The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-08

L
bhe two hurried on with the restless
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 the basket empty.
Then with a comparatively light heart
she sought market place on the east side
and with the righteousness of an old house
wife with very limited pocketbook filed
her basket with eatables and fastened
home, that their hunger might be 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 she
knock for admittance at the door that led
to her home? No. The eager ears 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-
taken the responsibility of breadwinner
upon her own narrow shoulders and had
borne the pressure like soldier.
81 am glad you are back. felt worried
about you, you were gone so long!' 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 a CHEEKY voice said: "Oh,
had such good luck today / sold all my
violets and have come back with basket
filed 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 it's contents.
"We've had good luck, too," piped the
little voices. "Mrs. Sims brought us In q
big bowl Of soup. We had all we wanted
and saved some for you."
"Yes and you must have 1t. You must
be nearly starved, poor ohild" said the
mother as she opened the oven door and
drew out an earthen bowl which con-
tanned her savory portion.
"First let me show you what bought"
"No: you must first have this bowl Of
soup; then you may show u.s."
Moving a chair near the stove Griselle
took her seat, rested her cold feet on its
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: 81 move that we give
Mrs. Sims our thanks in q body. She's
trump, and that settles It'll Now for the
basketp'
Around the table, with eager, expectant
q Co., 10 nrf-
selle brought forth one by one the differ
ent articles from the basket and placed
them upon 1t.
There now remained but one package.
AS she stopped down to bring 1t out she
exclaimed, "All shut your eyesp'
Then there was rustic of paper, STIR
ring through the room, the rafting Of
dishes, when down on the table something
was set.
"Now you may look"
And what did they seef 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 herl' murmured the mother
as she wiped away tear that was 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
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
IL I~~<y 81
crate In meditative mood.
"Come and sit near me, and ! will tell
you, replied the child. ST was just think
sick mamma and little sisters pleading for
bread
"But you haven't, my pet, " laughed the
mother.
"No, but the little flower girl has,
"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"
sob, but, mamma, don't let us think
that she Is one! The Saviour said when
he was upon earth that we should have
the poor with us always Let us believe
that she is one of the deserving poor that
needs our help and let us help her. I 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 presentp'
This only child was not overly INDUCED,
but her reasonable requests we're usually
II not always granted.
This, thought the mother, was reason
able request and the motive that prompted
1t magnanimous and noble one.
"You dear, sympathetic child" she ex-
claimed as she EMBODIED her in her arms,
81 think you can; but come. We had
better first 20 to court and lay tho case
before the judge and abide by his deci-
sion!"
Arm In arm they tripped down the
stairs and through the hall until they
reached the courtroom. Court had evi.
IDENTIFY adjourned, but there the Judge sat