Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-12-26


Annie heard her mothers words, al
though they were not intended for her
to hear. She saw her brush away the
tears from her eyes and then go back
to Teddy's room.
"What did the doctor say, mother"
asked Teddy, in a weak voice; did he
say | will get well?"
Annie heard the reply: "He says hat
the fever is broken. and that all you
have to do now is to get we'll"
Teddy's voice trembled as he replied:
''Oh, mother, | was afraid he would
say | might die, and I wondered who
would take care of you and little An
ME. ! am glad God is going to Lei me
tive to do it. Now | must begin to get
strong! Can't you give me lots to eat?"
Annie saw her mothers lips quiver
as she turned her face from Teddy.
eyes, my son, but not too much at
once, you know" she said.
Teddy looked very thoughtful.
"But is there anything in the house,
mother? have been sick good while,
and my last wages must be nearly
gone, and you haven't had time to color
many photos lately, have you?"
Yhe boys mother answered, brave
Iy: "Sick folks mustn't bother about
these things, you know" Then she
left the room, and Annie saw that she
did so to hide the tears which were
streaming down her worn face.
81 must do something; l wonder
what it will be?" murmured Annie to
herself, and, crushing her hat down
over her curls, she slipped into the
street.
Annie thought constantly of wine for
poor Teddy, and wondered if she sum-
moned courage to beg a bottle whether
anyone would be kind enough to give
it to her for a poor sick boy, her only
brother. She knew that sometimes
grocers kept wine, especially around
holiday time, and felt sure if they only
knew how very, very much it was
needed at home by her poor sick Ted
dy that some one of them would sure
ly give her a bottle. Then there were
other places where they sold nothing
but wine and such stuff. for she had
seen big windows full of the bottles,
with pictures of great lunches of beau
tiful grapes standing behind them.
Annie wasn't a bold, forward child:
she was timid. but brave and resolute:
her love for her brother, at least, made
her brave for the time; so she resolved
in her heart to beg for the wine which
the doctor said would bring back
strength to Teddy. Christmas had
come and gone, but Teddy was so i'll
with the fever that Annie thought
nothing about the absence of the gifts
usual to that happy day; but now Ted
dy was to grow better, and she did long
TO be able to make his New Years and
her mothers brighter than Christmas
had been. As she wandered down the
streets revolving these thoughts in her
mind and wondering how she might get
the necessary wine she passed many a
gay scene.
Early evening had closed down on
the city, and all the shops were aflame
with light and brightness. Annie gazed
wistfully at the pretty things in the
great windows; she was but a little
maid, and could not help wishing for
pretty things for herself and for her
mother and Teddy.
But the wine-she must not linger;
she would only look in one more shop
and then-then she would seek the
great shop where wine was sold in bot
ties; surely the big, rosy-faced man
whom she had often noticed standing
in the doorway of his shop would listen
to her story of poor Teddy and give her
the wine.