Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-22

again and again before her, and its
memory can never be effaced.
"She was not a bad little girl, nor
was she 'goody-goody' one, just an
ordinary little girl. She was playing
one summer evening, on the sidewalk
with her little friends of the neighbor-
hood. They had exhausted themselves,
all except little Lefty, and she, brim-
full of mischief, and action, and i'm
patience, was waiting to resume the
play.
Suddenly, along the street came a
strange sight to these boys and girls,
whose ages ranged from five to eight.
1t was child of the streets, a little
newsgirl, in torn frock, and with
tumbled hair, and dirty hands and
face. She had evidently wandered from
her own neighborhood, and she seemed
very much out Of place among these
children of careful parents.
The little ones, one and all, drew
together on a stoop, gazing in shyness
and curiosity at the stranger, who
might have been gypsy, If one had
judged by her semi-wild appearance.
w uSh SuS iSdCueu lu6 group, S06
paused, and there was a moment OF
silence. The twilight had deepened inte
dark by this time, and the CLEAN q
the street lamps, which were not elec-
trio then, shone dimly upon them all.
"'I work for my living!' suddenly
and proudly spoke up the little waif
and perhaps feeling of childish shame
fell upon them. for no one answered.
See what l have! continued the
little voice, and there was a sound Of
clinking coins as she slipped her hand
into her ragged dress, and drew it out
again, extending the open palm for
them to see. Eagerly they scrambled
forward to look and then it was that
Lefty did what she was never able to
explain, even to this day, grown wom-
an though she is.
1T all happened in a moment, in
less time than it can be told; and
while they were all scrambling to see,
Lefty stepped forward with them, and
striking the extended hand from be-
meath, she knocked it upwards, send
ing the coins flying over the sidewalk
and into the gutter. Even before the
words "for shame!" We're uttered by
the children, Letty's heart was strick
EN- with remorse.
We'll, of course, the waif cried, and
they all stopped to gather up the coins,
all, that is, except Lefty, whose fool
ish pride forbade her to acknowledge
her fault. She was a very little girl,
of course, and l know that she was
not an unllind one, just as you know
that Marie is not unkind in her heart,
even though she is impulsive and hasty,
like our 'Whirlwind'; but though that
is true, and she will never see or know
the waif that worked so hard beyond
her years, yet Lefty has her remorse
for that action, and will never forget
1t. 1t was the beginning of her trying
to think for others.
Now, Whirlwind, l have told you
this little story only because it is not
always our noble actions that stamp
our characters and so, | am sure that
you will waken Ned early with your
singing, and will find that Marie, too,
has regretted the harsh words spoken
between you"
Aunt Clara, always the most cheer
full person in the household was sill
emily looking into the fire with a half
dreamy smile on her face. Ned and
Whirlwind left her thus, and as they
shut the door, Whirlwind said:
Would you have believed it, Ned,
If any one else had told us?"
mo, and if l didn't know that she
of pa