St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-08-06
THE PEARL LOCKET.
How a Kind Word Brought a Sure Re

How Kind Word Brought Sure Re
ward.
When Marcia was 10 years old
her mother gave her garden party.
The colored cook, who lived in the
family before Marcia was born,
made for her large cake, all white
M with frosting, and put on it 10 little
candies, one for each year Of her life,
says the Philadelphia Times.
When Marcia was dressed for the
party her grandmothe called her to
her side, and tied around her neck a
q beautiful pearl locket.
was little girl" she said. Now
that you are old enough to take care
of it, give it to you"
This completed Marcia S happiness,
for she had always thought the
locket the prettiest thing she had
ever saw.
Kissing her grandmother, she
cried, Thank you grandmother.
You saved it for me till l had two
Figures in my age-I will keep it all
my life"
And away she ran to the gate to
Receive her little friends, who came
bringing her great handfuls of
flowers.
4 Just outside the gate and peeping
eagerly through, Marcia saw very
ragged, dirty little negro girl.
"Oh, Marcia y said one of the chill
dren, Il wouldn't let that ugly
creat ure look in at my party"
Marcia gave quick glance at the
child, and saw her eager face sudden
ly change with all expression of fear
and disappointment. Leading her
friends to another part of the ward
she ran back, and slipping her hand,
filled with roses, through the fence,
she dropped them into the little
T dark hand and said =
+ Stay and look at my party as
long as you please"
Fl All the afternoon, while they were
playing games, whenever Marcia
game near the gate, she would glance
Is milingly at the dusky face pressed
against the palings. And after
Is Supper was eaten from the table on
Che lawn Marcia filled a plate with
i he best of everything, and that
went over the fence to the hands
stretched out to receive 1t.
81 When the party was over it was
Zoo late for the children to go home
|alone, so Marcia father said he
Would take them, and Marcia
Begged to go also. The little color
ed girl was still standing near the
gate both as they went out and re-
furned. Just as Marcia entered the
gate she put hands to her throat to
Heel the precious locket
NJ 1t was gone.
L "Oh, papa!" she exclaimed, my
lpcket is gone"
mo doubt you lost it romping !
about the yard" said her father 1t
IS too dark to find it now We will |
Epme very early in the morning to
BOX for it,
Marcia had to be content with
his, but she scarcely slept all night
trom thinking Of the lost locket and
Rnd fearing to tell her grandmother
hbout it.
Early next morning her father
ealled her and they went out to-
Either to search for the locket. To
Narcia's great surprise the little
fblored girl was sitting on the steps
81 a1ting for them, and i'll her hand
he held the locket.
"Oh, where did you get it ?" cried
a arcia, joyfully.
This was her answer: Hearing
arcia say the night before that the
6cket was lost, she came at day.
treak, before any one was out, to
|Qok for it. Not finding it in the
ard she had followed the direction
ken by Marcia and her father in
FRYING the children home and soon
Nv it glittering in the early morn
.ng light upon the sidewalk
She was not honest by nature and
70 one had ever taught her that it
as wrong to steal, so when she
ED the pretty thing in her hand,
M wing no idea of its value, she was
n first strongly tempted to keep it
u her own. But the memory of
1arcia's kindness quickly drove
Eay all such thoughts, and she
Fought it to its owner.
4 When she left with Marcia s thanks
I'D the bright silver dollar that
Iarcia's father had given her-far
pre- valuable in her eyes than the