Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-12-26
THE PRINCES RETURN
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.

A few small dead leaves came rustlins
down Happy Court. the wind had blown
them off the poplar tree in the corner by
the pump.
Bobbe counted them, for he stood at
the window of the shabbiest house in
the Court with his nose fattened against
the window-pane.
"One, two, three, four, fivew he said,
counting the dead leaves.
Presently he put his hand in his
pocket. and began jingling the pennies
there.
zone, two, three, four, he said. ooh,
dear, but there ought to be five For a
pen. wiper costs five, and the old lady
won't take any lessn'
The house opposite had tall green
bush showing at the window, and the
three little Smiths were dancing around
it, making faces and reckoning across to
Bobbe.
"No won't" said Bobbie, as though
they could hear him, 81 amt going to
come over. I'm going to stay here till
sister Mary comes"
Just then tall girl turned the corner
of the street and came merrily up the
Court. She had hair as yellow as Bob
bie's, and the same eyes OF startled
brown. Bobbie rushed down the rick
ETY. stairs and opened the door for her.
odd you see the butcher man, round
the corner, and his little pigs with the
holly in their mouthsE' And the candy
store with the pink and white kriss
Kringles, and the grocery
eyes, yes. Bobbie," she said; patting
his eager head; ''now let me sit down
awhile and rest myself, and then I'll tell
you of all the fine sights I've seen
to-day"
So Bobbie pulled out the big chair by
the window, and ran t. hang up her hat
and coat. Staying in the lonesome
house all day long by himself, had made
him as tidy and thoughtful as girl.
Then Mary sat down in the chair with
Bobbie at her feet, and told him of all
the wonderful things in the uptown
shop windows
Boobies eyes grew like stars; he
sighed softly to himself, and in his en-
citemert pulled out the pennies from his
pocket, and began counting them over
once more.
1t was poor little room; the carpet
was so patched that it looked like a coat
threadbare. The paper on the wall
that had once been full of gay colored
boughs and blossoms, now showed only
few sickly leaves sprawling against o
dingy white.
But the rosy little fire fickered and
futtered, and the sun falling in patch
upon the floor brought the poplar
shadows with it; and Boobies yellow
hair and Mary's together, made warmth
and color for what would else have been
a dull picture.
So Mary came to the end of the sights
she had seen, and Bobbie asked:
lis that ala And it's most like the
prince. amt it, Mary2"
"a little" said Mary, smiling to her
self, for she knew what was coming
next.
"Once there was a prince" began
Bobbie was it long time ago,
Mary2"
He always asked this question here,
and Mary always gave him the same
answer, and sighed:
"a long time ago, Bobbie."
''And he was tall and handsome and
young; and he. dearly loved the prin-
cess"
'Ano he was going to marry her, SAID
Mary, land give her everything she
wanted, and then"
"And then he went away" interrupt.
ed Bobbie, ''and never came back any
more"
Though as long as she lived, the
princess thought he would. and waited
for him" said Mary.
Bobbie always looked solemn when
they came to this part of the story. In
some inexplicable way he thought that
he could remember the princess, and
that he had known her. And had not
her eyes been brown as his Mary'si
81 feel sorry for the princess, F." he said.
Then Mary kissed him.
He jingled his pennies once more.
''Do you think pen-wipers are nice,
Mary!'
''Yery NICE" said his sister; "and