The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25
LIVING A STORY.
SiOltr Falls. Dakota .

Mr.. Howard Sidney was just unlocking
his box at the postoffice, when he heard 6
child's voice say, with the usual beggar'G
whine:
"Please, sir, give me two cents to buy
some coal?"
Mr.. Sidney could never resist the temp
tation to tease, 80 he said:
"You can't buy coal for two cents, car
your"
sob, yes, sir; down to Tommy Dolan's
He'll give you more than Jimmy SnikeE
will"
"Is that so? must go to Mr.. Dolan
and lay in my winter supply, then"
The address of letter caught his eye
and he turned aside to open it. The lit.
tie beggar began again in the same
whine.
"Please, sir, give me two cents?"
He turned quickly, and said with mock
gravity:
excuse me, my child, but you
shouldn't whine. Just step up like any
young lady and say: will you please
give me two cents? Say it in quiet,
dignified manner, and 1 guess you'll get
the two cents. Say it now"
The child hardly knew whether he was
in fun or in earnest, but she said it after
him, and he grsvely handed her two
bright pennies. She stood looking at
them as they lay in her hand.
swell, what is it?" he asked.
"Please, sir, they shine So" she said
and looked up into his face with eyes
that shone with happiness.
Sand so the young lady has an eye for
the beautiful. Do you know where Wood
side is? live there. You come there to-
morrow morning if you happen TO be max
ing calls in that vicinity, and I'll give you
some more pennies, and may be bunch
of rsisins, if happen to feel good natur-
ed. Will you favor me with call?".
Eyes. sir" said the child; and again
she looked at the bright pennies and up
into his face, and smiled as if some great
happiness, unhesrd of before, had light
ed down upon her.
Mr.. Sidney went home and read his
letters and forgot all about the little
girl, till the next morning his man John
came to tell him that child was at the
back door, who said he had told her to
come.
"John,'' said Mr.. Sidney, "when a
young lady does me the honor to call.
please show her into the parlor at once"
John was accustomed to his masters
whims, SO he went out with a we'll sup
pressed smile, while Mr.. Sidney made a
hasty collection of all the stray pennies
in his pockets.
"Good morning." he said, as the child
appeared at the door. She smiled, but
said nothing.
every good" he said. 81 like your
smile better than the society girls giggle;
but, really, You should cultivate your
talent for elocutioD. Say good morning
now, just as do. Yes; that's right Now,
here are some pennies, bright, every one
of them. Put them in your pocket. And
here are some raisins and cakes. These
are for yourself; the pennies, 1 presume.
will be taken away from you by the old
woman who stole you from your wealthy
parents, and sends you to beg"
sold Betty's gone to JAIL" said the
child, watching Mr.. Sidney's face as if it
had some great satisfaction for her.
Excellent" said Mr.. Sidney. "This
is coming out finely. For commonplace
man like me to find he's living in a story
book is simply charming. There's al
ways a stolen child and an old woman
who gets to fighting and gets killed.
You say this one was sent to Jail? Well,
that's pleasant variety. The next thing
is that the child is adopted by some
wealthy young man who finally marries
her. Really, in all the interests of liter
ature, you ought to find some one to adopt
you, and finish out the story. 1t is ex-
tremely interesting"
The child still looked at him, regard
less of her cakes, and he said:
"Est your cake, / beg You, while con
slider an important question. That story
ought to be finished, and I've half mind
to do it myself. I'm not at 80 venerable
an age. have money enough. Yes, /
think I'll do it. can fill the bill nicely,
and besides it ought TO be done in the
interest of literature. 1 shan't marry
you, though, and you needn't expect that;
but I'll give you to the housekeeper, and
she'll teach you what she knows, and
send you to school, and you shall have a
chance TO make something Of yourself.