The Daily soliphone., 1902-01-02
CHAPTER I.

CHApTERI.
 There was once lady who had litt:e laughter who was lhe pride of her neart' Nov this lady was quite poor, so that she was obliged tn i've ln a tiny house, aud csnid not give her little girl all the beanti- ful thin. s and nice clothes that she would liln her to have, but she was more anxious that her little .Fslice'' should grow up good and useful and sweet hammered, so Shat she would always have many friends, which she thought would be much better for her than merely to have lots of money. There was ;t large garden bacA of the little house, and good many nice fruit trees planted in the yard, by means of which tbc lady made a comfortable living for herself and her child. Feiice was only seven years old, bub she bad been so well trained that she was great help tc her mother in tnking care of lt'. house and gardcn. She lad a little Euse and Y WIS her business to water toe garden and fruit trees so that they alwaA had fine crops, even in dry weather; a:sd the mother, who was achariatable lady, always managed Y to the poor people around, wno could not pay for therus So sne was greatly uefoved by them Che poor Iittie fellow, whose req pamc was Tommy nuy who was de scripLlvelS called sT4sters" by tne ppysfo ihs teignbeienpr Trad often been btfriend- fd " ner, .td te vas SO grateful tDat he tuen great oesieiit iu'selliug vesetaples or pruoing atis odd job for ber Now. wbile luece Was 10 question about Tatters be- inc r good, ~aful- hearted boy, be was queer nb,.e otj=ct tu looE at. ln fact nobody svsi dla ook al, hlm fer tbe first time pithout Ianghitg Whesi,sr Il WAS because mother nature had a erndge sgainst nln, Or because of nis woralug SO much tmong he vegetables, cant tell; aIy how. uls tunny nLtie turu.d ID nose looked mucn more like kuo.ty potato than a tnAlaG ntse, his hair Was cairoLty, i, ~na hta sses semiLdtd telce Of the goose berries ,sas grew by the feI ce. However, i. h;s uxis jttis. fsce ~as ftii If IIn aud good nature anu that, as her mother took pains tu iupsess on Felice, was netler than beauty.
 Ono afternoon Felice aud Tatters were ut In the yard lo0ki0g at some fruit trees from which most of the fruit had been gathered. How ever. there were three fne peaches left haDRing Ut the top of tree. and as two of Ter cEums were just then passing Felice asked Talters to climb up and get the lovely peacnes for them.
 ''Thers will just bs one apiece for us - she cried, dancing around on the grass. (Catters was So self-i0rsetful that Felice very often forgot about him, tool
 Tatters obligingly did as she asked ,and as she turned and gave a peach to each of her little friends. she noticed the queerest little old woman in long gray cloak who leaned on tue fence looking wistfullv at tho children. Il shoult itke beach," she said.
 70 cear." cried tue brown haired little girl whose name was Mary. 'swhy don't you acc we haven'G one to sparea" "Asking for things is bad manners,'' said black-eyed Susan, with much energy.
 Felice looked at the queer old lady with the hungry look in her eyes and then she looked at.her peach. It was a beauty, and the old lady wasn't. But, presently (for she was < genel ous girl when she stopped to think) she stepped up to the woman and handed her the peach.
 II hope you'll enjoy it maam,' she said.
 "Thahks,n said the old woman, taking a bite. "I'm sure shall'
 She ate tLe peach greedily and when there was notring left but tn: stone she stood rubbing that between her palms and muttering strange words, such as the chil dren had uever heard before
 go dear,' May whispered to Susy, "Im afraid, and the two slipped away. But Feliee, whr was never afraid of anything, stood her ground and watched and list eAed
 Presently the old woman was silent, staring hard at Felice. "Ir was good peach, ,' she said, snacking her lips, ..and yon'Ie good child. People never repent being good to me, so here, oearie, take the sesa and plant iL and see what happens. Bat oe sure ycn plant It in some out of the way place where DO one will be apt to see It. aud when it bears fruit see that you don't talk apoutir. Even good littls girls must learn ,c hold their tongues.''
 Do yoa nean chat am not to tell mammagN said Felice as shs took tne seed "Wny, tell ulasnma every tniug.''
 Good ciild, said the old woman ap- proyiugiy Yes, you may tell mamma Ana Potato-facc there," Jerking her head at Tatters. 1T know him. But, mind you, tell aoood5 etse,' and nodding again to h eEwo,cliidren shs nobbed away.