Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-10
The Invisible Guest.


whose only practical legs were a pair
OF wooden crutches leaning against the
window sill where he was lying.
1t was warm day. and party of
happy school-fcllows were on their
wav 4" the river for row. There was
Ned Johnson viii Fairfax and True
Stevens; and SO full OF nonsense and
fun were they that none of them no
tioed the wstful gaze Of poor little
Perry Evans as he followed then with
his brown eyes only, while they went
laughing down the lane.
Besides being lame, Perry was lone
"; for he had no brothers and sisters,
and his mother had to GO out to work.
So he found the Summer days long and
wearisome. Fortunately he had some
talent for making little toys and tribes.
which was an occupation. but often he
was not well enough to work; and 10.
day he was mourning the loss OF his
only tool OF Importance. an old knife,
which had been SO often sharpened
that it had at last snapped in two
AOAh"po shio W no why oNcs WSTc
SO quick to detect something shining in
the road-somethiRgt that True Stevens
had pulled out Of his pocket with his
handkerchief. rs he went laughing
along in his careless fashion. and had
left 1t lying there to 10 crunched by
the first cart, wheel that passed.
Perry reached for his crutches and
hobbled out TO where this shining OBJ
ject lay; and his heart gave a bound of
delight as he picked up brand new
knife with big and little blades.
What beauty" he said to himself
as he turned il over and over, and
forthwith drew from h pocket a piece
Of wood, at which he had been inef-
fe ctually hacking. The knife cut the
pine wood rs il it had been cheese. and
in less than no time Perry had the
hulk of n small schooner on the bench
beside him.
The morning was goae before he
knew IL. and the bench was full Of
chips while a fleet of little boats stood
in trim array on the window sill by the
time Perry remember that his dinner
must be eaten.
He thought he was alone as he I'M
covered the plate of cold meat and
bread which his mother had left for
him, and so would any one else have
thought had that person looked in the
neat and tidy place which was parlor.
bedroom and kitchen all in one; but al
the same. he was not alone Unknown
TO Perry. strange guest was sitting
hes de him. and one who comes uabid-
den to many feast where wine sparkes
and fruit and flowers blush and glow.
Singular that no should take poor
little cripple for host when he can
have kings and emperOrs for the choos-
ing.
But here he was. close beside Perry.
Whispering in the chld's ear; and this
was what he said:
That knife IS yours. It il just
what lou need. Ii might have been
twisted into uselcssnoss or rusted and
broken before any one saw it, had you
not been at the window. 1t was just a
chance that made YOU aware who
dropped it; and that careless boy can
buy rs many as he wants. while you
suffer in need of one. How foolish you
are to think tor moment of return
ing il! Take my advice; keep it. Say
nothing TO any body about il. and no
one Will he the wiser. "
Perry pushed his plate away, saying
to himself. II IA not bit hungry;
guess I've worked to hard"
Just then small brown wren be-
gan tw.ttering OH the maple tree, and
a sweet scent of honeysuciile was watt
ed in from the vine outside. Perry
loved birds and flowers more than most
boys perhaps because he had observed
them more closely; but today the bur-
den of the wren's song seemed TO be.
.'Don't, don't do it. You know why.
You know why
The tired little fellow curled himself
up on his bed and went to sleep. The
strange. invisible dinner guest went
away. The wren flew 10 her nest.
Late in the afternoon. Ned and VIII
and True. who had not only rowed.
but swan and tisbed for hours on the
river. were sauEteripg home in the
tired. listess way that boys fall into
when their DAYS sport is over. when
they heard some ono hallooiug to
them.
who's that?' said Ned shifting
the oar be was carrying from one
shoulder TO the other.
Only one of those little pests OF
Mickletown. answered Will Come
on. boys Don't notice him. Look
out for your fish. True, or before you
know it. the scamp will cut your
string"
just as he spoke. there sure enough.
stood little chap with KIN fe in his
hand
True turned. and would have struck
him had he not seen that the child was
lame. As il was he said Grossly
BE OF with you. and bot my fish
alone!'
II don't want your fish" was the
reply. IN gu ct. hurt voice II only
want to give you knife you dropped
this morning. and 10 tell YOU used it,
What business had you 10 do thatp'
began True; but his tone suddenly
changed. IL beg your pardon" said
he. How did you know the knife was
minew And he rummagcd his pockets
for penny. which. not finding. he
drew forth instead lump Of putty.
Here" said he, Don't you want
thbp"