Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-07
DORA'S IDOL.


head OF page in her account-book.
Higgledypfggledy represented the odd
pennies and fve-cent pieces and dimes
that found their way out of Dora's little
hand, and found their way into the till
at the confectionery and the pastry
cooks.
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 dear fat little dim
pied dumping. You couldn't help low
ing her the moment you saw her. and
you are supposed not to be a 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 a 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 q 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 IDses in their
cheeks.
Pm going to save most every bit of
my money" she said to Ter mother.
one day near New Years. I'm going
TO save it for poor children. Pm 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.
mel dress for Mrs. O'Flaheriy's Biddy.
Her knees are just as bare as little Tom S
| toes. She wears an old light calico
dress. and it all torn and horrible.
"And there's Mike Corroy; he hasn't
any thing but q 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 ne didn't
keep 'em pulled up. He had nothing
but old feet made out of fam oil rags.
Oh dear, there is so much TO buy!"
but you have ever so much :loney,"
sid Dora's papa. "You are the rich
est little girl know"
"Oh yes, have whole pocket book
full" said Dora.
IF only Higgledypiggledy don's get
it," said mamma.
.'Who is hep" asked papa
"a giant that gets money from little
people," said mamma.
ale got some of the missionary
money last week." said Dora, blushing.
He must be an idol" said papa.
Il will give you two little account
books, and you shall put the idol S
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. "You shall see that
old Higgledy won't get much"
Il hope so,' said papa, taking up
his evening paper.
But as / told you few minutes ago,
little children find it hard to keep
money.
The candy-storcs are so very tempt
J ing! Candy men ought to hide their
pretty confectionery, and not put.it 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 ike Dora to
treat her little friends.
Al the end of week papa took up
the account-books and looked at Dora's
little crooked figures and printed let.
| tiers.
Under Higgledypiggledy he found:
Two oranges. ten cents
Two bananas, eight cents
! Candy dog, five cents
Three chocolate rats, fifteen cents.
A gingerbread man. one cent.
| gingerbread elephant, two cents.
| lee-cream. thirty cents
| Three red apples, three cents.
Under Charity. which was written in
| the second account-book, he read:
Gave my old shoes with n hole in 'em to
| Betsey Ann Baker's Tom.
| To the heather. seven cents.
Papa took his pencil and wrote under
the last entry:
ut is plain that my little Dodo loves
the idol best.
When Dora read what her father had
written, she was ashamed. She resolved
to be very, very. gerry careful, and never
let old Higgledypiggledy get such an
advantage again.-Mrs. N. +. Butts, IN
Youths Companion.