The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-12-10
WHAT THE NICKELS DID.

Every Saturday evening each of
them bad bright new five cent
piece given them for their weeks
allowances-even Robbie, the baby,
only six months old. Mamma
would drop his into little tin
bank, and bow he would laugh and
crow to hear the bits jingle to and
fro when she shook it.
1t was odd to see the different
ways the money went. Each child
did exactly as he or she chose,
with occasionally gentle hint or
wise suggestion from the mother.
Ernest, the elder. was studiOus and
fond of books; Mary, who came
next, loved pictures aud pretty
things, and she was always
desiring something OF this sort,
either for herself or for some
loved one Harry was all life aud
play and never began to have
enough money for all (he games
and toys he wanted; whereas
Madge, who only seven, nerer gave
much thOnght 10 it; she was har-
um -Scarum little laSSie, and so that
her money was quickly spent, new
er seemed to care much how. |
am afraid the most of it found its
way :mtO the drawer of old Tim, the |
candy man around the corner.
just now all OF them, save the |
baby, to whom money meant moth
ing but noise at present, bad some
thing in view which they were
saving up their five cents to pur-
chase. Ernest had book in his |
mind Mary had seen Il picture of
two mischievous kittens which she
thought quite the cunningest thing
that she bad ever seen; Harry
desired II fine largo drum. Poor
little Madge's ambition rose no
higher than u doll-baby and cradle
in sugar, but she wanted it all the
same F; and yet il was she who made
the discovery aud set the ball in
motion for good.
This il how it was; Madge had
becu around to old Tins to see her
sugar dolly. The good.natured
old man, who had been a brave
soldier and now Stunped abuut
with one wooden leg, had taken it
down fIOm its place on the shelf
for tho tenth time, and assured the
excited little maiden that he would
keep it until she bad saved the
required sum. While the little
girl was walking slowly home,
with a good deal of truth
that this was certainly the sweetest
dolly that she had ever seen, the
came. 1t was oaly a
poor little girl sitting on the-curb-
stone, but such poor little girl !
the day was not very
cold, she looked pinched and blue.
"Why don't you go home and
get warmed I" she said, softly lay
ing her hand upon the shoulder
that .he rags scarcely covered.
"There aiu't no fire there" an
swered the child; then continued
lrearlly. "aOr nothi1 to eat Meth.
sr. Ma sent me out to beg, but
wont give nae no; hiu'," aud
The child gave a despairing sniff
and tried to draw her tattered
shawl more closely about her.
"Poor little girl T-and Madge's
eyes were iull of tears-"lll give
you something"
Bless her kind heartl she had
forgotten all about the sugar dolly.
The three fve-cent pieces that she
had been having such hard work
to save found their way FROM out
Of the tiny pOcket.book into the
poor little child's hand. Madge
thought she bad never seen such a
look of delight as came into the
child's face when she felt the money
ia hand.
81 think she was almost starved,
mamma" !" said Madge, when telling
The story aiterward. H.
That very evening mamma told
all her little flock about the small
Jane aud her sick mother, and ask
sd them il they would not help on
he good work which Madge had
begun. She bad already sent .
around a basket OF food, bat siie 1