The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-04-19
"TO THE LEAST OF THESE
A. Touching Incident of Children's
DaY Exercises.

OF wealthy city CnurCn were passing in pro-
cession around from the Sunday school
rooms through the Hobbies and so into the
church, where crowds were assembled for
the Children's day observance. A ragged lit
tie girl heard the big organ as she passed
along, and when her sharp black eyes caught
sight of the little ones walking two by two in
their white dresses she crept in to be nearer.
No one spoke to her. She was amazed and
had vague thought that it must be heaven.
Each child carried on her arm crush
basket full of lovely white flowers. The old
er members of the school would bring bright
colored ones. These infant class tots were
all in white, with their baskets full of the
blossoms whose color matches their pure
young souls. The guiding teachers had step
ped in just before the last few pairs
Gimme a flower said the street child,
pointing to those on the arm of the last girl.
She had noticed the stranger with a sweet
smile.
lmpulsively she took the ribbon tied bas-
ket OF and held it out to the little girl. who
clutched it, with cry of delight and buried
her dirty face in it. It was all done in an in
slant, and then the last little girl realizing
what she had done in her generous haste.
followed the rest without any flowers to
strew at the foot of floral cross that was to
stand when finished in bed of white blos-
SONS. No one noticed the lack except the
ch1ld's mother, who had slung the white rib
bons carefully over her darling's arm when
dressing her that morning. But to the timid
little one it seemed as if the eyes of the
whole church were upon her and as if all who
saw her would think: There is one who has
no flowers to lay at the foot of the cross.
Sne must nave been careless and forgotten
or lost Them She was glad when the exer-
clses were over and she could tell her mother
how it happened.
Never mind, my darling You gave them
TO COD just as much as if you had brough
them into the church." said the mother.
perhaps the little girl needed them more
than any one else in this big CITY lust now.
Who knows:'
In few weeks the light had gone out of
the house where the sweet child lived, be-
cause she had left it forever. While her
oesolate mother sat alone one day there
came message from poor woman. and as
the poor were the only visitors she could not
turn away in those dark days she went down
stairs.
woman, with face whose only redeem
ing feature was its big blue eyes, so marred
mad 1t been by evil, was waiting
I'VE see tn Grape on tn door tn other dav.
Was it yer only one, MISUSE she asked. COM
ing to the point at once.
MY only one" replied the mother her ewes
filling with the tears that were always ready
to rise.
"Ah, I'm sorry!' exclaimed the woman
throwing up her arms 1T must be the
same, thin, as give tn flowers to my CURL
Katy
She brought from beneath her shawl
soiled crush basket filled with faded flowers,
the white ribbons dragged and dirty.
Here it is, mum. It's th'very same yer lit
tie one gave my Kate on Children's day in
the church, for my Kate followed her home
ter see where she lived. An tn other day
she tould me some one was dead here. so
come to see, thinkin yer might like this bas-
ket, cause it was tn one she carried But 1
waut ter ask if yell let me kape tn ribbon as
was inside. We found it when we was water
ing tn flowers
She produced white band, forgotted by
the mother, but on which to please her child
she had printed in gold letters and tucked in
with the flowers where it would not be seen,
| because it was touch that the other child
| ren's baskets did not have. On it were the
words, IAN Offering to God''
1T done me good said the woman vehe-
| mently Il amt goin ter drink ner hurt my
Kate more, as I've begun to kape things a
| bit tidier an mebbe git time to go out washin.
It's bin a-starin at me from tn glass where
Katy pinned it, and couldn't help dom diff
Trent An when she telled me bout there
bein some trouble here had ter come. I
| knowed if twas her yer'd like the basket,
| cause 'twould put yer in mind o. the good
she done.''
| For answer the weeping mother held out
the bit of ribbon, which the woman took in
her sodden fingers.
"God bless yer, ma'am,'' she exclaimed
with difficulty though I says it that
shouldn't
Then. she stole softly out, leaving the
mourning mother holding the precious
basket closely in her arms, as if It would
comfort her. And SO indeed it did.
ANNIE ISABEL WILLIS.