Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-22
THE PRINCES RETURN.

oIoWn them OH tne poplar Tree IN IAe
corner by the pump.
Bobbie counted them, for he stood
at the window of the shabbiest house
in the court with his nose fattened
against the window-pane.
Zone, two, three, four, five" 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.
ooh, dear, there ought to be five For
pen-wiper costs five, and the old
lady won't take any less !"
The house oppisite had tall, green
bush showing at the window, and the
three little Smiths were dancing
around it, making faces and beckoning
across to Bobble
"No, I won't, said Bobbie, as
though they could hear him 81 ain
going to come over. I'm going to stay
here till Sister Mary comes.
Just then tall girl turned the cor
ner of the street and came melrily up
the court. She had hair as yellow as
Bobbie's, and the same eyes Of deep
brown. Bobbie 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
-"
Yes, yes, Bobbie," she said, pat
ting 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 today"
SO Bobbie pulled out the big chair
by the window, and ran to hang up
her hat and coat Staying in the lone
some house all day long by himself
had made him as tidy and thoughtful
as girl.
Then Mary sat down in the chair
with Bobbie at her feet, and told him
of all the wonderful things in the up
town shop windows.
Boobies eyes grew like stars ; he
sighed softly to himself, and in MS eX-
citement pulled out the pennies from
his pocket and began counting them
over once more.
1t was poor little room the carpet
was so patched that 1t 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 sprawl
ing against dingy white.
But the rosy little fire dickered and
auttered, and the sun falling in a
patch upon the floor brought the pop
lar shadows with it and Boobies S yell
low hair, and Mary's together, made
warmth and color for what would else
have been dull picture.
So Mary came to the end Of the
sights she had seen, and Bobbie asked:
us that all? And its most like
the prince, amt it, Mary p
"a little" said Mary, smiling to
herself, for she knew what was coming
next
"Once there was a prince began
Bobbi. Twas it long time ago,
Mary p
He always asked this question here,
and Mary always gave him the same
answer, and sighed
"a long time ago, Bobbie.' "
and he was tall and handsome
and young, and he dearly loved the
princess
"And he was going to marry her,
said Mary, land give her everything
she wanted, and then
And then he went away, inter
rupted Bobbie, land never came back
any more.
Though as long as she lived, the
princess thought he would, and waited
for him, said Mary.
Bobbie always looked solemn when
they came to this part of the story.
In some inexplicable way he thought
that he could remember the princess,
and that he had known her And
had not her eyes been brown as hi:
Mary's?
u feel sorry for the princess, ," he
said. Then Mary kissed him.
He jingled his pennies once more.