Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-08

spend their money for--other things.
Eleanor added. with a laugh. please
don't think am really unhappy be
cause ! can't afford to go. Mrs. Dale
I'm not: I'm just croaking a little
It's such help TO any one TO hear
good music.-especially to music
teacher.-and such joy, But In
not unhappy about il: I'm glad car
do other things. don't feel a bit like
c:oaking any more since I've seer
you"
You dear child" exclaimed Mrs
Dale. warmly She knew that most OF
the other things that Eleanor did were
done for other persons. and done will
ingly and bravely You dear child, -
she repeated.
Eleanor pressed her hand closely
must fly to my next pupil. Mrs. Dale
May | come to see you tomorrow
perhaps late in tie afternoon" she
whispered.
The quick tears came into Amy's
mothers eyes. Yes, do" she said
Good by. my dear,"
Eleanor sped up the street to her
next pupil. and Mrs. Dale turned to
enter the florists shop and buy the
white roses.
Eleanor is dear. good child" she
thought. so brave and unselfish. 1t
is pity she can't go to those concerts.
They would give her such help. AMI
such happiness. too. | wish | could
give her ticket to them. Amy would
be so pleased: she loved Eleanor II
tomorrow were not Amy's birthday.
and | were not going to get the flowers
for her grave. should be able to 10
that for Eleanor. She would let me
because | am Amy's mother. | won.
der"
She stood quite still. A pleasant
new possibility came into her mind.
She turned away from the florist s
shop. In less than an hour she was
going home. past the following fields
and sun-lighted trees. She had no
flowers with her. but the look in her
eyes was less sad and less lonely for
Amy.
In the last few moments OF daylight
she wrote little note to Eleanor The
girl wept tears. half happy. half-sal
as she read:
MY DEAR CHILD: Tomorrow. as
you know. is Amy's birthday. II Amy
I eh 1, 4.
to celebrate ii. Amy is not here. but
you are dear: and you are a girl like
Amy, and her friend. Will you not
take the gift for her. AMI go and listen
to the glorious music that you so love
and can so well make helpful to your.
self and others? Come to see me
soon. AMI believe me. Your warm
friend,
AMY SPENCER DALE.
Slipped into the note Eleanor founi
a ticket to the Beethoven society con
certs. Amys mother had sent il very
happily. but after it had gone she set
alone in the gathering twilight. wish.
ing that she had just one flower to
take on the next day TO Amy's grave
Amy would have liked me to do
that" she thought, but still-on her
first Birthday"
She dill not finish the sentence for
just at that moment little Marjorie
Williams. who lived next door. came
running in.
20 Mrs. Dale" she cried. I've been
to the woods with father. and I've
brought you some flowers" She ran
up to Mrs. Dale. and dropped into her
arms great mass of golden rod and
blue autumn iasies. Then she kissed
her and danced away home
Mrs. Dale gathered the golden rod
and jasies in her arms. and pressed
her cheek softly against them. The
next morning she took them and laid
them on Amy's grave. Strangely her
heart felt lighter than il had felt since
Amy died
She did not know why. but when
Eleanor came. later in the day. and
kissed her again and again. AMI
thanked her with wet eyes for the
gift. she began to know Never after
lid she cover Amy's grave with costly
quick fading flowers.
Instead. at Christmas. AMI at Easter
and on Amy's birthday. she did some
lovely Kindness for some other girl for
Amy's sake. Sometimes il was small.
sometimes it was large: but always il
was something that made the girl
happier and better. and consequently
more valuable to the world.-Youth's
Companion.
The Saving Sense of Humor