Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-27

Wn1cn was very embarrassing ana uhut Rupert's little face very red in its tan gle of golden hair. He put down Jacot and hauled in on the string until Jacob lost his equilibrium entirely, and then he let it out again. They persuaded him to have some of the lemonade, which he liked immensely, but "the boy" took him uuceremoniously up on his knee and asked how old he was, which is s blow to would Do dignity. Rupert said Five" wriggled away and sat on the steps and told his story. General inter. est was aroused.
 Let's all help, and you make the prettiest dinner cards you can"
 T will, " said the boy.
 I'm very much obliged, '" said Ru. pert, gathering up Jacob, land you all come. You look so pretty it will be like party. Julia won't mind" They all accepted.
 Friday afternoon Rupert gathered daisies in the meadow, and Jacob help ed-at least he looked out for stray frogs and was ''goOd company" They took them home and rested and had their supper of bread and milk on the back porch-Mrs Ware was away until evening on Fridays-and thendisappear. ed down the road to the village. By and by Rupert went back to the meadow and gathered the rest of the daisies alone.
 The sky behind St. Michael's spire was rose color and gold. and a most slender silver moon shore over the tons of the trees. When he had carried the daisies across the meadow, the sunset had faded to q silver gray, the moon had gone, one big star was reflected in the brook below the hill, and it was growing very cold. Rupert sat down by the stone wall, and two tears rolled down his cheeks. The windows of the little church glOwcd with soft light
 The sexton was preparing for Friday eyensOng Suddenly the world seemed very big and widc and the child lay face down in the grass and cried and cried. There the boy found him, and picking him up carried him and the daisies home and told Julia to put him to bed, while he himself put the daisies to sleep i'll a tub i'll the cellarway. Then he had to race across the meadow to be iu time tO play.
 The next morning he brought ovel the dinner cards-even Rupert was satis- fled with them - and staid long while ill the kitchen sticking the go pink candles on the birthday cake and talking quietly and sensibly all the time. The market man came in like il flash and threw q goose on the table. It was marked Paid" Julia was bewil- dered. ''The boy'' disclaimed all knowledge of it and went home.
 n table. He knew just how to settle the daisies ill the big punch bowl and put things just right, with daisies and a dinner card at each plate. and all the time the goose smclled very good. Ru- pert was afraid it would "givo them away just too soon," but it was per. feet surprise-the pretty table, the three pretty girls, ''the boy" the dai- sies, the goose, the apple sauce, the birth, day cake, the candles and Rupert beam- ing away from tho other end of the ta. ble.
 "WhO planned it all:' said Mrs. Ware when they were in the little par. Tor later on, with gay little fire on the hearth and Michaelmas daisies showing hravcly from every point of vantage. The boy" was playing softly  on the piano, the girls were in a pretty group on the hearth rug, wondering why they had never appreciated Mrs. Ware before, and she and Rupert Were in tine big wicker chair in the broad tirelight
 Jacob and He planned it all, " Ru- pert answered. '' The boy did most of 1t, and the girls were kind, and they look so pretty, and the winter was com ing. and Julia doesn't like us in the kitchen. and soon the frogs will be gone the goose was Jacob. couldn't eat any myself. '"
 There was an odd little silence after this until the boy" began to play Chopin's impromptu in A flat.
 The next day Rupert had his hair cut quite close, like a boy." Mrs. Ware gathered it up as it fell, took it home and laid it tenderly in a little drawer. She was smiling, and yet there were tears i'll her eyes. She was think ing of Jacob and me. ."-Churchman.