Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-27
ENOCH'S LOSS AND GAIN.

flying on the common out Vanderbilt
way-two weeks OF intense delight to
almost every chick and child in the
West end-but still little Enoch was
unsatisfied. He had never had a kite
OF his own. Ii is true Tommy Boland
had let him hold his string once when
his kite was up. but only for minute
while he 'h'istod" for another boy,
''and twarn't like yer avn, yer very
own" Enoch had said
His hearts desire was TO possess a
kite of his own. He knew Tommy
would lift it Tor him, and he liked to
contemplate the JOY he would have in
sitting on his rock, holding his own
kite pulling against the wind.
Enoch was fond OF the common, any
how. IL seemed to him that it was his
big house, with green and yellow
and brown carpet on the floor, and
big blue ceiling away up high-higher
even than his kite would go, if he had
one.
Enoch lived on the pike with Gran
nv Winship, the vegetable woman.
Why he lived there he never knew.
He sometimes thought he remembered
beautiful house-more beautiful even
than the commons-with flowers and
pictures, and some one. so beautiful,
dressed ali in white. who used to come
10 his bedside and kiss him, but it was
very vague memory, and he seldom
thought of il, save when he was alone.
He was alone on the commons great
deal. 10 the early morn he would sit
on his big gray stone by the water
cress stream and poke with his little
crutch into the soft mud, making little
wells for the water to fill. and in the
evening, when the boys were out, he
watched them at their play.
He had helped Granny TO gather the
vegetables one morning, aud she had
let him ride with her in the little cart
~ far as the common. She gave him
large fat basket OF beans, which he
was TO take 10 Mrs. Thomas on Broad
street. aud then await her coming on
the common. Enoch bad hardly taken
his seat on his stone when two young
ladies with their color boxes and stools
came by, going TO make an early morn
ing sketch.
They stopped and spoke TO the little
kov. and one OF them said:
''Why, isn't this water-cress here ?"
'Yessum," said Enoch, land mighty
sweet an good 1t is, too. l don't eat
nothin' else for lunch some days.
''Well, then. you must get very hun
gry, my little man" said one OF the
artists.
'Oh, how | wish Mrs. Stewart had
some OF the cress." said the other.
She is so fond OF 1t. | wonder why
some one doesn't get il and sell it."
Would anybody buy it9" inquired
Enoch eagerly.
"Oh, yes,n said the girls, and then
they showed him how b. pick and wash
is
Enoch knew that Granny went to
Mrs Stewards, and conceiving a sud-
don purpose, he picked and washed
enough cress TO fill the basket When
Granny came he told her what he had,
and she very willingly Carried him
with her to Mrs. Stewards.
He was very proud OF the dime he
got for his basket of sweet crosses,
and Granny said:
well. rs that's the first money you
ever made you can spend it as you
please. I'll be bound it goes for
candy"
mo, it won't, Granny; you'll see,"
said Enoch.
He was up betimes the next morn
ing. and at the little store on West
End avenue before the door was open.
1t was dirty, dusty little shop enough,
but it was perfectly gorgeous in Enoch's
eyes. because behind the fy-specked
glass in the little show window he had
seen rows and rows OF kites, green and
blue and yellow and red-cvery color
and shape aud form; kites with tails
and kites without
Presently, as Enoch was beginning
10 wonder il perhaps the man had
moved away, the man came out him.
self and took down the shutters. Il
wants err kite. mister" said Enoch,
hobbling into the store. 81 want the
blue one with white wings"
Enoch waited anxiously till Tommy
Boland came by the common on his re-
turn from market. He felt that he
could not wait till the afternoon.
when other boys would be out
Tommy WIS glad enough TO ''h'ist"
the kite for him, and when the tail
was properly adjusted and the beauti-
ful paper sails were swelling nicely in
the breeze, Enoch took the string and
sat down to enjoy his possession. He
watched the children pass by on their
way to school and almost forgot TO en-
w them their ability to go. He could
scarcely discern the outlines Of his
kite against the blue above, but She's
all right he said; ''she's err pullin'
steddy, an she's mine-my very own"
He kept very still on his rock lest
no should disturb his kite, but it seem
ed to him he was following it, and
that 1t was leading him away-up
above the Vanderbilt "horns," above
tho new West End church spire even
ND 70 a place where there were birds,
and flowers, aud pictures, and music,
and
.'Mebbe.r he said TO himself. "mebbe
the beautiful lady will come an kiss
me like she did so many. many years
ago, before l knew Granny or any
thing"
Suddenly he felt jerk, a snap-the
stiff string hung limp and loose in his
hand.
"Lordy. she's broke loose, " cried the