Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-05-01
Che Crippled Princess

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Pamela Carter was what NANNY
called an invalid chile" In pleasant
weather she went out of doors and
walked staidly about on her little
crutches, but she could never jump
and run and play like other girls and
boys, or have any of the fun that
they had, and in the winter she
dared not trust her crutches on the
slippery ground. She spent her time
indoors, either studying with her gov
erness, playing dolls or reading. And
because she had no exercise her body
with its sweet smile, was the only
healthy part of her.
She never complained if she en-
We'd the other girls, she was the only
one who knew it.
Perhaps it made her life all the
haraer to live on School street,
where gay throngs Of children passed
each day, going joyously to and from
DR.. Goodkin's school. Their bodies
were strong and 1.-THE and they
played and danced up the street, with
sometimes a nod and a smile to the
little figure in the window. Pamela
always watched them with a CHEEKY
smile on her lips and waved her hand
in answer to their greeting. Her
crutches were hidden fully behind
the curtains so that no one should
know her trouble and be troubled by
it.
Hi, Miss Curlyhair," she heard a
boy call to her one day. why don't
you come to school, little Miss Know
it-all. You thing you're too good
for us, do you?"
Little Pamela flushed with a pain
not in her crooked limbs but in her
heart; but she smiled just the same.
You ought to be ashamed of your
self, Laurie Kingi" exclaimed a little
girl behind the boy, when poor Pa
mela Carter is so miserable"
"Miserable?" echoed Laurie and
the others who were swinging along
together. she looks just about as
miserable as [ do" continued Laurie
mockingly.
Little Miss Prim
Had pain in her limb,
Oh my!
What she wanted she got,
And if she did not
Oh my, hear her cry"
Laurie King, stop it," cried the
little girl who had reproVed him be-
fore. ITS a sin for you to mock Pa
mela Carter. She is a poor little
cripple"
Laurie dropped his mincing step
and looked around.
as it really true, Dorothy Bar
ton. or are you making game of me"
Gross my heart" said Dorothy
Solemnly. MY mother knows hers
and 1 heard mother say only yester-
day that it was the saddest case she
ever heard Of And l am going to
see her some afternoon soon. Mother
says he is always so sweet and good
and unseltish that everybody loves
her"
Laurie was silent all the way home.
Was it possible that any little girl
could bear such pain and affliction
and yet be as bright and cheerful as
that sweet little face at the window?
He was sorry for his haunting words
and wondered what he could do to
make life more attractive for little
Pamela
One bright day not long after this
Laurie pl0dded through a hard snow
storm to the Carter house and rang
the bell. When he had done that
much he felt like running away be-
lore the door was opened, and | al
most believe he would have done it
II the door had not opened very
Mrs. Carter saw his en-
barraSsment and in a minute had
made him feel comfortable. They /
talked for some time, Mrs. Carter
shaking her head obviously and
Laurie urging. Finally as Laurie
rose to go. Mrs. Carter said:
1t is very good Of you to think of
my little girl and | shall certainly
tell your mother what thoughtful
son | think she has. And if her
father thinks it safe we will be glad
to accept your invitation"
Mr.. Carter, who knew Laurie's
family pronounced him careful and
trustworthy boy.
Inc next day the poStman brought
a letter to Pamela. 1t said:
Dear Little Girl in the Window.
we want you to have some of orr
Iun and We will call for you Satur,
day morning to go tobOganning with
us. Please don't say no
Some of the girls and boys from
DR. GoOdkin's School.
A more delighted little girl than
Pamela would be hard to find: even
Il papa and mamma had not given |
their consent. She had been asked
by real live girls and boys who |
could run and jump and climb" and
mat was worth great deal to n
lonely little cripple. If she had only
known it, there was not a little girl |
within five miles who was not wild |
sor an invitation to ride on Laurie !
Kings toboggan.
bundled up almost as tight as n
little Indian papoose, Pamela was
carried out and carefully seated on
he toboggan; the crutches were left
behind, and she felt like fairy prin.
cess as she sped along drawn by five
horses
When old Turnpike nnl was
her cheeks were as red as
'OSeS and after once WhiZZinr down