Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-28
How Patty Spent Her Pennies.

peering out into the busy street; only
n poor little Irish girl wasting in con-
sumption. But passers by always
noticed tho s1nlSen eye, In the wistful
face, and many kind smile greeted her
from strangers. Happy children coming
and going from the boats that run
down the harbor on hot summer after
moons, nodded ut her; once child
stood by the window and gave her a
handful OF shells and pebbles, and then
shyly ran away.
Did you ever know how much a
thing of that kind is to a poor city child
who cannot get away from the hot
sitting rooms where such children
livep A flower. even a common weed,
ia like a treasure to such little ones.
Once a little boy called to me in
passing through the street, Lady,
give me liower!n i went on. making
no reply; but afterwards / realized
how selfish 1t WAS in me, who had al
ways had flowers, to withhold it from
him. 1t haunted me long afterwards.
Patty sometimes had flowers given
her. and sometimes pennies. She kept
those in little box that stood upon
the clock, and nobody thought OF
touching one of them. The sick child's
possessions were sacred, even in that
rude house.
By-and-by the box was quite full;
and Patty would often count them over
and laugh.
What will We do wild yer pcnnlesP"
said her mother.
"I'll tell ye by-and-by," she replied:
but the time had not yet come TO dis
close the secret.
Christmas drew on. when the poor
feel the influence Of the gayety and joy
that arc abroad. and think that perhaps.
by miracle, they too will have n "mer-
nv" Christmas. There were many poor
children in the court whcro Patty lived
so poor that for them Christmas trees
were unheard OF things.
The day before Christmas Patty said
to her mother, Mamma give mo my
box"
She took out the pennies one by one,
and counted them again. There were
fourteen. Then she called her little
brother. Tommy" she said, Il want
We to go to tho toy shop just furninst
the market, and buy me fourteen toys
wild me pennies"
Tommy was proud indeed Of such an
errand, and fastened ont. Great was
the surprise OF ali the boys in tho court
, 10 SEQ him issue from Miss Conncr's
shop carrying n parcel
"What have you there, Tom Sulli.
- 49,.
Master Tow kept his own counsel.
What pleasure he took in displaying
his purchaso5!-thc wee dolls, the tin
soldiers, tho gaudy pictures, and the
rcd and yellow candles
Patty approved of his selection, and
smiled heartily at them all.
''Now Tommy, honey, l want we to
! go and AK Mr.. O'Neil at the corner il
he'll not give We bit of green for n
Christmas tree. Tell him I'll not be
here another Christmas, and KEN give
1t to We sure"
So Tommy, with tears in his honest
gray eyes, and trickling down his frecS-
led nose, won't to the kindly grocer;
and he. as Patty had said, gave him the
"bit of green"
Such little tree as IL was, so mean
ly trimmed but it was worth all the
splendid ones you ever saw to those
poor children.
! Now go and call in all the children
in the court, Tom" said Patty, smiling
with joy. SO that tho wasted checks
were hardly noticed FOR the moment.
For once in her life Patty was beauti-
full
And soon in they came, a ragged
enough little troop, all ages and all
sizes, both boys and girls, with ono or
two babies carried in elder sisters
arms. A shout OF delight burst from
them as they saw the tree.
Patty lay on her pillow, smiling all
the time, as one and another exclaimed,
AN sure, Patty, yersilf has a grand
, Christmas tree"
Then, when all had admired it, she
took of all the little toys ono by one.
and gave to each child. They took them
awkwardly, it may be, bat their hearts
were tender towards the invalid girl.
and mnny thanks were given her in
their own rough way.
At last when all were distributed. a
little red-haircd follow shouted. Three
cheers for PBtty!' and they were given
with a will.
Only the tree remained for Patty; she
had given everything else away; but
she was just as glad as the rest, for all
that. And then, when they were all
alone, her mother brought her two
large oranges. which n kind friend had
given her rs surprise for her little
girl; so She had her Christmas gift, af-
ter all.
Didyou ever think OF giving presents
TO those who could not repay you, or do
you always give hoping TO receive
againp Next time Christmas comes,
dear children, try Patty's way. and you
will receive the blessing that she felt in
her heart. Well Spring.
The Thinking Habit.