The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-23
Bertie's Glasses.
BY HELENA

Bertie's Glasses.
BY HELENA MAYNARD.
IL ! should ask BERTHE what his most
valuable possession is, he would think
over his boyish treasures and De puzzled
to decide; and il I should tell him, as l
am going to tell You, that it is his pair of,
glasses he would open his eyes very
wide and say with establishment, "Why,
] never wear glasses; I haven't any
glasses"
Perhaps he would think I meant his
mother's gold. bowed ~spectacles that he
puts on once in awhile to see how he
looks; but l don't. Spectacles with gold
bows and diamond lenses-if they made
them-vouldn't begin to be as valuable
as Bertie's are, because when BERTHE is
looking through his, he is sure to be
happy. Why, the poorest boy in the
world who wears such q pair Of glasses
Is better of than the richest man with
out them.
II you keep using them, they will new
or wear out; and the more they are used.
the stronger and clearer they become.
"What do they look like?"-did you
ask? Indeed I can't tell, for / never
saw them; but il you wonder how I
know that he has them, l will tell you
about the excursion to Lake Herman.
BERTHE lives in one Of the new towns
on the Dakota prairies. Some Of the
ladies there think 1t is a dreary place to
live, because there are no trees; but Ber-
tie, looking through his glasses, sees all
the tiny naples and elms that have just
been planted, and thinks, ut won't be
long before they are big trees-and how
nice 1t will be to think I've seen them
all growl"
This lack Of trees wal one reason they
decided to rave the excursion / promised
to tell you about; for who could imagine
eating a picnic dinner anywhere except
under the trees.
"Won't it be splendid, mammal Ber-
tie exclaimed eagerly. 1.-THE superin.
tendent says Lake Herman is q beauti.
full lake, and there are lots Of big trees
there, and We are going to have swings
and would you take your fish lines?
and do you s'pose there will be a boat?'
A whistle sounded, and, exclaimipg
There's Nedw he rushed of without
waiting for an answer to his questions.
The excursion morning dawned bright
and clear. and when BERTHE joined the
crowd that were waiting at the depot,
he called to the first one he saw, "Isn't
it an A No. l dayf"
"I'm afraid It's going to be too hot"
the other answered; land do you know
the railroad charged 80 much for q pass
enger car that they couldn't afford to
pay it, aud 80 they have just got an old
fiat car and fixed it up with some board
seats. Won't it be horrid?"
Before Berthe could answer, the whis-
tie sounded and the train came putting
up to the depot; then BERTHE, looking at
their car through those valuable glasses
Of his, said, "Why, l think it's real nice;
we will have such a good chance to see
the country
Then, with a great deal of laughter
and some fretting, they we're packed in.
to the Car, all the crevices being filled
with baskets. "Dear me! how crowded
/ am! I can't stir an inchw grumbled
the boy at Bertie's right hand.
"There are lots OF folks here,' assent.
ed BERTHE. II was just beng glad that
there would be so much money to buy
our new library books"
"What q disagreeable breezer' saidNth
girl at Bertie's left hand, with a frown
On her pretty face hat was not as be
coming as q pair Of spectacles would
have been.
IL like it," answered BERTHE; "see how
it blows ali the smoke and cinders the
other way"
II believe you would like anything
BERTHE Ridge" the girl said, half amused
and half-vexed.
II advise you to get q pair Of Berries
SA0pCCcS W NAlo NOlC, DOI ~ y Lo0Cu
or, as she looked around from the seat il
front.
Both the children stared at her, won
dering what she meant; but they soor
forgot all about it in the interesting &C
count she gave them Of an excursion il
the Rocky Mountains, where she hae
spent the previous summer.
They asked her 30 many questions
about it that she had hardly finished
them when the train stopped IN the oper
prairie; they had been told that it woule
be necessary for them to walk a littl,
way to reach the lake, but when the,
found the "little way" was a mile, som,
were disposed to grumble.
"What a perfect shame" pouted thu
girl at Bertie's left.
"Well, I'm glad Of a chance to stretch
my legs, after sitting 30 long," was Der