The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-10-15
SELECT STORY.
M1LLY's COMFORTER.
A COMMONPLACE STORY.


scarlet we sometimes see in the flash of
birds wing or the glow of brilliant
sunset. Ruskin says this is the color
of life, and though Milly had not heard
this, she felt it every time she wound
the gay thing about her slender throat
and tossed its tasseled ends .coquetishly
over her shoulder.
One short, raw, wintry afternoon
Milly was Fastening home from school,
well wrapped in its foils, when her
brisk pace was arrested by heavy
sob, and, looking around, she saw a
sight rather rare on those quiet, aristo-
cratic Streets little boy, thinly and
raggedly clothed, sitting on the curb
ing, his head bent forlornly on a pile
of papers in his lap, which he was evi-
IDENTIFY making damper than usual with
his tears. Milly looked at him pitfully,
walked on pace or two, hesitated,
glanced back and then stepped reso-
lutely toward him and tapped his
shoulder.
"What's the matter p she asked,
quietly "are you sick or hurt p
He raised his head and turned upon
her surprised, woebegone face, which,
however, in spite of tears and dirty
streaks, was far from unattractive.
M-can't--sell--my--papers," he
sobbed, brokenly.
"Of course not, up here, said Milly,
in brisk, business-like tones. You
don't see anybody on these streets but
women and children, and they don't
want papers. You ought to 60 down
town where the stores are then, if
you'll wait until 6 o'clock the gentle
men will be going home to dinner, and
they'll take them fast enough"
"But they hustle me about so, and
I'm awful cold and hungry" he moan.
ed.
"Poor child !" Milly's tones softened.
Il expect they do, but you must hustle
back, and stand your own ground.
Guess you never sold papers before,
did you ?"
"No'm,', he returned, gazing at her
as though she was an oracle II never
had to before. Tom takes care of me.
He's my big brother and a sailor.
We've got nice little room that he
pays the rent, and when he goes off on
long VICES, eat with the Jenkinses
across the entry. He pays them, too.
Toms awful good, but he come home
sick this time. and the moneys most
gone. / Thought l could get some
more selling papers /; but | have spent
all Toms fifty cents and l haven't
made a thing !"
He sighed dolefully again, while the
sudden memory OF dime saved for
taffv in the corner of her handkerchief
made Milly's face radiant as she drop
ped it into his dirty paw.
"No,no,' she laughed, as he handed
out paper 81 don't want any
wouldn't read it for a dollar; and papa
buys his down town-if you could ind
him now! He takes the brown cars
near the common, big man with a
fur overcoat, and moustache, and a
sealskiu cap, and eyes that twinkle
and like as not he'll throw you a quar-
ter, and say: Never mind the change!
It's just like hirn-and here, this'll
keep you warm
With qnick movement the red
comforter was transferred from Milly s
neck to his, and before he could speak
she had nodded gay good-by and
disappeared around the corner.
He looked after her a long minute
then down at the soft scarlet wrap, and
gathering himself up with new resolu
ton, turned and walked away, burying
his chin in its tleecy folds with a deli
cious sense of returning warmth and
comfort.
Two hours later superb-looking
gentleman, striding rapidly toward hi
cara smile in his eyes as he thought
Of the box of French bon.bons in his
pocket ready for Milly's searching
fingers-felt a gentle pull at his slee yt
and such a pleading "Ob, please, sir
buy copy-please do !" that he in
voluntarily stopped.
1t was a little fellow who held them
eagerly forward with a smiling, tear,
streaked face, and vivid bit of scarle,
about his throat that made the owner
think of Milly, 50 he said, in his own
brisk way:
"All right Got a Transcript
That's it Here-never mind the
change there's my car and with &
rush forward he had swung himself
lightly aboard, leaving a silver quarter
in the boys hand, exactly, as Milly had
prophesied.
81 knowed it ~ muttered the child
gszing after him with shining eyes 81
knowed twas her pa y But an i'm
patient "paper boy brought him tc
his senses, and in short time, witt
arms empty, but heart and pocket full
he rushed for his brother, cold anC
hunger alike forgotten.
81 done it, Tom ! sold every one
Here's the money!" aud quite shower
of coppers and nickles, to say nothing
of the silver dime and quarter, rattlet
out upon the bed.
Toms wan face frightened at the
sight.
"Why you little clipper he cried
gayly, "who'd thought it 1! Come
reel off your yarn, quick, aud lets hav,
grub, I'm as hungry as dolphin"
"Well, twas all the little lady's
doin's, you see," began Jimmy, ant
told the story you already know, dis
playing the red comforter as triumph
antly as a conquerer displays his tro
phes.
AT that very moment Milly sa
munching bonbon upon the arm O.
her father's easy chair before the CRATE
while he, lying back luxuriously il
dressing gown and slippers, with tn,
Transcript across his knees, looking
teasingly into her face.
"Whom did l buy my paper of
Bless the child What curiosity
How can tell now, I'd like to know
Lets see, though-him He was ,
little, and pathetic, and dirty, with bis
blue eyes, and a beautiful red comfort
er much like yours"
He glanced laughingly at his wifi,
here, for this comforter was one o
those things they liked to joke abou