The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-21
ANNIE's 41rAFs.n

Annie Martirdale was very ktte girl
You could count how old she was on
one OF her own small hands. When you
had said 'one" for the thumb. two" for
the first finger, and three for the mid
die fiager, and -four" for the third finger,
and five" for the little finger, you had
told the story, for Annie was only five
years old.
She had no brothers and sisters, and
all tine neghbors were grown up people;
but she was happy little girl, and knew
how ito play story.
This Is the way she played It: Mann
ma or papa read her a story, while An
ME listened with an her wight. Then
she slipped away to act, a,s well as sue
could, as they DID in the story. 1t was a
lovely play.
The summer was very dry and dusty,
but Annie did not mind, she was so busy
playing story. Down the street there was
sick man. He had bsen a very bad
man, and now he was Sick Annie did
not know much about badness, but she
was glad when she heard about the sick
man, for now she could play a story she
had never had a chance to play before.
1t was THE story OF the ltttfe girl who
took flowers to sick people, and made
them we'll.
But there was one thing that made her
look sober. There were no flowers.
There had been few, but she had pick
ed them all, and they had w-thered, be-
fore she knew about the sick man.
Annie sat down to think. She thought
a long time, FIVE minutes, maybe--a min
ute for every year she was old.
II win go and see the SEX man." she
said when she had finished thinking.
"P'r'aps he doesn't like flowers, and
then leafs WIFI do"
1t was not far from the house where he
was, and the nurse let her in. Every
body almost always said yes to Annie.
There he hay on the bed, and his eyes
were closed. Annie stood by and looked
at him, and her heart beat fast, for she
was afraid. But she DID not run away.
Presently the sick man opened his
eyes. He did not smile at the little girl.
Instead he scowled. Poor fellow. He
could not forget how bad he had been,
and he thought nobody liked him.
do you like fiowers?' asked Annie.
And her voice was very sweet
mo-" said the sick man, and shut his
eyes again.
Then Annie STOLE out and ran home.
Leafs will do, leafs will do" she said.
Inn so glad"
Mrs. Martindale was Sitting on the
porch reading when Annie reached home.
Mamma, with you Let me have some
leafs, please? lots Of leafs Of all kinds
I've got to make the sex man WE'LL"
YES" said mamma, II will"
She did not ask any questions, for she
was used to having Annie play story.
So she brought out the step-ladder and
the pruning shears, and shipped of
bundhes of oak and apple and elm and
maple and cherry leaves, and some
sprays Of larch.
"Oh, thank you, mamma! you did get
me lot, didn't your
Mamma smiled.
Give me a kiss for them, darling"
she SAID.
Annie promptly gave the kiss, and then
began to examine her leaves.
These leafs are too dirty for the sick
man. Oughtnrt they to be wasihed?"
"Yes, lttEle daughter take them to
Norah."
"An' it's maxim the sick man well,
is !t?" asked the indulgent Norah. Sure
an I'm wash 'em for ye. Leafs Is an
hegant medicine, I'm thinlxin', Il only ye
DON'T be attn 'em. He'd better be hold
in 'em list Ike they was flowers"
"Yes," said the delighted child
'An' here they are, clane an shintn',
an have ye a kiss about ye for Norah?"
Yes, Annie had kiss.
When the sick man opened his eyes
again, there stood Annie holding mass
Of cool, green in her hands, He did not
scowl this time.
Whats them for?" ne asked and his
voice was so weak that It made Annie
sorry.
For you," she said, timldly.
The man looked at her.
Hand 'em here" he said.
The child obeyed.
Nothing butt leaves" he quoted, sad
ly.
why, you said you didn't like flow
ers," explained Annie, "and there aren't
any, either. But guess leafs will make
you wen, same as flowers. If you don't
eat EN-"
The man looked ait her over the leaves
he was feeIbly holding.
Make me we'll" he repeated.
Yes" answered Annie, confidently.
when there aren't any flowers, leafs
will do, cause they have to-"
Leaves will do" cr,ed the man, and a
light shone IN his eyes. Lord, take the
leaves, and give me but one more chance
for the flowers and the fruit"
Then Annie went home But the Lord
heard the cry and gave the man his
Chances, s. Times