Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-01
A GIRLS PRIZE STORY.
The Next Generation OF Southern
Female Writer'S Heard From.


Female Writers Heard From.
The following tale was chosen by a
committee OF citizens of Nashville as
the one to receive the first prize OF SIS
offered by the Nashville American for
the best story written by boy or
girl under twelve years of age:
A NECKLACE.
Come. Teddy, wrap your muifier
around you and carry this package
up to Judge Morgan's for his daugh.
ter. Miss Mary is to wear il at the
grand Christmas party tonight, and
be sure don't forget 70 ask Tor the
money, for little Gertie has a high fe-
VET. and think a hot cup of tea would
help her; poor child, she has had moth.
lng TO eat all day."
Ted started of thinking OF the many
things his mother needed and could
get with the mCney. The sidewalk
was all sleeted over, but he at last
reached the grand house, where MISS
Mary was impatiently awaiting her
dress. The house was all lighted up
and filed with the prefume OF fruit
and flowers. Ted had never seen any
thing so beautiful in all his life before.
The servant took the package up
stairs TO Miss Mary and delivered
Tcd's message TO please send the mon
ey. AS his little sister was sick at nome
and had nothing TO eat. "Pshaw,"
cried the young lady. "Tell him to 90
home without it: / can't be worried
now TO pay him. Some other time
will do as we'll When the servant
told Ted what was said his heart gave
great throb, and sobhing he sank
down on the doorstep thinking OF his
| poor mother and sister in their cold,
bleak garnet. but little Matte Morgan
heard and saw II all and felt so sorry
/ for Ted that she went in the dining.
loom and brought Ted a big
nice orange saying never
mind little boy, il was real mean of
my sister Mary not to give you your
money. Ted took the orange, think
ing which he should give it to his
mother or sister. Matte looked at
| him for a moment, and then putting
her hand up to her neck she unclasped
a lovely necklace and said, take this,
| little boy. and give IL to your little
sick sister, or you can sell it at the
| jewellers and that will give you money
enough TO buy all you want for Xmas.
besides what your mother needs. 30,
no. could not do that" cried Ted.
not do that" 30, do please take il"
she said. So Ted, ON his way back
home, stopped at the biz store on the
corner and asked Mr.. Merriman If he
! would buy the necklace. No. indeed, !"
said the merchant. for you have
I stolen this, il is the very necklace
sold Judge Morgan last week" Then
he called in great big policeman
to hold Ted while he sent W
the street for Judge Morgan to
come. Poor Ted cried like his
heart would break. and said he
did not steal it. When little Matte
saw her father button on his great
! overcoat and 20 with the messenger
out into the street she guessed what
il was all about; so she threw hei
cloak around her and followed them,
and heard her father say that the
necklace was hers, and poor Ted cry,
and saw the policeman start out with
him to the iail. Then she pushed on
and cried:
ooh. papa! lie did not steal it.
/ rave il to him, because my sister
would not pay him, and his mother
and little sister are starving at home,
and YOU shan't take him to jail.
judge Morgan was deeply mortified
at this, and begged Ted's pardon. Id
then gave Ted n $40 bill and said: !.
Come with me, my lad. and ! will
select YOU some good things for Christ
mas. am sorry you were accused
of a crime which you did not do. Fol
low me. now, and I will send few
things to your mother"
They went to grocery shop, wher'
Judge Morgan bought -four. meal
butter, tea and bottle oil wine
Then they went to a clothing stor'
and bought a nice warm shawl for his
mother. n pair OF mittens for Gertie
and new muller for Ted. All tn,
things were put in a basket. 1t would
have been heavy, but Ttd's heart wa
light, and that made the basket light,
So, with CAV heart, Ted carried y
home and up the rickety stairs to hi.
mother. She cried, too, and so die
Gertie. but Ted's mother was afraio
IL had not come right; but still sh'
had never known Ted to be dishonest
But ANYHOW that Christmas eve night
thew had a good supper and sound
happy sleep. But early the nex'
morning they heard mans step out
side the door, then some one knocked
Now, poor woman, she expected to sex
a policeman, but when she said come
in. Judge Morgan entered. and told hel
ali abo ut il, and said that Mr.. Merri
man wanted boy just like Ted &c
work in his store. She cried anC
thanked HIM a great many times, ane
said that Ted might go. Many year
have passed, and Ted is grown III
man. He has bought the store ane
il now the proprietor. One day whit
Ted was in his store pale little WON
an came in and wanted to sell 8
necklace; when she raised her veil Tee
recognized the little Matte OF hi
childhood. She told him her fathe
was paralyzed. and she had to sup
mort him, and as he looked at tn
necklace he remembered that 1t wa
the same one she gave him. But the!
did not get married, for Matte mar