The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-06-21
"LEADIN'S." Il"
How Mrs. Lloyd Found Happiness
by Following Them.

by FOlOWlng mem.
A pretty woman, who looked sad,
sat in front of bright fire in a parlor
in the Waldorf hotel in New York. She
was in black, and the morning paper
lay in her lap; she was not reading, but
thinking Here l am rich and all
alone, and so much suffering this hard
year-the papers all full of it; and yet
/ don't know one single soul that can
help my own self this sad day. I'd
like to make a bright day for some
body that l can see enjoy it; / am tired
of giving checks that only give me just
the trouble of writing them, and no
pleasure" Just then, as she thought
sadly of the past, when she had so
many to love her, she seemed to hear
the voice of the kind old nurse at home,
who often said: "Jest foller yer lead
ins, honey-'jest keep follerin', and
God'll lead you somewhar all de time" I"
"I'll do it," she said; IN go out and
foller my leadin's to-day, and see where
they bring me-"
In little while she was walking
quickly down Broadway with the
throng. Il think l will cross over"
she thought, at corner, and then sew
eral wagons of various sorts came by,
and she turned bach into the crowd GO
ing down town. her heart was full Of
sadness; but it was her nature to look
out for the bright things, and she
stopped in front of two windows that
joined, although each belonged to a
different store. One was full of flow
ers, and the other of fruits and some
rare early vegetables. The tomatoes
and mandarin oranges looked fresh and
tempting as they lay close to the pane
which had strealSs of frost on it, for it
was a very cold day for the last of
March. The flowers that filed the
other window were exquisite Easter
lilies, holding up great spikes of bloom,
orchids hanging with their queer
shapes all across the front of the glass,
pinks and roses, delicate maidenhair
ferns, forget-me-nots and bright daffo-
dis, and many others--all made q pic
ture of delight; and she stood looking
at them long time, sadly and yet
with pleasure. While she stood there
a little girl, about eleven years old
holding box in her hands and with a
basket or her arm, stopped also, and
that Mrs. Lloyd felt that she must say
to her: you love them, don't you?"
The child looked up with pair of
soft, trustful eyes and said: ''Oh yes
ma'am; don't you? And l love those,
too," and she moved little toward the
other window; mother loves those lit
tie oranges"
"They look nice" Mrs. Lloyd said
81 think love the lilies best" the
child said; 1--WE used to have so many
flowers when we lived in Florence; but
they cost too much in this country"
"Did you live in Florence long?" said
Mrs. Lloyd.
81 was born there" said the child.
'We only came to this country a year
ago-to my grandma's, in Savannah;
and then she died, and we came here.
My father paints pictures. Doyou like
pictures?" she said, looking up
VERY much," said the lady, who was
looking at her with such friendly eyes
that the child felt more and more like
talking to her.
my father paints beautiful pictures;
but it's too hard times to sell them
now, he says; and so my mother makes
things, aud l take them to the ex-
change"
What exchange?" said Mrs. Lloyd.
"Why, the Woman's exchange, on
Fifth avenue, you know; and then l go
to market with the money - cause
mother can't, the baby's so fretty now;
she's getting teeth"
Dear me-" thought Mrs. Lloyd, 81
think that Aunt Sally was right; this
must be leading, first thing. Blu,
now how shall go to work to help
them?"
But the child did that herself, for she
said: "My father has got picture in a
store over on Fifth avenue. If you'o
come over there, I'd show it to you; it's
in the window"
"Yes, Id be glad to; Pm just taking
walk" said Mrs. Lloyd.
81 have to cross here anyway" the
child said II come this way to lool
into this window; it's really shorter
the other way, but / do love the flow
ers so, and then I tell mother abou'
them. We get to the exchange first. 1
you don't mind waiting there minut,
for me. The picture is on the way
home"
Soon they reached the door Of tn
exchange, and the child went into tn
basement door to deliver her bundles
She took out q delicious looking mol
of jelly, and from the basket some del
icate little cakes Mrs Lloyd wa
looking on, aud said: why, thos
cakes look exactly like some that
used TO have when was child in tn
south" ~
"Yes," said the woman who wa
taking the things; some ladies sal
the othAFday that they were real south
en- caksA" ssdztYs M $500 Z