Evening journal., 1899-07-01


"Are these yours?" she asked Maude.
ms the little girl brought forth a min
iature tea set decorated with pink rose
buds.
Maude looked a little puzzled.
"They are ours. Mabers and mine.
Why" and her round face grew
thoughtful, they are yours, too, cause
ours will mean you now"
Irene made no reply. Instead she
took up one of the dolls and began to
change the Turkey red Mother Hub
bard for party dress of pink cambric.
Mabel helped her, handing her the
various articles and chatting merrily.
Maude, left somewhat 10 herself, ad-
vanced TO the box of Irene's toys and
lifted the cover. The child never
dreamed that her act might be consid-
cred rude. Irene was one Of them now,
and were not all things, by the law of
love which ruled that household,
"ours?" She lifted layer of paper,
and n rapturous exclamation broke
from her lips.
"Oh what beautiful doillp she
cried. carefully lifting out fancifully
dressed Chinese doh. "Irene. l think
you"
The sentence was never finished.
Irene sprang up and snatched the doll
from Maude.
Don't touch that or anything else.
They are NINE"
"But you have our things" Maude
replied, spiritedly. "Why shouldn't
see these"
because they are mine," Irene said,
putting the doll back in the box. IL
never let anyone have my things"
Maude's cheeks were very red. "Then
you needn't ever touch ours. / think
you are selfish, Irene Brown, and I'm
sorry you've come here TO live. 50
therei"
Irene began 10 cry, and Maude rushed
down to tell the story to her mother.
! Mrs. Brown was much grieved and tried
to show both little girls their mistake.
Irene opened her big black eyes in won
= der.
p ''Why, they are mine, Aunt Marie,
and my things are just for me-"
I To Mabel and Maude this was q new
idea. Mabel tried TO excuse Irene, but
( impulsive Alaude refused TO overlook
s her cousins conduct. There was nc
e quarreling; Mr.. and Mrs. Brown would
d not allow that, but there was an entire
= lack Of the sweet spirit Of generosity
d and oneness which had hitherto gov
s crned shat home. Irene loved Leon and
d would sometimes allow him to use hei
h toys. Again, she would snatch some
u thing from him, crying; THAT'S mine
Leon" There was no trace Of justic'
'' ia her selhshness. for she never hess
/. tated TO join in the pleasure Of others.
n A month passed. One hot Angus
- afternoon, when the fields were lying
e all parched and brown under the ferc
,e rays Of the sun, Baby Leon woke, cry
ing, from a brief sleep. He was fever
,s ish and fretful. Before night 10 wa
% evident that he was really ill. The sim
/. pie remedies given him by his mothe
,s did not relieve him, and a doctor wa
n summoned He shook his head grave
h ". The little girls did not care 70
~ play. They tried to help in variou
ways, especially delighting in doing lit
n tie things for Leon. Almost uncon
y sciously Irene was learning the beaut
IS of doing for others.
= The days went by and there was nj
n change. On the evening of the fiftl
y day Irene stole softly into the roor
where her aunt sat by Leon's crib. Tn
a little form was wasted, and fever ha
Z. burned the freshness from the rose
- tinted face. Irene stopped and put he
hand on the tiny one that lay on Leon
breast. Slowly the golden lashes LITE
and the blue eyes looked into her face.
~ doe Way, Rene" Leon lisped
" "'Rene say mine to baby"
'e He closed his eyes. Mrs. Brow
- looked into the face Of her little nice
- Notwithstanding her own grief, tn
- mothers heart went out TO the startle
- child. She put out her arms and dre'
u Irene to her in a close embrace.
~ as it true, Aunt Marie?" the littl
~ girl asked when tears had relieved he
and she could speak. docs my wan
a. ing my own things for myself kee
"a Leon, and all the rest Of you, frol
"e loving me?"
Very gently Mrs. Brown tried TO sho
ne Irene that selfish lie could not be
MuNDl OntF tlhI WV ANA "a N--~ ~t~HfN
er " Fathers love for all, and His con
mand that we love one another. lrer
ne listened in silence. A little later 81
2 went out on the porch where Mabel an
Maude were sitting.
on please, girls" she began, the Grin
'er son light OF the setting sun stainir
la her face with its glow, please, won
no you let me say ours our little LeoI
ch and everything? haven't any min
ell now. 1t is all ours.
Mabel and Maude were ready to 70
nd give their cousin and assured her tn
EN- they would commence over. When the
he went downstairs the next morning thu
d. found that Leon was better He smile
all ED in their faces with something of h
tilt old sunniness. and did not draw avn
when Irene pressed many kisses up'
ge his lips.
he Irene's lesson was well learned. II
ms Joys are not alone her own now, b
ng in common with those Of the enti