Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-02

nm IN when she smiles
VIVIAN neither is she eX'
" actly homely when
" she isn't smiling,
though none of her features are classi.
cal, she is slightly freckled. She
doesn't dress in the height of fashion,
nor, ON the other hand, does she even
look shabby or old fashioned, though
she does sometimes wear made over
dresses, and trimmed over hats. She
can't really be called accomplished,
though she Gun sing inditferently well,
play very little on the piano, and
write an interesting letter. In COM
pany she quite often cannot think of
anything to say, though when with
the girls she is sometimes accused Of
talking too much. She isn't brilliant
scholar, and she isn't by any means a
dull one. In short, she is just COM
mon, every day kind OF girl, like
dozens you see every time you go
where are many girls to be seen.
Perhaps should not give the i'm.
preston that she is exactly like other
girls, for she does have peculiar gift ;
and yet, after all, the only peculiar
thing about it is that she chooses to
use it right along, while II good many
other girls-and boys and grown PEG.
pie, for that matter-though they
have the same gift, keep it locked up
most OF the time, and use it only on
very particular occasions.
The only thing l can compare this
gift to, at the moment, is bit of the
sun, and it might be called Il pocket
sunshine generator, though a pocket
is the worst possible place for it,
TO show how useful this little gift
may be made in cloudy weather is my
reason for introducing you to Winnie,
for that is the name of this every day
kind of girl-Winnie Smith.
Winnie's life has not been marked
by any startling events, and certain
winter day, not long ago, will serve
my purpose as we'll as another.
She rose, then, little later than
usual that morning. 1t was cold in
her room, and she laughed to hear her
teeth chatter together as she made a
quick toilet, and then ran down stairs
to breakfast.
Breakfast wasn't quite ready. The
baby was crying, bis fists doubled up
and quite red in the face; Mrs. Smith,
with an anxious brow, was trying to
pacify him, while Mr.. Smith was re-
reading the last nights newspaper
with moody expression of counte-
nance.
The instant Winnie appeared on the
scene there was change, though all
she said was "Good morning" The
baby stopped crying and held out his
arms to Winnie, who took him and
began talking to him; Mrs. Smiths
brow became tranquil as she rose to
finish setting the food on the table,
and Mr.. Smith smiled over the top of
his newspaper. In less than i've min.
utes the baby was sitting in his high
chair pounding the tray with his two
little fists and growing, while the rest
OF the family was laughing at his en-
ergy and good spirit as they ate their
breakfast and cheerfully discussed
their plans for the day.
At about 8 O'Clock Winnie started
to school, for there was an errand to be
done on the way at store. The girl
at the counter had sat up nearly all
night nursing sick brother, and
looked and felt cross as two sticks.
Before Winnie had fairly told her
errand the girl looked pleasanter; be-
fore the parcel was done up she smiled,
and as Winnie disappeared through
the door the girl really looked ms
though she thought the world a very
nice place.
And all that Winnie had done was
to make few pleasant remarks about
the weather and prevent the girl from
taking down lot ofunnecessary boxes
from the shelves, because she saw the
girl was tired, and to smile and nod
goodby when she turned to go.
As Winnie came out OF the store she
caught sight of little ragged boy sit.
ting on the curbstone. A large tear
was rolling down his grimy cheek and
he looked the picture of woe. Winnie
stopped and spoke to him, and ques.
toned him, and found out that he was
cold, yes, and hungry.
"Dear me, this will never do I" said
Winnie. "Come with me, my little
man." and she led him across the
street into grocery store. As her
school was at considerable distance
from her home, Winnie usually rode
in the cars one way, and so she had
just five cents with her. With the
five cents she bought puffy mince
turnover and a shiny bun, and when
she had asked the storekeeper to let
the boy sit beside the radiator while
he ate these delicacies, she went on
her way rejoicing.
The little boy gazed after her. his
cheeks distended with pastry, and a
grin of perfect content on his dirty
little face.
The storekeeper, too, who had been
scolding his chore-boy in frightful
manner when Winnie opened the
door, now looked as mild as any
lamb, quite benevolent, in fact, and
the chore'boy was whistling softly to
himself as he wiped the dust from a
shelf.
Winnie walked briskly along, for
it was getting near school time. A
good many of the people she met
glanced at her as they passed, and the
glance seemed somehow TO have
cheering effect upon them, for their
eyes frightened, and they stepped
more quickly and held their heads
little higher.