The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-07

throng.
The beautiful woman and dainty little
miss, like mascot, seemed to bring luck
to the little flower girl for no sooner had
they disappeared than another bunch OF
violets was disposed of, then another, un-
til all were gone and tie basket empty.
Then with comparatively light heart
she sought market place ON the cast side
and with the judiciousness of an old house
wife with very limited pocketbook filled
her basket with eatables and fastened
homo, that their hunger might bo ap-
peased
Reaching the house, step after step she
climbed until she found herself with her
heavy load in the hall of the fifth story OF
forlorn and shabby tenement. Did sho
knock for admittance at the door that led
to her homes No. The eager cars that
had listened long and anxiously caught
the sound of her footsteps on the stairs and
stood at the open door to welcome the lit
tie breadwinner, for such she was.
The father had been dead some time, and
the mother, delicate woman, had broken
down in her struggle to provide for her de-
pendent little ones, so little Griselle had
taken sthe responsibility of breadwinner
upon her own narrow shoulders and had
borne the pressure like a soldier.
~ am glad you are back. felt worried
about you, you were gone so longW ex-
claimed the mother as she stepped to the
door to see that it was securely fastened.
The little flower girl, after setting the
basket down, rushed to her mother, threw
her arms around her neck, kissed her fer
vently, then in CHEEKY voice said: " oh,
had such good luck today / sold all my
violets and have come back with a basket
filled with good things. We won't go
hungry for awhile, casting an assuring
glance at her little sisters, who were on
the floor, bending over the basket and
peeping in at its contents.
We've had good luck, too, piped the
little voices. Mrs. Sims brought us in
big bowl of soup. We had all we wanted
and saved some for YOU
Eyes, and you must have it. You must
be nearly starved, poor child' said tho
mother as she opened the oven door and
drew out an earthen bowl which con-
tanned her sayory portion.
First let me show you what bought.
mo: you must first have this bowl OF
soup; then you may show us.
Moving chair near the stove, Griselle
took her seat rested her cold feet on it's
apron and. smacked her lips as she slipped
the appetizing fluid. When she had fin
ished, she placed the bowl on the table,
saying as she did SO: ~ move that we give
Mrs Sims our thanks in body. She's
trump, and that settles it! Now for tho
basketn'
Around the'table, with eager, expectant
eyes, gathered the little family, while Gri
selle brought forth one by one the differ
ent articles from the basket and placed
them upon it.
There now remained but one package.
Al she stopped down to bring it out she
exclaimed, All shut your eyes!'
Then there was rustic of paper, stir
ring through the room, the. rattling of
dishes, when down ON the table something
was set.
Now you may look. y
And what did they seer A large coffee
cake.
This is for our supper. =
Then she told them about the dainty
little miss to whom they were indebted.
''God bless her!' murmured the mother
rs She wiped away tear thatwas trickling
down her cheek.
In a luxurious mansion on one of the
fashionable avenues little miss sat in her
room alone
Her mother upon entering called out in
a casual way. :" And what is my little pet
thinking OFF,
She really had not observed that her lit
tie pet was sitting with her hands crossed
on her lap, with her eyes resting upon the
glowing bed of Goals that lay in the open
CRATE in meditative mood
"Cone and sit near me- and l will tell
you, replied the child. Twas just think
ing how unhappy 1 should be if had a
sick mamma and little sisters pleading for
bread.
''But you haven't, my pet, . laughed the
mother.
s'No, but the little flower girl has. I"
Come, my dear. We will go down to
the parlor and have some music. You
must not let such thoughts disturb your
mind. These may have been no truth
whatever in what she said There are SO
many impostors, we must not be affected
by the pitiful tales we hear.
sOh, but, mamma, don't let us think
that she is onei The Saviour said when
he was upon earth that we should have
the poor with us always. Let ms believe
that she is one of the deserving poor that
needs our help and let us help her. have
just lovely idea, she exclaimed, her face
beaming with animation as she sprang
from her chair and seated herself upon her
mothers lap. Let me make her an Eas-
ter PRESENT."
This only child was not overly INDUCED,
but her reasonable requests were usually
if not always granted.
This, thought the mother, was a reason
able request and the motive that prompted
it magnanilnous and noble one.
You dear. sympathetic child, - she ex
claimed as she embodied her in her arms,
II think you can; but come. We had
better first go to court and lay the case
before the judge and abide by his deci
sionl"
Arm in arm they tripped down the
stairs and through the hall until they
reached tho courtroom. Court had evil
IDENTIFY adjourned, but there the judge sat
perusing the evening paper
Upon being aware OF the presence of
Others he laid the paper across his knee
and looked over his glasses with rather