The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-02-07

had she done? For the first time she
realized wildly that she had actually
given away what did not belong to her.
q viii show you my cups" said Mrs.
Randall, rising. Il have never seen
any like them. Ny father brought
them from Holland" She went TO the
cabinet.
Patty quaked helplessly. What a
naughty girl she had been! What
would grandma say? and, oh, the
ladies! She began to cry softly in
utter misery, behind the big chair.
Grandma put her hand confidently
to the back of the cabinet, then drew
it back, perplexed.
"Why, this is strange" she began,
turning; and then she noticed Patty's
frightened, tear-stained face. Instant
ly she remembered the child's quick
start and flush a moment before. What
was wrong?
But gTandma's tact was unfailing.
"They must be somewhere else" she
said, quietly. did 1 ever show you
this Venetian glass;" and the custaTd
cups were forgotten. Patty crept
away to bed all by herself.
As soon as the last guest was gone,
grandma came to Patty's room. The
little girl, wide awake and wretched,
popped up her head as grandma en-
tered.
Now, my little one" she began, in
her gentle way, 81 want to hear all
about the custard caps"
ooh, grandma, I have been such a
bad girl" sobbed Patty, lneeling up in
bed, and putting her arms around
grandma's neck. 81 truly thoughtyou
had forgotten all about them"
'But, my child, what if had forgot
ten, did that make it right for you to
take away my things?"
NO" walled Patty. But thought
they were so cunning, n I wanted to
take one of them to school to drink
out of stead of that rusty old dipper,
truly, grandma"
"Why didn't you ask grandma for
something then, instead of going off
slyly with one of my cups?"
'Cause-'cause"- faltered Patty.
Because you knew you ought not
carry one away without permission,
and you thought would not give it, IT."
finished Mrs. Randall, so gravely that
Patty disappeared under the bed
clothes.
NOW tell me where they all are, be-
sides the one you gave Sarah Carter,
Are they broken"
"No-O-tennyrate, I don't b'lieve so,
came a mufled and teary voice.
Patty, you don't mean to say you
have given them all away?"
NO" said Patty, her tumbled curls
emerging quickly. 81 didn't give one
away"
Glow did Sarah get hers, then?"
asked grandma, patiently.
81 didn't give it to her, truly didn't
She buyed it of me-truly she did
grandma. She gave me a big piece OF
slippery el-lum bark"
"Then you mean you sold them ALP"
"Yes'm. That isn't as bad as giving
them away, is it, grandma" asked
Patty, anXiously.
81 think it's a trife worse, my dear,
said grandma, dryly. "Now, how are
you going to buy them back?"
BUY them back?" gasped Patty.
Certainly. The cups are old and val
liable; but I prize them more because
my father bought them for me when
I was only 70 years old, Patty, because
I had learned to make custard, of which
he was very fond. I have never broken
one of them in all these so years"
"Oh dear! oh dear!" sobbed Patty
give eaten up the slippery el-lum, and
the maple sugar, and I've lost the blue
glass beads, an I left the folding-slate
outdoors and it's all showed up, an ]
can't find it, and Mac chewed up the
dolls hat that Julia gave me for hers
and I've forgotten what the other
things are. Oh, grandma, I've been the
baddest girl 1 ever have been!"
Then grandma gathered the fOrlorr
little bundle in her arms, and I cannot
begin to tell you all the wise, kind
words she said to her penitent littl,
granddaughter,
Patty was Mortified beyond words
when grandma told her that what sht
had done grown-uP people called steal
ing, and from that day she never
so much as touched a lump of sugar
that did not belong to her.
Grandma went to the mothers of al
the little girls, and explained enough
of the situation to them to get back he
cups. In each case she carried a littit
present, that the children might no
feel defrauded in what had been. tt
them, at least, an honest bargain.
One cup had been broken, and an
other could not be accounted for, bu
eventually ten found their way back t
a safe repose in the wide, black cab
met,
As for Patty, she was obliged to for
felt the privilege of wandering at vii
among gTandma's treasures, for the re
mainder of her visit Grandma full
fOrgaye her, but it was long befor
Patty ceased blushing scarlet whel
custard cups were intentionally. Y
Independent.