The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-04-04


Did we poster you awfully lookin'
in?" Two slender hands crossed .heL,-
selves prayerfully as the interrogaiiye
slipped its cable.
For a moment Maysie felt like the Of
fender rather than the offended.
"No, not awfully," she answered,
guiltily. Then better impulse seized her
Coming forward, she knelt by the little
waif, feeling that the simplicity of child
hood had comforted as well as conquered
her. 'Maybesyou won understand, lit
tie one, but it bothers me when | cannot
give flowers away; if they were mine.
now
The slender fingers wandered over May
sic 5 brown braids 20, yes; that's the
way | feel, so often. Now if | only had
a posey, went on the pleading voice,
"Td carry it to dear old lady, | know,
at st. Mark 5.
AT the hospital, you mean ]? queried
Maysie, absently.
Yes, ma am, answered the wee
stranger, land she ) been sick long time,
too: but I m so poor | can't comfort any
body. q, if | only had a posey for her
Easter Wouldu' I it be heavenly p
Heavenly and Maysie sighed
wearily.
why; sure Peoples awful glad for
Easter time, continued the oracle, ''an'
tx up the churches splendid rous; but the
'vsgs' and the ragamufhns an charges
ain in it, are they p
II hadn't thought Of that, an
swered Msysie, weighing the lily cluster
between the chaneel of Ames Street church
and cot At st. Marks.
"If give you beautiful lily, will YOU
carry it to the dear old lady at bell-chimes
in the morning. she asked finally
As if | wouldn't exclaimed the
child, fairly trans6gured with delight
Then in the morning | will be waiting
for you
MAysie went upstairs with new thought,
one Of helpful kindliness. Il think can
do it, she said it Is not late and she
took from closet gown of eorn-Aower
blue. Il, viii make that little angel a
nice Easter dress, she went on. Al will
pattern after one Of those Mother Hub
bard affairs that always fit. All, here is
blue ribbon which viii do very well for a
sash.
Then something else presented itself
She ran lightly down the outer stairs, feel
ing sure that the gamins had not vexed
her after all
In a few minutes she returned and,
tucking away small bundle in the work
basket, fell 10 work on the Mother Hub
bard TO be.
In the glad Easter morning when the
chimes began their melodious praise, the
expectant child came gleefully into the
shop.
Naysie noticed that the tangles bad been
arranged into shining curIs and that the
beaning face was clean, but the rags and
,atters of yesterday were the same.
Come upstairs minute, she said
and the worn shoes battered up the steps.
Now, and she smiled at the child de
lighted wondering. Your gown i just
the fit. And here, diving into the work
basket, are stockings and slippers for two
willing feet-feet that ought to have
wingsr
The slender hands again clasped them
selves while the gratitude broke forth,
20, my! this Is like Heaven; robes and
flowers aud things! Say are you one o
them Easter angels; I've seen EN- in pic
tures p
"Sh-shr' and Maysie trembled with
a new revelation. at is nothing but a
pair of cheap slippers and a made-over
gown.
Goodness | don I feel that way,
bubbled the child. 'I-why | feel ike
they do in Paradise, guess!'
Maysie was rummaging in drawer aud
pretended she did not hear. while every
word of the delighted child was stone
Of help"
Here's a scarf for your curls, dear;
the hat does for every day, but this is
Sunday, Easter Sunday, you know, and
she tied the lace under the dimpled chin.
30 to be sure; the blessedest EASTER
was the gleeful assent, land I'll never
forget.
Neither will /, . said Maysie under
her breath Now be careful, she con-
tinued, audibly, as the wee fingers closed
around the tower-pot. 1T is choice
cluster, and there's an Easter card at
tached. The dear old lady will see the
cross and crown and understand -
"An' if she asks me who sent the
blessed thing?' questioned the waif with
tremor of joy.
Tell her guardian angel sent it, =
she answered, ''but my real name is May
sic Munro.
''And mine is Dollie Flint, said the
child, glad to exchange condolences with
her new friend.
The plain sunny room at St. Mark 5,
so familiar to Dollie, was quite empty
when she went in.
Why cried the child with shiver,