The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-14
A FAIRY G0DM0THER.

MlCnlGdn.
Two fevcrish little hands came together
supplicatingly. a wan. flushed face looked
up from the pillow. with piteous appeal
in the child's blue eyes
Dear Nellie. Id do most anything to
get you one. said Willie. coming over to
curly head on the pillow beside the little
sick sister
Don't you suppose you could. some
howr' asked the thin, parched lips
isn't there a single penny left In the
drawer?"
Not single penny. I've looked six
times | say. Nellie, this Is an awfully
hard world to live in. D."
Such bard world" echoed Nellie.
Here am. the head Of this family"
continued Willie drawing his slender self
erect. In order to do credit to his exalted
position and other men don't seem to
think am of much account guess a
fellow can be bod of family II he isn't
large. and the smaller he is the more he
needs lift from other heads Of fam
lies ought TO be earning as much as
a dollar a week. and nobody wants me,
even for errand boy. cause I'm 50 small.
and they think cant carry big bundles.
only wish that they'd just let me try
There might be a penny stuck in
crack in the drawer. was the only an
swcr Ncllies plaintive little voice made.
Mrs Benson's got an uncommon big
washing today. and mamma won't be
back till most night. and it may be
won't care for an apple then, but | do
want one now so very. very much.
Il might go down into the street and
see if couldn't earn a nickel in some
way, only
Only what, Willie?" asked Nellie's
eager voice. as he hesitated
Il promised mother Id stay with you
until she came back She is worried
about you, and she don't want you left
alone"
But won't mind it.. indeed ! won't,
Willie III be thinking about the apple
all the time. and I'm sure mamma won't
mind My mouth is SO hot and dry, and
the water isn't one bit good Please got"
"All right. III go, and III just make
some one give me job TO earn an apple
for you" Willie looked quite fierce as he
made this threat, then, taking his rimless
hat. ho started down the stairs
Il wouldn't wonder'n my old hat keeps
mo from getting work, he soliloquized,
soberly. but how's fellow to get new
hats an things when nobody won't hire
hm2 Let his dear mother scrub 'em out
on the washboard. maybe Hum. Id be
ashamed Of II hat got in that way"
The hot sun beat down upon him "a he
passed along the street, and he kept
thinking aud thinking of the little sick
sister waiting for the apple. Yes. lie must
get one Tor her somehow But how?
That was the question that puzzled him.
His face frightened as he remembered
that he had seen man unloading wood
at the Widow Hopkins only the day be-
fore.
She'll want some one to cut 1t for
her. he thought joyously. "for. of course.
woman can't cut '~ood.
But when he reached the door larger
boy had just rung having come on the
same errand as himself. and. Of course,
the Widow Hopkins engaged the larger,
stronger boy to do the work
Hello. Willie Plunkett; come and have
game of ball. called one of Willie's
mates. for this boy Willie was master
hand at ball or any other game, and the
boys enjoyed his society.
Ii was great temptation. assure you,
but Willie had no thought of yielding to
It, Remembering that he was the head
of the family" he replied emphatically:
Il can't I'm looking for job"
= An old woman was going by. and. hear.
ing these words from the lips of very
child, she turned and scrutinized his face
closely
Just at that moment-was 1t all acci.
dentY or do you think she did 1t pur-
posely1-her foot slipped, and away rolled
several brown paper bundles she was car
rying In her arms
Dear mel Dear mel What ever shall
dor" she exclaimed in dismay.
Quick as flash Willie sprang to her
assistance
Did you sprain your ankle. marmS' he
asked. solicitously as he carefully
brushed the dust from'one of the parcels
with his jacket sleeve.
Il suppose you want to be paid for
picking up my packages?" she Queried. In
sharp. squeaky voice. that exactly
matched her thin. sharp face with its
long nose and keen gray eyes.
Willie's sensitive face flushed . vivid
scarlet.
I'D be ashamed to take pay for picking
up lady's bundles for her. he said his
young voice swelling with indignation.
You would chr thought you were
looking for u joby''
And SO am. marin. I'm the head of
family and my little sick sister wants I'll
apple real bad but | wouldn't think Of
Of taking advantage Of any ones accident.
much less a lady's
Willie caught his breath after the effort
1t had cost him to make such an elderly !
sounding remark. and there was a sly |
twinkle In the keen old ewes but Willie /