The Grenada sentinel., 1888-09-08

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Auntie Nell's gift, and a bit of outdoor
brightness and breeziness9 This little
lame Polly, with her crooked body ant
useless feet, who scarcely ever saw the
outside of the wee house in which she
lived, and who had only to sit by the
one tiny window, that long afternoon
and knit, and watch the passer-by
Without saying word, she just put hel
small, thin hands over her small, thir
face and cried.
"Oh, dont' Please don'tm pleaded
Millie, in dismay. "Why, l thought
you'd be glad!'
Polly brushed the tears away and
smiled. $50 | am," she said, "glad as
can be; but can't help crying little.
l guess that's what makes me-being
glad"
well, don't any more, will you?'
said Millie, beginning to take off her
things.
mo- said Polly, meekly.
First they looked at Auntie Nell's
pretty present, and Mile showed Polly
how the pictures were to be pasted in.
"rll just do one page day." said
Polly, land they'll last the longer"
Then they knitted needles, for Millie
had brought her little red stocking to
keep Polly's coarse gray sock COM
pany,
"You knit fastest, but get out first, v
said Millie, as she sang out Ten"
''Twenty!" cried Polly. Mines go,
more stitches; it's for Mr.. Briggs.
Mother has twenty cents a pair for
knitting 'em, and I help when l can.
Some days my back aches so | can't.
You see, mothers trying to save money
enough to buy one O them chairs that
roll around; then could go out when
twas pleasant. She's been a long
while, but she 'aint near enough yet.
The cheapest is ten dollars"
"Oh, l wish you couldn' Grid Millie;
forgetting in her eager sympathy to
say Thirty" as she whipped out her
needle. 81 do"
Yes" said Polly, with patient lit
tie smile, "but | don't much guess /
ever can"
, So between flying tongues and needles
forever trying to catch up, time ran
away until five o'clock.
Then Millie, jumping up in hurry.
rolled the little pine table across to
Polly's side, and over it spread Grim
son cover which somehow appeare&
from that wonderful basket.
Next, out upon the cover clattereG
Miles last Christmas tea-set, which
wasn't so much smaller than real tea
set after ALTO be quickly loaded with
sandwiches and tarts and pies and
ounce preserve and cakes and cam
dies.
Polly looked on in smiling wonder
at most seems as if I'm a-dreaming,'
she said, giving herself sly little
pinch, to make sure.
well, you just amt laughed Mil
lie, filling her tiny pitcher with water
from the pail; "but l do think this is
the very incest birthday l ever saw.
Teas ready, ma'amm
How Polly laughed at that, and at the
funny little courtesy which Millie bob
bed, and in the midst of the jollity Pol
.y's mother came home, tired enough
with her work; and, while the kettle
was boiling, Polly, with great many
smiles and few happy tears, must needs
90 over the afternoons pleasure again.
while Millie hoped from one foot to
The other, gleefully.
Then they all had their tea together,
and after that it was time for Millie to
say good-by.
"Do come again!' cried Polly.
"Of course l will" said Millie.
You're a dear child" said Polly's
mother, patting the crown of Miles
sun-hat Gt was on Miles head, you
know; "a dear good child"
more than half believe that Polly's
mother was right. Carleton, in
Youths Companion.