The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1903-04-16

Philip knew exactly where to go for
the granny's present He had often
admired gally painted bird swing
Ing ON a little hoop In toy-shop win
dow. Surely granny would appre-
elate so lovely a thing. He put on
his hat and coat. seized n moment
when Martha was speaking to the
mllkman, and ran out. 1t was the first
time he had ever been out alone. and
the feeling of importance wa -
pleasing
He had wandered into a more
crowded neighborhood. and several
people looked curiously at the little
boy who. with n small parcel clasped
! tightly In his hand, ran on and on as
/ IL pursued At last a woman, feeling
sure he was lost and wanting to help
him, tried to take hold of his hand.
BY this time. however, Philip was In
n perfect frenzy of terror. He broke
from her kindly hand and darted
across the road to escape from her.
The next moment he gave n piercing
scream and lay motionless in the mid
die of the road, while a Mortified
crowd gathered round him. A car
riage drawn by a pair OF horses. and
going at great speed, had knocked
him down. A young man, who was
doctor, elbowed his way TO the front
of tie crowd. He fully expected that
the child was seriously hurt II not
killed. but when he picked him up
Philip opened his eyes and sald
"Phllsey was frightened and ran
very quickly. and the horse knocked
him down."
Il will take him home with me-"
said the old lady, "and ON the way
we will call at the police station and
give information; his parents are sure
to apply there as soon as they miss
him. My horses were within an inch
of killing him, and | can do no less
than take charge OF him now"
Are you the granny" he asked
suddenly. And when the old lady
asked what he meant. he told her all
about the party. and how much he
wanted a granny, and how he had
gone out to buy a present for her In
case Father Christmas brought her
that day. He explained. too. how
Father Christmas had brought him
once to be mothers little boy, and
how he had no daddy He showed her
the bird he had bought for the granny
Are you the granny TO any little
boy?" he asked finally. and he could
not understand why tears ran down
the old lady's cheeks. and what she
answered, for she spoke in low whIs.
per, just as II she were talking TO her.
self, and he could only hear n word
here and there. My folly and wick
edness,' years of loneliness" "lm-
possible to find them now" and other
unmeanlng phrases. But he felt sure
the old lady was unhappy, for when
mother was unhappy she often had
tears on her cheeks, so he tried the
same remedy that always cured her.
This Is writing mother put In my
pocket for II | got lost" he said, con
fdentially, and held out a card on
which was written Philip Stewart
Dalrymple. 8 Stoketon Road, Clap.
ham,"
When the old lady read this. she
said, "Thank Godr and she kissed
Philip again and again, and told him
that she was his very own granny
She gave no explanations. nor did
Philip demand them, for never had he
imagined that granny could be so
beautiful
The old lady told the coachman 10
drive as quickly as possible to Stoke.
ton Road, and just as Mrs. Dalrymple
and Martha had become aware of the
terrible fact that Philip was nowhere
to be found, the carriage drew up out
side the shabby little house. The foot.
man gave a laundering knock and In
another instant Philip was in his
mothers arms
Mother, mother, went to buy the
present for the granny to put on the
tree and the horse knocked me down.
and Father Christmas has sent
granny In time for the party"
And behind him was n stately fig.
ure, whose proud face was quivering
with emotion. whose somewhat stern
voice was trembling as 1t said.
Violet, my child, have found you
at last. Can you forgive mel"
Things were almost too wonderful
to be true, Philip thought. but It real.
ly was true. He was washed and
dressed In time for the party, and
such party never had been known
In that street before. Mrs. Mitchell
sent the carriage back to her house
with note to the housekeeper. and
jellles. and toys of every description.
And when the presents were taken
| of the tree and distributed. who so
proud as Philip for his very own
beautiful granny drew him TO her and
kissed him and said:
II shall always love the bird. Phil
sey, darling, because II you had not
gone out to buy It, might never have
found my little grandson"
But Philip knew 1t was all through
Father Chrlstmas.-NewY York News.