Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-11-06
MAMMALS CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
4 Holiday Story by Twelve-Year-OId
Girl.

n DN
Girl
A little incident connected with buy
ing Christmas presents happened in an
Eighth avenue store that made quite
little romance. The store was packed
with people hunting for Christmas gifts.
Two little girls, the eldest barely 9.
standing outside, were noticed by lady
who left her carriage to enter the store.
The little girls were poorly dressed. The
little ones wanted to go into the store,
but seemed afraid 10 enter a rush came
and they were caught in the crowd and
whirled into the store. There they ap-
peared enraptured with the beautiful
things they saw.
The lady had entirely forgotten her
own errand and kept near the little girls.
Finally they began whispered conver-
sation and kept pointing to an article on
a counter: then the oldest reached the
counter and timidly asked the sales
woman the prrce of red worsted hood.
The answer was, s'Two dollars and twen-
ty-five cents" The little girls counte-
nance fell, and opening her hand she
began to count some pennies she held.
The open handshowed the lady Just nine
cents.
The little one Joined her sister. She
was disappointed, and the two girls
counted their money over and over,
then took another look at the hood and
walked away. The lady made her way
to the counter, and, J., making a confdant
of the saleswoman,, told her she wanted
the little ones to have the hood, for
which she would pay herself, but did
not intend that the girls should know
that it was not their own money that
bought thejhood.
The saleswoman became interested at
once, and leaning forward she beckoned
to the giris and said, How much money
can you. pay for this beautiful red hood?"
The eyes of both frightened. and with
out answering the child put forward all
she had in the world-her nine pennies.
What are you going to do with this
hood?" the saleswoman asked.
Give it to mamma for her Christ
mas, exclaimed both at once.
The lady turned away and placed her
handkerchief to her face to hide the
tears that filled her eyes Another ques-
ton made her turn toward the children
again.
did you save all this money for
Christmas"
''Yes, answered both.
How long have you been saving this
money!
This answer was long time coming
and finally the oldest one replied that
she did not know, but part was Bessie's
and part her own.
''Well," said the saleswoman, who re-
ceived knowing nod from the lady,
''since you have been saving so long I'll
let you have this hood for the nine
cents"
The money was handed over, the pack
age done up, and the little ones went
away happy, both wanting to carry the
precious bundle, and both laughing and
crying with delight about the present
for mamma.
The following morning just as the
store was opened poor woman entered
with a small bundle and two little girls.
After looking around the older girl
pointed to the hood counter and was at
once recognized by the friendly sales
woman. The party walked toward the
counter and the older girl, pointing to
the saleswoman, said, That's her.
The little ones were trembling; the
mother looked anxious, and could hard
ly ask, did this hood come from here,
miss
The saleswoman noticed the bundle,
and answered, Yes"
"Well," said the mother, ''that hood
is marked 2.25, and my little girls tell
me they bought it for nine cents. l have
never known them to lie to me, but
am sorry to say could not believe them
this time. l was so afraid to come into
the store and ask, but must know the
truth; please tell me about it, for l
haven't slept a wink all night. though
the little girls said it was Christmas
present, and was afraid was afraid
the tears now stopped the mothers
words.
The saleswoman could stand it no
longer and leaning over the counter she
whispered the whole story to the mother.
The oldest girl could not understand
why her mother took her in her arms
and kissed her. Then all three went
hOme.-Sadie Lorraine Handy, 12 years
old, in New York Telegram.