Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-20
EGbildre Column

QUIET siWc' ihoy ioho"S" NN~' 49,
to bright, pretty room, where a
table was set for luncheon near the
open fire.
IT will 90 home" cried Dolly, as
Lottie tried to take off her hood and
cloak. SEQ away, / don't like you,
you brighten me-" And she behaved SO
badly that Mark was ashamed of her,
and poor Lottie SO very much hurt
that presently she said:
"Well, I'll just go away" and left
the room with tears in her eyes.
"You have made her feel very bad"
said Mark, when they were alone.
"She is black, and don't believe
she has many feelings" answered
Dolly.
"That is wicked" said Mark.
The children were both hungry, SO
after looking at the nice things on the
table for few minutes they drew up
their chairs and began to eat.
ut is NICE" said Dolly, presently.
"If only that dreadful Lottie would
not come back.
Well, Lottie did not return, and
after they had finished and run out
into the garden to romp with Jumbo,
they came back to find the table
cleared away and large piece Of
paper, with these words written upon
it, pinned to the door;
eff you want to know where to play
hunt for little note hidden in this
room"
"Aunt Martha wrote that" said
Dolly.
"No, Lottie," replied Mark.
After searching all over thereon,
with Jumbo to help them, they found
q tiny note in a pot of geranium, which
Mark read.
"Dear Little Dolly and Mark: I
am so sorry, but cannot be home to
meet you; but Lottie is such good
kind woman. that she will take care
of you. Go up into the garrett, there
you will find plenty Of things to play
with. Your loving Aunt Martha"
Away they both scampered, fol-
lowed by Jumbo, to the top of the
house, where they found so much to
amuse them that the afternoon passed
like five minutes.
When bell rang they went down.
stairs and found tea ready, but Lottie
was nowhere to be seen.
1T is like the palace in Beauty and
the Beast" said Mark, looking around
the room.
Just then Mark found folded
paper under the plate of currant buns.
He laughed and said, "More notes,
Dolly" Then heread, Eight o'clock
is little folks bedtime, Jumbo will
show you your rooms"
AS the small hand of the clock
touched eight, Mark said, "Now,
Dolly, it is bedtime"
When they went to the door Jumbo
walked before them and lay down on
q rug in the upper hal.
THAT is your room," said Mark,
"and there are all your things"
"Who put them there?' asked
Dolly.
"Lottie, of course" said Mark,
"and should think you would feel
sorry for being so bad"
When the little girl began to I'M
dress, however, and one of her shoes
refused to come off, things did not
seem quite so pleasant.
Late in the night she woke up, her
: foot panied, and she felt lonesome
and thirsty; then she began to cry.
Some one came gently in and bent
over her.
"My foot hurts" sobbed Dolly.
In moment soft, warm hand I'M
did the fastening of the shoe. turned
the hot pillow, and put cool, sweet
I drink in her lips.
THAT is good" said Dolly, "but
mamma always sings to me-"
"Angels : Watch When Children
Sleep" sang the very sweetest voice
Dolly had ever heard.
When the song was finished Dolly
stretched out her hand and whis-
pered:
"Who are you?"
"Only Aunt Martha's Lottie," was
the answer.
"Please, Lottie, kiss me, and forget
how naughty 1 have been," said
Dolly.
''To be sure, honey" answ cred the
colored woman.
The next morning Mark was as
tonished to see Dolly enter the break
fastr clinging to Lotties large,
dark hands, and for the remainder Of
her stay the little girl did her best to
make Lottie forget her foolish con-
duct.-New York Ledger.