Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-01

was deep down in the doorway-it was,
as remember, the doorway of land
agents office, and seemed to be but
rarely visited. The little maid had her
back turned to me and was slowly
counting over small quantity of small
coins, her gains apparently from her
Maytime mummery. She was SO occu-
pied with her task that when got near
to her she did not notice my coming
and / was looking over her shoulder
before she became conscious OF my
presence and turned with little start.
'sWhat are you going to do with all
that money!" / said to her, with a
smile that intended to be reassuring.
Apparently it was reassuring, for the
little lass, who had at first clenched up
her coppers in her little fists and put
her fists behind her back, now brought
them forward again and smiled back at
me as she unfolded her small and
rather dirty palms, and displayed the
wealth they contained
1t was not much wealth after all I
think it came to about five pence half
penny all told. but it was evident to me
that the little girl regarded it as very
serious property.
ssWell," said, won't you tell me
"Adt YOU SO1AS " 0O Will Oil
that money? Come. let me contribute
something" and I laid a sixpence on
top of the pile of hot halfpence in her
right hand.
The little girls face flushed with
pleasure while she thanked me, which
she did with a certain gravity that is
occasionally to be met with among the
children of the extremely poor. 1 could
see that she now regarded me worthy
of confidence. With the gravity of a
small chancellor of the exchequer she
proceeded to unfold to me the scheme
of her little budget The sudden in
PRODUCTION of an element Of silver into
the bronze had not upset. it had only
enlarged, her financial calculations
1t appeared that mother was wash
erwoman, and twopence out of the sum
was to be laid out in the purchase OF
bloaters for mother, a deliacy, it ap-
peared, of which the good woman was
fond. Then there was little brother
who was not as strong as he might be,
and upon him penny was to be laid
out-at least that was the original pur-
pese-in the most elaborate way. For
he was to have a farthing story book,
and farthing cake. and a farthing
| stick of sweetstuff, and farthing ap-
pie. My unforeseen iberality had slight
ly expanded the possibilities and he was
| to have a halfpenny-worth of each of
these pleasures for mind and body.
So the little maid ran on. Twopence
was to go into mothers money box,
| whole penny was to be devoted to buy
ing bunch of flowers for the girl in
| the court who had so much sewing to
do, and who loved flowers SO dearly. I
forget exactly all the details of the lit
tie creatures scheme, but they were all
| informed by the same unaffected spirit
of benevolence.
When she had come to an end asked
her question: ''But what are you go
| ing to get for yourself?''
She did not at first quite seem to IN
derstand my meaning, and she re-
enumerated most of her purposes. When
she had finished repeated my ques-
ton. This time she understood me and
she shook her little head till the paper
crown ruStled.
81 don't want nothing" she said;
sTve got all I want, Mother IL give
| me bit of her bloater, and 1 know
Bobb IL want me to take bite of bis
| apple"
do not know that ever entertain
| very high opinion of my own merits,
but do not think that ever seemed
| smaller in my own regard than seemed