The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-23
THE PRINCES RETURN.
A oHElsrNAs skErcH.

10y the pump.
Bobbie counted them, for he stood at
the window Of the shabbiest house in
the court with his nose hattened against
the window pane.
~One. two, three. four, five.' he said,
counting the dead leaves
Presently he put his hand in his Poek-
ct. and began jingling the pennies there.
zone. two, three. four" he said. Oh,
dear. but there ought 10 be Eve. For a
pen-wiper costs fige, and the old lady |
won't take any les" "
The house opposite had tall green
bush showing at the window, and the |
three little Smiths were dancing around /
il. making faces, and beckoning across to |
Bobbie.
aNo. won't," said B1bbie, as though |
they could hear him. Il amt going to
come over I'm going to stay here tll
sister Mary comes
Just then a tall girl turned the corner
ofthe street and came merrily up the
court. She had hair as yellow as Bob
bie's, and the same eyes Of startled
brown. Bobbie rushed down the rickety
stairs and opened the door for her.
Did You see the butcher man, round
the corner, and the little pigs with the
hollv ia heir mouths? And the candy
store with tho pink and white KRIS
Kringies, and the grocery"
"Yes, yes, Bobbie" she said, patting
his eager head nov let me sit down a
while and rest myself, and then will
tell YOU Of all the fine sights I've seen
to-day"
So Bobbie pulled out the big chair by
the window, and ran 10 hang up her hat
and coat Staying in the lonesome house
ali day long by himself, had made him
as tidy and thoughtful as girl
Then Mary sat down in the chair with
Bobbie at her feet, and told him Of all
the wonderful things in the uptown
shop windows
Bobbie's ewes grew ike stars; he sigh
ed softly TO himself, and in his excite
ment pulled out the pennies from his
pocket, aud began counting them over
once more.
Il was a poor little room the carpet
was so patched that it looked ike coat
of many coiors, and the curtains were
threadbare. The paper on the wall that
had once been full of fgay-colored boughs
and blossoms, now showed only a few
sickly leaves spraEling against a dingy
white.
But the rosy little fire fiickered and
nuttered, and the sun falling in patch
upon the floor brought the poplar shad-
oEs with it; and BOboie's yellow hair
and Mary's together, made warmth and
color for what would else have been a
dull picture.
50 Mary came TO the end of the sights
she had seen, and Bobbie asked:
rs that all? It's most like the Prince,
amt it, Mary ~
a little" said Mary, smiling to her
self. for she knew what was coming next.
"Once there was Prince" began Bob
bic; "was it very long time ago, Mary?'
he always asked this question here.
and Mary always gave him the same an
swer, and sighed
a long time ago, Bobbie."
And he was tall and handsome and
young, and he dearly loved the Prin-
cess -r
And he was going to marry her. said
Mary, -and give her everything she
wanted, and then-7
@And then he went away interrupt
ed Bobbie, land never came back any
more"
Though as long as she lived, the Prin-
cess thought he would, and waited for
him, said Mary.
Bo5bie always looked solemn when they
came to this part ofthe story. In some
inexPlicabIe way he thought he could
remember the Princess, and that he had
known her. And had not her eyes been
broEn Ike Mary's?'
Il feel sorry for the Princess he said.
Then Mary kissed him.
He iiHgled his pennies once more.
~Do you think pen-wipens are nice. |
Mary ~
Very nice said his sister: aand those /
little red and black ones around the cor
ner are just beautiful"
Aren't they - cried the delighted
Boobie- Two little black blocks and
one little red one. Oh, Mary, but they !
are hse cents. and l have only got four
She beld ont the coveted penny.
4 think Katie smith might like one |
FOR Christmas gin"
~Od, no, no, no.7 shouted Bobbie
'but if is not for Katie Smith il Is /
for
Then be pa; both hands over his fool /
ash little mouth and ehuckled soi,lv.
You'd better 10 away, OF you might
tell me secreis," laughed Mary.
And Bobbie, chuckling harder than
ever, ran oct into the street.
The little old lady who kent the little
old shop where be had spied the pen
wiPerS. was very busy that afternoon.
The tiny place was fal Of old-fasbioned
people who were buying her scarlet nit
tens, or her dainty tasseled hoods and
jackets, or, even the glsss-eyed canton
flannel elephants that stood in her win.
doSs and stared cut at the naughty
world.
Bobbie slipped into a corner axay
from the crowd Of busting people and
looked on.
Presently the door-bell tinkled. and
another customer came in. He was a
tah man with a very brown face. and he
wore very shaggy coat that fen down
to his heels lie stood there at the door
and scanned the faces of the BUYERS. one
5y one Then be caught sight Of Bob.
oses eyes. and smiled down at him.
I'm looking foC sonebody.- he sid