Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-24
A Cents Worth Of RaiSlS.'
BY MARY T. ANEs.

store in a Western village of some
Importance. She was dressed in
black-nOt the conventional black
seen every day in all places--but
in that which speaks mutely of a
recent loss, and kept the Grape veil
closely over her face while making
selections, to the evident chagrin
of the too susceptible clerk who at
tended to her orders.
ga cents worth of raisins if you
please, sir Z" came in child's voice
from farther back.
The lady had been aware of a
tnurmured conversation at a desk,
Just little distance from the place
where she was seated, and now a
voice thrillingly familiar, said
ave do not keep raisins here,
little one, but 1 will show you where
to find them. Have you only one
penny?'
"That is all, and l founded it on
the sidewalk. You see. l was just
going to Aunt Sara's when l seed
it; and just as soon as picked it
up thought Pd buy some raisins
to carry to cousin Caddy, cause
she's been awful sick /; and then
she's blind, too, and couldn't see
any money if she should find it as
| did"
"Oh that is how it is Now
you give me the penny, aud will
change it for a dime, which will
buy more raisins.1
The little woman looked Ques-
tioningly into his face and asked,
doubtingly, "will that be right r
certainly, quite right. Here,
Jim" TO the errand boy, "lead this
child to Mutchin's, and see that she
gets her raisins p
"Yes, sir. > and he tO0R the little
ones hand and accompanied her to
q grocers across the street.
Say, sgd, is that the way you
usually treat customers " Ellen
heard mis- companion ask.
"No, only babies and, more es-
pecially, girl babies. But come in
here and I will tell you,7 and he
led the way to his private office.
Then Ellen Doty gathered up her
parcels, and with a wildly beating
heart passed out on to the street.
The two young men were old col
lege friends, and had just met for
the first time in three years. They
seated themselves, lighted cigars,
and Sydney Smith, the host, said
"You wonder why should be m
terested in that little girl?"
"Yes.n
"Simply because she called fol
"a cents worth Of raisins.' 1t re
minded me of something similar
which occurred several years ago
When / was about 16, back in Oul
old home in Massachusetts, as
was on my way to school, one morn
ing, a little miss almost ran int
my arms as she hurried from a gro
cery-store l was passing. She was
crying, and l said, impulsively
"Hello! what is the matter, nOwP'
"She turned upon me with lool
of defiance in her great, brown, we
eyes.
"'Now, you are going to max
fun of me, too
'No, really and truly, | am moi
Who has been teasing youi tel
me, please, and see if don't max
him quit it,"
alt is no matter, now she sal
more gently, as she kept alon
in the same direction was going
I soon found that she attende
school in the same building l die
and she finally allowed me to carr
her books.
"Again ventured 10 ask VIII
had troubled her !
"She looked searcbiDgly in IN
face for an instant and then saiC
az suspect have been yer
silly, and will tell you all about II
You see Black Chloe is our wasl
erwoman, and she told her DO,
Pete, If he would stay in and min
the baby (the baby is black, to
don't you think p she would brin
him home some raisins when 81
was through with the washing
she gave me penny and asked u
to get them on my way to schoC
When asked for them the ms
looked cross and said it was nj
sance, Just q polite way Of begging
that my mother was too rich W
man to buy Thugs that way. Tit
hateful boy asked him if he W
going to send them up in the 2
press wagon; and another, just
hateful, said something about ia
ing up a contribution. And thu
knew I should cry, and witho
stopping for the raisins, l ran o
of the shop aud almost over yo'
and she looked up at me with Il
brown eyes laughing now.
"'Yes, but how about Pete's ~
sins ?
"The sweet lips began to quiv'
again, 'and I told Chloe | won
bring them at nOon.'
"And you shall You walk o
slowly, and / will Overtake YOU
said.
al ran ND cross street, and In