Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
"A CENTS WORTH OF
RALSINS.''
BY MARY f. AA1ES.

BY MARY f. AMES.
Ellen Doty was sitting on one Of the re-
volvng stools in a dry-goods store in a
Western village Of some importance. She
was dressed in black-not the conventional
black seen every day and in all places-but
in that which speaks mutely of recent
loss, and kept the Grape veil closely over
her face while making selections, to the
evident chagrin of the too susceptible clerk
who attended to her orders.
"a cents worth of raisins if you please,
sir?" came in childs voice from farther
back.
The lady had been aware of murmured
conversation at a desk. just little distance
from the place where she was seated, and
nov voice, thrillingly familiar, said:
ave do not keep raisins here, little one,
but will show you where to find them.
Have you only penny"
"That is all, and founded it on the
sidewalk. You see, was just going to
Aunt Sara's when I seed it; and just as
soon as picked it up 1 thought I'd buy
some raisins to carry to cousin Caddy,
cause she's been awful sick; and then she's
blind. loo, and couldn't see any money if
she should find it as did"
ooh! that is how it is? Now you give
me the penny, and will change it for a
dime. which will buy more raisins."
The little woman looked questioningly
into his face and asked. doubtingly, "will
that be right?"
Certainly, quite right! Here, Jim," t.
the Grand boy, "lead this child to Mutchin's
and see that she gets her raisins!"
eyes, SIR" and he took the little ones
hand and accompanied her to grocer's
across the street.
"Say, sgd, is that the way You usually
treat customers?" Ellen heard his com
panion ask.
"Ne, only babies; and, more especially
girl babies. But come in here and will
tell you," and he led the way to his privat,
Office.
Then Ellen Doty gathered up her parcels
and with wildly beating heart passed GU
on to the street.
The two young men were old colleg
friends, and had Just met for the first tim.
in three years. They seated themselves
lighted cigars, and Sydney Smith, the host
said:
"You wonder why should be interestc,
in that little girl?"
eyes
"Simply because she called for "a cent
worth of raisins.' It reminded me of some
thing similar which occurred several year
ago: When was about 16, back in GU
old home in Massachusetts, as was on M
way to school,. one morning, little mis-
almost ran into my arms as she hurrie,
from grocery store was passing. Sh
was crying, and Isaid, impulsively: Hello
what is the matter, now?'"
~She turned upon me with look of de
tiance in her great, brown, wet eyes.
@'Now, you are going to make fun of me
too!
mo, really and truly, I am not. VIII
has been teasing you? tell me, please, an,
see if don't make him quit it,"
"'It is no matter, now,' she said NOR
gently, as she kept along i'll the sam
direction / was going. soon found tina
she attended school in the same building
did, and she finally allowed me to carry he
books.
"Again I ventured to ask who ha,
troubled her?
"She looked searchingly in my face for a,
instant and then said:
4 suspect I have been very silly, an,
will tell you all about it: You see Blacl
Chloe is our washerwoman, and she told he
boy, Pete, if he would stay in and mln
the baby (the baby is black, too, don't yo1
think2) she would bring him home som
raisins when she was through with tn
washing. She gave me penny and aske,
me to get them on my way to school. Whel
asked for them the man looked cross an,
said it was nuisance, just polite wa
of begging: that my mother was too rich
woman to buy things that way. Then
hateful boy asked him if he was going Ii
send them up in the express wagon; an,
another. just as hateful, said something
about taking up contribution. And the,
knew should cry, and without stopping
for the raisins, ran out of the shop an,
almost over YOU and she looked up at M
with the brown eyes laughing now.
ayes, but how about Petes raisins?
"Thc sweet lips began to CULVER again
and / told Chloe would bring them a
uoon.'