The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-06-28

so, when all was dark little Nolita be-
gan to go about softly from house tC
| mouse TO find if there was something
| she could do to help" Many a piece
OF work left unfinished was found COM
| pleted the next morning by the busy
housewife, who smiled and said the
borWnies had never been so kind be-
lore. Little children found on their
pillows the things they had longed for;
! they always thought they were gifts
OF the Good Fairies. When the babies
! cried in the dark, gentle hand rocked
the cradle and a low voice sung them
to sleep again without waking the
tired mothers.
And SO, at last, Nolita began to be
happier. One night in her rounds she
found little crying child whose father
and mother were dead. 1t was sitting
alone in the dark doorway of the silent
house. Nolita took the little girl with
her to her own home. All the night
she tended her, but in the morning
she called the blind old woman to
care for her for fear the baby, too,
would be afraid of her.
No one claimed the baby girl. and
she became Nolita's. Nolita made her
clothes and prepared her food. but
she had the blind old woman tend her
in the daytime, and only came and
stayed with her in the night. The child
grew fast and learned to laugh and
clap her hands when the darkness came
for she loved Nolita best.
II IS because she cannot see me,
said Nolita quietly to herself "She
would never let me touch her again if
she once saw my ugly face"
One dark midnight there came a
dreadful storm. The lightning blazed
every second and the thunder crashed
as If it would split the heavens. The
poor little baby awoke frightened and
sat up in bed. calling and reaching out
her arms. But little Nolita did not
dare to go near her when the lightning
made the rom so bright.
30 Nollta ran to call the deaf old
woman, but she could not waken her.
The little girls cry of terror sounded
still more pitiful. The poor little thing
was half dead with fright.
She cannot be more afraid of me
than OF the storm" said Nolita, and she
went softly to the little bed. calling
the chllds name. With a cry of rapture
the baby sprang into her outstretched
arms and chung to her neck, patting
the hairy cheeks with one soft little
hand and kissing the wolf-mouth again
and again. The thunder still crashed
and the lightning scattered its awful
brightness, but the child cuddled down
in Nolita's arms and fell asleep to her
singing.
In the early dawn Nolita laid the
little girl down and went to call the
blind old woman. But as she went
past the mirror she had wonderful
glad surprise. The VOLTAGE was gone.
The baby lips had kissed it away. No
lita was seven times as beautiful as
before. The first ray of sunshine rested
like crown on her soft hair. But she
did not think of her beauty. She
thought only of the little girl.
oh, baby! baby!" she cried, now
can be with you all day, and we will
be so happy"
The baby awoke as Nolita came in
and stretched up her hands with a glad
little laugh.
Then all the joybeIs in fairyland be-
gan to ring, and that day the Good
Fairies came once more to Nolita's
home. and they brought back all her
wealth and all her friends; and Nolita
was happy ever after, for she had
learned the Lesson of Love.-Lfttle
Folks.