Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-04-03
MILLY'S COMFORTER

MILL y OUMI UN LII
1t was woven of fleecy. crlnkl,
zephyr, and was red-not dull
brick red, but that vivid scarlet
we sometimes see in the fash Of {
birds wing or the glow of bril-
liant sunset.
Ruskin says this is the color otlift
and of warmth which means life
and though Milly had not heard
this, she At it every time she
wound the gay thing about hel
slender throat, and tossed its tas
sellcd ends coquettishly over hel
shoulder.
Her motler,was apt to smile al
it, as hardly in keeping with Milly's
rich, tur-trimmed garments and
velvet head gear, but the latter
loved it as the gift Of a dear little
cousin in The country, aud when
Mrs. Wentworth saw how pictnr.
esqucly it contrasted with her
daughters dark hair and eyes, and
harmonized with her glowing
checks, she made no further objec|
ton, but let the child wear it when
she would-eXccpt to church.
One short, raw, wintry afternoon
Milly was fastening home from,
school, well wrappccdd. iin=s----ls;ll
6 .r----'.:;w,J'Hr* & Sight rather rare I
Sn those quiet, aristocratic streets
i; little boy thinly and raggedly
clothed, sitting on the CURLING, his
head bent forlornly upon a pile'of
papers in his lap, which evid mt.
iy was made damper than usual
with his tears.
Milly looked at him pitifully,
walked on Il pace or two, hesitated
glanced back, and then stepped
resolutely toward him and tapped
his shoulder.
"What's the matter7' she asked,
ometly; "arc you sick or hurtY"
He raised his head and turned
upon her surprised, woebegone
face, which, however, in spite of
tears and dirty streaks, was far
from unattractive.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
sobbed, brofenly.
"Of course not, up here" said
Milly, in brisk, business tones
you don't sec anybody OH these
streets but women and children,
and they don't want papers. Yon
ought to go down town where the
stores are; then. if you'll wait until
six o'clock, the gentlemen will he
coming home to dinner. and they'll
take them fast enough"
"But they hustle me about so.
and Pm so awful cold and hungry, "
he moaned.
Poor c,ildr' Milly's tones soft
ened. III expect they do; but you
must hustle back, aud stand your
own ground. Guess sou never sold
papers before, did you?"
mo, I'M he returned, gazing at
her as if she were an oracle; Il
never had to before. Tom takes
care of me. He's my big brother
and IL sailor. We've got a nice lit
tie room that he pays the reut for
and when he goes off on long vi'ges
/ eats with the Jenkinses acrost
the eutry-he pays them, too
Toms awful good, but he comes
home sick this time, and the mon
ey's most gone. thought | coulo
get more selling papers, but I've
| spent all Toms fifty cents, and
haven't madea tling!"
lie Sighed doleiully again, while
the sudden memory of a dime saved
for tatfy i'll Che corner Of her baud
kerchiet made Nlilly's face radiant
as she produced it and dropped i
into his dirty little paw.
mo, no." she laughed, as HI
handed out d paper, II don't wan
auy-wouldn't read it for a dollar
and papa buys his down TOWN.
YOU could find him now! He take
the brown cars near the Common
a big man with Il fur overcoat, an'
a mustaclle, and a sealskin cap, ant
eyes that just twinkle; and like a
not he'll throw you a quarter, an,
say, 'Never mind the changed it,
Just like him!-and here! this
keep you warm"
With a quick movement the re
comforter was transferred trol
Milly's neck 10 his, and, before h
could speak, She had nodded a ga
good-by and disappeared aroun
the corner.
He looked after her lcng mil
ute, then down at the soft scarle
wrap, and, gathering himself u
, with a new resolution, he turne