The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-10
THE PRINCES RETURN.
A Christmas Sketch.

A few small dead leaves came rustling
down Happy Court; the wind had
blown them of the poplar tree in the
4 corner by the pump.
Bobbie counted them, for he stood at
the window Of the shabbiest house in
the court with his nose flattened against
the windowpane.
"One. two. three, four, fivel" he said,
counting the dead leaves.
Presently he put his hand in his
pocket. and began jingling the pennies
there.
zone, two. three. four" he said. "Oh,
dear, but there ought to fbe five. For q
81 pen-wiper costs five, and the old lady
won't take any less!"
The house opposite had a tall green
Il bush showing at the window, and the
. three little Smiths were dancing around
it, making faces and reckoning across
to Bobbie.
mo, WON'T" said Bobbie, as though
they could hear him; 81 amt going to
come over. I'm going to stay here till
Sister Mary comes"
Just then tall girl turned the corner
of the street and came merrily up the
court. She had hair as yellow as Bob
bie's, and the same eyes of deep
brown. Bobbe rushed down the rick
ETY. stairs and opened the door for her.
did you see the butcher man, round
the corner, and his little pigs with the
holly in their mouths? And the candy
store with the pink and white Kriss
Kringles. and the grocery"
Eyes, yes, Bobbie," she said, patting
his eager head; "now let me sit down
awhile and rest myself, and then I'll tell
YOU Of all the fine sights I've seen to-
day."
j So Bobbie pulled out the big chair by
The window, and ran to hang up her hat
and coat. Staying in the lonesome
house all day long by himself had made
him as tidy and thoughtful as girl.
Then Mary sat down in the chair with
1 Robbie at her feet, and told him of all
THE wonderful things in the uptown,
shop windows.
Boobies eyes grew Like stars; he
4 sighed softly to himself, and in his ex-
citement pulled out the pennies from
ibis pocket and began counting them
lover once more.
It was poor little room; the carpet
. Twas so patched that it looked like a
coat threadbare. The paper on the wall
that had once been full of gay-colored
boughs and blossoms now showed only
few sickly leaves sprawling against
dingy white.
But the rosy little fire flickered and
futtered, and the sun falling in patch
upon the floor brought the poplar shad-
ows with it; and Bobbe's yellow hair
and Mary's together made warmth and
color for what would else have been a
dull picture.
So Mary came to the end of the sights
she had seen. and Bobbe asked:
rs that all? And it's most like the
prince. amt it. Mary?"
"a little" said Mary. smiling to her
self, for she knew what was coming
next.
"Once there was a prince" began
Bobbie; "was it long time ago, Mary?"
He always asked this question here,
and Mary always gave him the same an
swer. and sighed:
"A long time ago, Bobbie."
And he was tall and handsome and
young; and he dearly loved the prin-
cess"
And me was going to marry her."
said Mary. "and give her everything she
wanted, and then"
And then he went away" interrupt
ed Bobbie. "and never came back any
more"
Though as long as she lived. the
\ princess thought he would, and waited
for him" said Mary.
Bobhie always looked solemn when
they came to this part of the story.
In some inexplicable way he thought
that ne could remember the princess,
and that he had known her. And had
not her eyes been brown as his Mary's?
u feel sorry for the princess" he
sand. Then Mary kissed him.
de jmgled his pennies once more.
DO you think pen-wipers are nice,
Mary?"
Very NICE" said his sister; 'and
those little red and black ones around
The corner are just beautiful"
Amt they?" cried the delighted
Robbie. 1.-Two little black blocks and
one little red one. Oh. Mary, but they're
nve cents, and I've only got four!"
one held out the coveted penny.
- think Katie Smith might like one
lot Christmas gift"
Oh, no. no. mol" shouted Bobbie;
~ out it's not for Katie Smith. it's for"
men he put both hands over his fool
81 rttle mouth and chuckled SOFTLY.
IL, houd better go away, or you might
''i, me secrets" laughed Mary.
And Bobbie, chuckling harder than
"er' ran out into the street.
:, Inc little old lady who kept the little
Sa shop where he had spied the pen
m%.pers was very busy that afternoon.
.ue uny place was full of old-fashioned
Eopie who were buying her scarlet nit
ms or her dainty tasseled hoods and
eAe's' or even the glass-eyed Canton
Sunei elephants that stood in her win
world. ou' ~ '''e n"ue"''
boDbie RIfnnad sr+o <o.,n, o,r,o~