Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-13
WINNIE.

Within 100 miles Of my town there
lives girl. Her age is somewhere be-
tween 13 and 10 years. She is not
exactly pretty, though she comes very
near being so when she smiles; Meth
er is she exactly homely when she is
not smiling. though none of her fea
lures is classical and she is slightly
freckled. She does not dress in the
height Of fashion, nor, on the other
hand, does she ever look shabby or old
fashioned, though she does sometimes
wear made-over dresses and trimmed
over hats. She cannot really be called
accomplished, though she can sing in
differently we'll, play very little on
the piano and write an interesting let
ter. In company she quite often can
not think of anything to say, though
when with the girls she is sometimes
accused of talking too much. She is
not brilliant scholar and she is not
by any means a dull one In short,
she just common, everyday kind
of girl, like dozens you see every time
you go where there are many girls to
be seen.
Perhaps I should not give the i'm
preston that she is exactly like other
girls, for she does have one peculiar
gift, and yet, after ALL the only pecu-
liar thing about it is that she chooses
to use it right along, while good many
other girls-and boys and grown peo-
pie, for that matter-though they have
the same gift, keep it locked up most
Of the time, and use it only on very par
ticular occasions.
The only thing l can compare this
gift to, at the moment, is bit of the
sun, and it might be called a pocket
sunshine generator, though 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 everyday
kind Of girl-Winnie Smith
Winnie's life has not been marked by
any startling events, and certain win
ter day, not long ago. will serve my
purpose as well as any other.
She rose, then. little later than usu-
al 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 downstairs to
breakfast.
Breakfast wasn't quite ready. The
baby was crying. his fists doubled I'D,
and very 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 countenance.
The instant Winnie appeared on the
scene there was a change, though all
she said was "Good morning." The
baby stopped crying and held out his
arms to Winnie. who took him and be-
gan talking to him; Mrs. Smiths brow
became smooth and 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 five
minutes the baby was sitting in his
high chair pounding the tray with his
two little fists and Growing, while the
rest of the family We're laughing at his
energy and good spirits as they ate
their breakfast and cheerfully dis
cussed their plans for the day.
At about s 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 as cross as two sticks. Before
Winnie had fairly told her errand the
girl looked pleasanter; before the par
eel was done up she smiled and as
Winnie disappeared through the door
the girl really looked as though she
thought the world q 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 Of unnecessary boxes
from the shelves, because she saw the
girl was tired, and to smile and nod q
good-by 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 q,,es-
toned him, and found out that he was
cold. yes, and hungry. 1.
Dear me. this will never dor said
Winnie. "Come with me, my little
man." and she led him across tie street
into the grocery store. As her school
was at considerable distance from
her home. Winnie usually rode IN the
cars one way. and 30 she had just 5
cents with her. With the 8 cents she
bought a putty mince turnover and a
shiny bun, and when she had asked tine
storekeeper to let the boy cit beslde the