The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1897-04-29
WINNIE.


lear being so when she smiles; neith-
r is she exactly homely wher she is
lot smiling, though none of her fea-
lures is classical and she is slightly
reckled She does not dress in the
height of fashion, nor, on the other
land, does she ever look shabby or old
ashioned, though she does sometimes
wear made-over dresses and trimmed
Sver hats. She cannot really be called
accomplished, thou gh she can sing in
differently well, play a very little on
he piano and write an interesting let
er- In company she quite often can
aot think of anything to say, though
when with the girls she Is sometimes
lccused of talking too much. She is
aot brilliant scholar and she is not
by any means a dull one. In short,
she s just a common, everyday kind
If girl, like dozens you see every time
Tou go where there are many girls to
De seen
Perhaps l should not give the I'M
preston that she is exactly like other
girls, for she does have one peculiar
yift, and yet, after all, the only pecu-
dar thing about it is that she chooses
20 use it right along, while goc1 many
sther girls-and boys and grown peo-
pie, for that matter-though they have
The same gift, keep it locked up most
VI the time, and use it only on very par
dcular 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
unshine generator, though pocket is
The worst possible place for it.
To show how useful this little gift
nay be made in cloudy weather is my
reason for introducing you to Winnie,
FOR that is the name of this everyday
kind of a girl-Winnie Smith.
Winnie's life has not been marked by
my 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-
nj 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 ND.
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
1 moody expression of countenance.
The instant Winnie appeared on the
scene there was change, though all
lhe 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 were 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 he
lone on the way at a store. The girl
1t the counter had sat up nearly all
night nursing a sick brother and looked
and felt as cross as two sticks. Before
had fairly told her errand the
girl looked pleasanter; before the mar
eel was done up she smiled and as
disappeared through the door
the girl really looked as though she
thought the world a very nice place.
And all that Winnie had done was to
make a 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 a
yood-by when she turned to go.
As Winnie came out of the store she
caught sight of a 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,Ies-
Toned him, and found out that he was
cold, yes and hungry.
Dear me. this will never do?" said
Come with me, my little
man," and she led him across the street |
nto the grocery store. AS her school |
was at a considerable distance, from |
ler home. Winnie usually rode N the |
,ars one way, and so she had lust 5 |
,ents with her. With the cents she |
bought a puffy mince turnover and a |
shiny bun, and when she had asked the |
to let the boy sit beside the |
-adiator while he ate these 7eIicacies, |
The went on her way rejoicing.
The little boy gazed after her, his |
.heeks distended with pastry, and n /
grin of perfect content Oh lis dirty lit |
lie face.
The storekeeper, too, wac had been |
colding his chore boy in a frightful |
manner when Winnie opened the door,
low looked as mild as any lamb, quite /
in fact, and the cllore boy |
vas whist1ing softly 10 himself as he |
wiped the dust from a shelf.
Winnie walked brisIlly along, for 1t |
vas getting near school time good |
oany of the people she met glanced at