The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-06-06


usual, dear Mrs Dale She smiled, lust
a little wistfully, Mrs Dale thought
Prompted BY the thought, she asked
gently; And are you happy, Eleanor,
dear2''
Eleanor hesitated for an instant, and
then she smiled again and said: Yes
usually 1 am Just at present I am
signing for the luxuries of life"
Mrs Dale was relieved She knew
that Eleanor was too sensible TO sigh
very long for anything. What do
you mean BY the Iuxuries Of life,
dear2" she asked.
Vow really, Mrs Dale" Eleanor
protested brightly, then, with more
color in her face, she added: Just
now they are the eight concerts that
7 the Beethoven society Is going 10
give
Mrs. Dale smiled IN sympathy.
They are certainly the greatest of
luNuries to music lovers she agreed.
And 10 music teachers who must
/ spend their money fOr-Other things"
, Eleanor added, with laugh. Please
dOn'tthink I'm really unhappy because
1 can't afford TO 90, Mrs Dale. I'm
not; I'm Just crOaking a little It's
such help 10 any one TO hear good
music-especially 10 q music teacher
/ and such joy But I'm not unhappy
about 1t; I'm glad can do other
/ things 1 don't feel a bit like crOaking
/ any more since I've seen YOU"
You dear childt" exclaimed Mrs.
/ Dale, warmly She knew that most
I of the other things Eleanor did were
done for other persons, and done will
/ ingly and bravely- You dear child"
she repeated
Eleanor pressed her hand closely. Il
must fly TO my next pupil, Mrs. Dale.
May i come To see you tomorrow
Y perhaps late in the afternOOn2' she
I whispered
The quick tears came into Amy's
mothers eyes. Yes, do" she said
'-GOOd-by, my dear"
Eleanor sped mp the street TO her
next pupil. and Mrs. Dale turned TO
/ enter the florists shop and buy the
I white roses
Eleanor Is a dear. good child" she
I thought. so brave and unselfiSh, 1t
is a pity she can't 60 TO those con-
certs- They would give her such
! help. and such happiness. too!
wish could give her a ticket 10 them
| Amy would be so pleased; she
loves Eleanor. If tomorrow were
not Amy's birthday. and I were not
/ going 30 get flowers for her. I should
be able 10 do that for Eleanor. She
would let me. because I am Amy's
mother. I wonder"
She stood quite still A pleasant
new possibility came into her mind
She turned away from the florists
shop. In less than an hour she was
going home. past the yellow fields
and sunset-lighted trees. She had
no flowers with her. but the look in
her eyes was less sad and less lone
" for Amy.
In the last few moments Of day
light she wrote a little note O Eleanor.
The girl wept tears. half-hapPy. half
sad, as she read:
Nv Dear Child: Tomorrow. as you
know is Amy's birthday II Amy were
here 7 should give her something 10 cele-
brate 10. Amy IS not here. but you are.
dear; and you are girl ike Amy. and her
friend VIII you not take the gift for her,
and 20 and listen 10 the glorious music that
you so love and can 50 well make helpful
10 yourself and otherS2 Come 10 see me
soon and believe me yOur warm friend
AMY SPENCER DALE
Slipped into the note. Eleanor found
a ticket to the Beethoven society's con-
certs Amy's mother had sent IL very
happily. but after IL had gone she sat
alone I'm 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 10 do that"
she thought. but still-On her first
birthday
She did 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 fiowers." She raR
up 10 Mrs. Dale, and dropped into her
arms a great mass Of glowing goldeH-
rod and blue autumn daisies. Thea
she kissed her and danced away home.
Mrs. Dale gathered the goldenrod
and daisies 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 II had felt since
Amy died.
She did not know why, but when
| Eleanor came, later in the day. and
kissed her again and again. and
thanked her with wet eyes for the gift,
she began to know. Never after did
she cover Amy's grave with costly,
I quick-fading flowers
Instead, at Christmas and at Easter
and on Amy's birthday, she did some
lovely kindness for some other gin
I for Amy's sake. Sometimes 81 was
small, sometimes IT was large; but al
ways It was something that made the
I girl happier and better, and cOnse-