Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1901-12-26
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Estelle, Maude and May Robbins
stood in the window with their heads
close together.
"T am so sorry whispered Estelle.
81 do so want to make mamma and
papa a New Years present and 1 have
spent all my money-every cent"
so have l." said Rosy, land 1 have
mot kept even a piece of ribbon or an
ounce of worsted."
1T is too dreadful Maude whisper
ed. eff that horrid Miss Croker had
not insisted upon our buying those lit
tie books at the fair we would all
have had plenty of money. l wonder
how long she is going to stay. She is
so fussy," said Maude. Nothing suits
her Sometimes she says: This egg
is too soft, Lizzie; take it away and
bring me another Then Lizzie makes
I'D a face and l have to laugh
well, but Maude," said Estelle, who
was the eldest, that is wrong. The
girl who is hired to wait on the table
should never make faces, no matter
what happens; and you must never
laugh at her again. I am sure Miss
Croker saw you this morning"
But she is fussy.' said Ray, land 1
wish she would go home"
Mamma likes her." replied Estelle
"You know she was mammals teacher
once and some one left her big for
tune and SO she stopped teaching"
"And mamma says, too, that she is
very charitable and gives heaps and
heaps to the poor people," put in Ray.
Then 1 wish she had bought those
books herself instead of making us
spend all our money" grumbled
Maude.
eff we had been honest and said
right out, I want all my money for
myself perhaps she would" said Es-
telle.
Tomorrow is New Years day. 1t
is too late to get anything now" sigh
ed Ray.
''If we only had some of that lovely
wool Miss Croker has been winding
for the last three days, we could knit
mamma some beautiful mats for her
dressing case. l could knit one be-
fore dark" said Estelle, mournfuley.
Gould you, my dear?" said a voice
close behind them.
The three children turned and saw
Miss Croker sitting in a rocking chair
just behind them. They did not
know how long she had been there or
how much she had heard. but she had
three large balls of brilliant colored
/. wool in her lap.
Are you sure, Estelle, that you
could make a mat before dark?" said
Miss Croker, looking over her spec
tacles at the three blushing faces be-
fore her. Maude and Ray answered
YES" very shyly.
Then said the lady, "sit down
there on the sofa and 1 will give you
each one of these balls of wool"
You are very kind said Estelle.
Thank you. Miss Croker" said
Maude. But Ray, remembering that
Miss Croker must have heard her say
she wished she would go home, want
ed to hide herself However, she
came out from behind the curtain and
seated herself close to Estelle Miss
Croker then gave them each crochet
needle. This blue ball is for you"
SHE Sdsu, pidCluS lUS WOOl III ESI6lle >
lap. The mauve for you," and she
dropped another ball in Maude's
hands, "and the pink for little Rosy
Ray"
The children laughed merrily. but
at the lady's last words their faces
grew very long. Now. girls "I
want three mats for my dressing case
at home and know you VIII be de-
lighted to make me a present before
go, which will be very soon now" She
looked at Ray while she spoke and
then left the room
''Horrid thing" said Ray, as the
door closed Il won't knit mat for
her. thought she meant to give US
the wool.
1t just serves us right for talking
about mammals friend as we did, re-
piled Estelle. We will have to knit