpa.
"And there's nine bright pennies. and
they make nineteen cents
.'Just SO, = said grandpa,
ssAnd then there is this very bright
penny, made of gold, and it says five
dollars on it; and that makes, i've dol
lars and nineteen CENTS
'tOh, ho!' said grandpa. 1--WE
caught you now. That is,a new cent.
and nothing mores''
But Tessie declared that it. was not
cent, it was made of goldi il was just
exactly like one that her papa showed
her only yesterday, and had just the
same letters omit, and papa told her it
was five dollars.
Let me see, said; grandpa, and he
took the shining penny in his hand and
turned it over and looked at it through
his glasses, and finally saidc 4.BIess nv
heart! Well, well, we'll! grandpa is the
one that is. caught this tinna sura
enough! Ittoan't be- helped now; I'll
stick to, my bargain.. You counted
right, Jessie; the money is yours. -
And that was, the way it happened
that Tessia. Warren gave five dollars
and nineteen, cents toward Miss Keith,s
New Year'spresent-IAe Paasy.