San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-14
A FAIRY GODMOTHER.

"Oh. Willie, do wish had an apple.
. real rosy checked apple, like the ones
that used to grow in grandpas orchard in
Michigan"
Two feverish little hands came together
supplicatingly. wan. flushed face looked
up from the pillow. with piteous appeal
In the child's blue eyes.
Dear Nellie I'd do most anything to
get you one. said Willie, coming over to
the side of the bed. and dropping his
curly head on the pillow beside the little
sick sister
Don't you suppose you could, some
hows" asked the thin. parched lips.
isn't there single penny left in the
drawer2"
mot a single penny. I've looked six
times. say. Nellie, this is an awfully
hard world to live in"
Such hard 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. land other men don't seem to
think am of much account. / guess q
fellow can be head of family if 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
dollar a week. and nobody wants me,
even for errand boy, cause I'm so small.
and they think can't carry big bundles.
only wish that they'd just let me try"
There might be a penny stuck in q
crack in the drawer" was the only an
swer Nellie's 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 l do
want one now so very. very much"
Il might go down into the street and
see If / couldn't earn q nickel in some
way. only
"Only what, Wilte?" asked Nellie's
eager voice, as he hesitated.
Il promised mother I'd stay with you
until she came back. She is worried
about you, and she don't want you left
alone"
But I won't mind it, indeed won't,
Willie. I'll 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 go?"
"All right. I'll go, and I'll 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, he started down the stairs.
Il wouldn't wonder'n my old hat keeps
me from getting work" he soliloquized,
soberly, but how's a fellow to get new
hats an things when nobody won't hire
him? Let his dear mother scrub 'em cut
on the washboard. maybe. Hum, I'd be
ashamed of hat got in that way"
The hot sun beat down upon him as he
passed along the street, and he kept
thinking and thinking Of the little sick
sister waiting for the apple. Yes, he must
get one for 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
Shell want some one to cut it for
her. ," he thought joyously, ''for, of course,
a woman can't cut wood"
But when he reached the door a 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
a game of ball." called one of Wilie's
mates. for this boy Willie was master
hand at ball or any other game. and the
boys enjoyed his society.
1t was great temptation assure you,
but Willie had no thought of yielding to
it. Remembering that he was 1.-The head
of the family" he replied emphatically:
II 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 it an acct
dent7 or do you think she did it pur-
posely?-her foot slipped, and away rolled
several brown paper bundles she was car
rying in her arms.
Dear mel Dear mel What ever shall
do?" she exclaimed in dismay.
Quick as flash Willie sprang to her
assistance.
IND xo,, eproip vorr aDH1a yn,rp,or he