The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-07


at was real good of that pretty
little miss to give Phoebe her bonnet;
wasn't it, Mother?" said Mary Ann.
Very good" answered Mrs. Glenn
ents, hitching nearer to the window;
she was SO anxious to finish the last
buttonhole by daylight.
There was another pause, then an
other deep breath, and another ques-
ton.
"Do you s'pose the little miss's
mother scolded her when she got
home7"
Mary AIMS gray eyes were very
serious as she asked this question;
but her mother, intent on that last
buttonhole, did not look around at
her.
"Scold herr" she repeated, in a
far away tone. "What fora"
"Why, she gave her bonnet away,
you know, without asking her moth
er if she might" said Mary Ann, with
that earnest, puzzled look still on her
face.
"Oh,well," answered Mrs. Clements,
breaking off her thread with salts
fed air, "of course it would have been
better to have asked; but suppose
she was long way from home, and
it was an act of kindness, and I guess
her mother didn't scold her"
Mary Ann looked relieved. After
little more thinking she woke up
the kitten, tied an apple to string,
and went in for a nice frolic until
supper time.
When Mary Ann started for school
the next morning, it was bitter cold /;
but she was wrapped up from head
to foot SO warmly that only her nose
was exposed to the air, and there was
SO little of that, that it really did not
matter.
She had pleasant day at school,
and spoke her piece in such loud
clear voice, and with SO much ex-
preston that the children listened
spellbound, quite as if they had not
heard it twenty times before. The
teacher smiled at her, and said: Every
we'll, indeed, Mary Ann" and she
came down from the platform, COW
cred with glory and confusion.
After school the big girl she liked
best put on her wraps for her, and
she started off home, very proud
and happy little girl.
Mary AIMS home was some dis
lance from the village; and just in the
coolest, loneliest part of the road
she met two strange little figures.
One was boy of nine or ten years,
with tow colored hair, big blue eyes,
and a mild pink face, and he was
leading by the hand wee little girl.
Both children were scantily clothed
in faded rags, and the younger was
crying pitifully.
At sight of these forlorn objects,
Mary Ann stopped. In her short
life she had known only the thrifty
New England people of the village,
and it was her first glimpse at real
poverty.
"What is the matter with herr
she asked of the blue-eyed boy.
"She have cold an hunger" said
the boy, simply; "Me, too"
Mary Ann stood doubtfully. The
words had strange sound, and il
took her sometime to get their mean
ing.
"Cold" she cried, presently. col
course she's coldl Why didn't you
put on her coat and mittens? The
poor little thingp she added, with
indignation.
The boy looked at her, only hall
understanding what she said.
"Why don't you go home to youl
mother?" asked Mary Ann, severely
mo got home" said the boy, with
sad smile. mo got mudder."
Mary AIMS gray eyes darkened
She took doughnut from her basket
and gave it to the little girl, who
seized upon it greedily. The boy
gave her a grateful smile. Mary
AIMS eyes grew darker still. She
set her basket on the snow, and pull
ing off her mittens, thrust them into
the boys hands.
"Put them on her quick!" said
Mary Ann.
The boy hesitated, then did as he
was told, saying something to the
little one in queer cultural jargon
The child looked up with shy smile
Mary Ann looked at them a mo
ment, then unbuttoned her long
thick coat and pulled it off.
"Here," she said, her voice trembl