The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-27
ALANsS FHREE PENNIES.

Regularly every morning. when the wealth
er permitted, little Alan, accompanied oy
his nurse, took his walk in the park holding
clasped in bis chubby hand three pennies,
wiich his kind mamma never failed to give
him, and which be always spent in the same
manner.
One penny was for cake, one for a glass
of lemonade. sold by an old man Just with
in the park gates, the other for poor, lame
beggar, who daily stood in the street asking
aims
( One morning, however, his mamma, not
I having any pence, gave him a shilling to
I change foT her.
! oh, mammal Alan cried. his little face
| lighting up with joy, give me this shilling
/ it will last four days. 1 will put it in any
/ little red purse. Do please p
| Very WELL dear, but don't lose it.
! Alan, thanking his mother took HE nurses
/ hand and went out.
I Instead of playing as usual, Alan sat qui-
/ etly on a seat, holding tightly in his hand
/ the little purse.
Now, Master Alan. it is time for you to
/ buy your cake Louisa said a length.
| 'Bnt l don't want one this morning, thank
| you.' Alan answered.
I
astOnishment. ARE you i'll p
NO. but l am not hungry
Presently small tinking bell fell on his
ears and the lemonade man approached,
hoverlng near Alan, as he was one of his
most regular customers
Alan turned his head away, seemingly alb
sorbed in watching an Italian boy, standing
near with board filled with plaster Images.
Master Alan, Louise whispered, aren't
you thirsty? Don't you want your lemo.
made p
No. because l have not eaten, do not
want to drink decidedly.
He breathed more freely when the man
passed on, afraid, in spite of himself, he
might be tempted to change bis piece.
On quitting the park he passed the beggar
by, unnoticed for the first time since he
could remember
Arriving at his home. be FASTENED to the
kitchen. and asked for some bread, which he
ate with great appetite, feeling very hungry.
The next day his shilling still rested whole
in his little red purse he went as usual
with Louise to the park and played joyfully
about, being less fearfulof losing his money.
Presently, tired out, he sat down on the
seat beside his nurse, and calmly drew from
his pocket piece of bread he bad provided
himself with before starting.
what = Louise cried in astonishment.-
You haYe brought bread from the house p
Yes; l do not like cakes now. l am
tired of them
Nor lemonade p
No, l am not thirsty
What a strange boy you are Alb, l see
what it is you wish to econOm;ze. Is it to
buy a castle .
Alan cOlored, but did not answer.
When they were leaving the park he mad
a thousand excuses to go out by another
gate, so as not to pass the lame man.
Louise, nothing 10th, complied with his
wish, but in doing so they passed by foun-
tain where several children were drinking
Louise, cannot 1 drink there? 1 am so
thirsty Alan asked eagerly.
The maid stared at him aghast.
Whatever next You will not buy lemon
ade, and you would drink at fountain l
will not allow it; you will await until you
arrive home
These little stratagems to keep his shilling
whole, lasted four days, and on the fifth his
mamma gave him his usual three pennies.
| Here, Alan,' she said smiingly, your
| time you had some more money!
! The child took the offered pence in siIeEce
| he would not tell his mother the silver piece
/ lay in his purse.
/ He went for his morning walk, and ate tire
/ dry bread he always brought in his pocket
now but as they returned Louise dragged
| him reluctantly towards the gate where the
old beggar stood.
You never give anything to your poor
/ lame beggar now. See how pititnlly he
/ holds out his hand
Il have only my shilling, which do not
/ wish to change.
But the money your mamma gave you
/ this morning2'
Il wish to keep it..
/ oh, the naughty little miser You don't
/ know how ugly it is to be so avartciousP 2
! But am not miser.'
Yes, you are. Since you have had that
| shilling you have given nothing to the lame
/ begear; you pass him by unnoticed. You
! will become hardhearted, and when you die
| you will not go to heaven-no miser ever
/ dees.'
/ Alan hung his head in shame.
! As they passed through narrow street a
/ little girl, poorly dressed, came out of dai-
| ~, carry ing a small jug of milk.
Whether from giddiness or accident, the
child slipped, and fell almost at Allan's feet;
the lug broke In thousand fragments, the
milk running in whits stream over the
payement