The Republican journal., 1899-09-21
Dorothy Hays Birthday Present.


foretaste of summers warmth, while
covering of softest emerald green was be-
ginning to creep over the village yards
and the DAD sides.
The young teacher drew a long breath.
Dear summer. I'm so glad it is com
ing, l believe l will do 1t. Yes, l will
buy me watch, and it shall be present
to me on my eighteenth birthday from my
dear father and mother"
Notwithstanding the happy light in her
clear gray eyes, Dorothy's red lips trem-
bled. She was slender little girl, with
a fair, rose flushed face, black hair and
eyelashes.
1t was only few steps from the school
house to the great, rambling old house
where Deacon Jones and his motherly
wife dwelt Dorothy boarded here. When
she entered the sitting room, Mrs. Jones
looked up from her mending.
''You dear child. Your face is as bright
as the spring sunshine"
Dorothy bent her head and kissed the
others faded pink cheek. II am going
up to the cemetery, Mrs Jones. will
be back in time for tea.
Don hurry yourself, deare. There
is plenty of time"
Dorothy Hays was an orphan. She had
been born in this village of Dee and lived
here until the death OF her parents, which
occurred when she was ten. The child
and her little ntome of two hundred
dollars year had been left to the care of
a widowed aunt, who lived in the city OF
Raymond, For five years Dorothy had
shared her Aunt Margarets home; then
death again left the girl alone.
There was a new guaGdian-a busy
lawyer Dorothy was anxious to stay in
hon
course. To this her guardian consented,
paying over to her her little income and
allowing her to make her own plans.
SO Dorothy pinched along, learning by
experience the value of money. AT seven
teen size graduated, and came back to
Dee and secured a position as teacher IN
the primary department OF the school.
Il shall save enough out of my salary
OF three hundred to take he to the sum-
mer normal during vacation" she was
saving to herself as she walked briskly
down the village street. Besides, I've
bought myself plenty of clothes-plenty
for your station, Dorothy Hays, she
added, little grimly, for she had all a
young girls natural love for beauty.
Even if buy the watch l can save a
hundred and seventy dollars out of my in
terest money she went on. at will not
at the State normal Then ] can get a
position as a high school assistant
She stopped on the bridge just above the
dam and watched the play OF the sunbeams
on the placid water of the pond" A
tender light shone in her eyes
II want the watch. she thought.
''How proud and glad | will be to slip a
watch in my belt and say; Dorothy Hays,
it's from your parents 1t will be rue.
| Will not mind others not understanding.
I've had my loneliness alone; I'll have my
JOY. Besides l am sure they will know
and be glad
reverent glow made her face beauti-
ful. BY this time she had assembled the
hill and reached the little white-dotted
city OF the dead Passing through the
gate, She made her way to the family lot.
The crocus bulbs that she had planted the
tall before We're sending mp their brave lit
tie purple, white and yellow blossoms.
'I dld moi think SO many of them would
be open" Dorothy cried. l remember
mother Used % love them So
She moved carefully about, now pulling
up weed and again STOPPING to lay her
fingers caressngl y against the satiny petals
OF blossom. A step aroused her
"WeH, now, they re a pretty sight
Mine you gave me has blowed too. felt
like sayin, Lord, bless that Dorothy
Hays, " hen | seed them peart little posjes
noddin at me.
1t was Mrs. Betty Hopkins, a childless
widow. Dorothy's mother had often EN-
ployed her in the olden times, and the
young Girl always greeted Betty with a
real Kindness. On the day Dorothy had
planted her bu bs the old lady had been at
the cemetery and had been delighted by
the dozen given her.
Come down and see my lot she said
coaxingly. I've got it fixed up real
kinder nice. Bel workin' here a spell
every one OF these warm days
Dorothy followed her over the slope of
the hill and down the other side to tiny
plot of ell-kept turf. There We're two
graves-a long one marked by a low slab
OF granite and little one unmarked, save
by a rose bush.
Indeed, your crocus blossoms are fine,
larger than mine, l believe" Dorothy
said, and the worn face under the faded
black bonnet flushed with pleasure.
They soon started for home, going to-
gether as their ways lay in the same direc-
ton.
II spend a lot of time here,'' rs.
Hopkins said as she fastened the gate.
Him and little Daisy was all | had
Iotted on gittin' stone Tor her grave.
You see her father, he was soldier and
the government furnished his n. L IN SO
crippled with rheumatic I can't earn
much, and guess I'll have to give it up.
] have my home and my pension, but enc
cant't save much out of eight dollars a
month";
why, l don't see how you manage to
get along"' Dorothy cried, impulsively.
''Oh, I'm real comfortable like" and
Mrs Hopkins drew the hem of her blue
bingham apron rehectively through her
fingers, ''only | can't save. I've tried
powerful hard. 1t hurts to think of little
Daisy layin' up there without a bit of
stone to mark her grave. She died long
while age, but little Daisys a lot to me
yet"
dry sob sounded in her throat
Dorothy laid one white hand on her arm =
II understand, Mrs. Hopkins. You
know all of my very own are up there
with Daisy"
That's so. Well, I've planned and
planned for that stone, but I We got to
give it up. It's the disappointment of
my life Once | thought ] was goin' to
reach it. l had fifteen dollars saved and