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

"lll carry all these bundles home for you.
and then yon may give me the nickel
IL live a long piece from here. the
sharp voice made answer
It'll give me better chance 10 earn
the nickel. replied Willie. briskly
Very well Step up spry then. right
around the FIRST corner, aud mind you
don't lag behind ! don't mean To give
you a chance TO slip any OF the smaller
bundles in your pocket
The old eyes took note OF every change
In the boys frank face. and how could
| Willie know that she was testing him, OF
her object In asking where he livedy
II have an errand in this store" she
said. as they were about passing large
| grocery store Come in With me
The proprietor tall. fine looking man.
came forward and said
Where is your carriage. motherf'
She drew him TO one side and held q
whispered consultation with him. during
which they both glanced often at Willie
guarding those brown bundles which the
eccentric woman. had been carrying home.
because her carriage had not come for her
at the moment she expected.
Presently she came up to him.
This gentleman is going to send those
things TO my house. free Of charge. she
said. "and as penny saved Is two earned
think I'll let him 90 II.
Without another word she walked out
Of the door and took seat in a carriage
that had just driven up
Willie choked and two big. round tears
slid over his cheeks. In spite Of his brave
efforts to keep them back. He had been
so sure Of an apple for Nellie. and the
disappointment was bitter indeed.
The fine gentleman saw it all, but he
had promised that queer little old mother
of his something. and he let poor dis
appointed Willie go away without one en-
couraging word
The whole hour had been wasted, and
he must now go home without Nellie's
apple.
Slowly his reluctant feet approached
the door of his mothers room slowly it
swung open in his hand How could he
bear to see Nellie $ eager, expectant face,
when there was no.apple to give herr
"Oh, Willie. Willie Plunkett." called
Nellie's voice the moment lie stepped in
side the door The queerest little old
lady has been here, and she brought
lots and lots of apples and oranges. and
she said you was TO take the basket back
to the store where she left you, and
there'd be job waiting for you"
She did," exclaimed Willie. explo
sively, his eyes round with amazement
did she have cross looking face, and a
scoldy voice. and eyes that look fellow
right through and
why, no. she didn't. " interrupted Mel
lie. "She had the loveliest old face ever
was, and the sweetest voice and the kind
est blue eyes. She only stopped about a
minute. but | shall never forget her.
never And she is going to take me to
ride In her carriage some day. and-oh,
Willie Punkett, do really believe tha,
she is our fairy godmother.
80 do !, said Willie solennly. III
she can change herself like that she must
be something of that sort believe I'll
take the basket right back before the
good fortune ali vanishes egain"
'Do. Willie" entreated Nellie. as she
set her white teeth into juicy apple.
When Willie delivered the basket a;
the store he found that the good fort
une" had not vanished He was given a |
position In the store. with salary Of So |
q week to commence with. and a promise |
of higher wages as he learned the business
Il feel rs though it is too much. sir,
said Willie. modestly.
Not for the head of a family" re
piled the proprietor. quizzically.
The time came when Willie saw ONLY |
the smile and kindly eyes of the fairy
godmother, as both children loved to call
her; and her voice was always gentle
when speaking to him. and he wondered
how it could ever have sounded harsh and |
discordant.
Under her fairy touches the extreme
poverty of the Piunketts vanished and !
comforts found their way into their
humble home. A hundred better things |
came to them. all as the result of Wilie's |
thoughtfulness in gathering up those
scattered bundles.-R. Ii. Thorpe in |
Golden Era.