The Elk Mountain pilot., 1903-02-10


When It came little Miss Deane's
turn to report at the social, she hand
ed over three dollars, and said she'd
Just practiced little self-denial, that
was all. All she was sorry about was,
that she hadn't more to offer"
Il know what she meant by self
denial" whispered Mrs. Spencer to
Mrs. Brooks. "She's been calculating
on getting a new hat.-she told me so
but she's made up her mind to go
without it. It's shame TO take her
money. She needs it more than the
church does. But she'd feel dread
fully hurt if we told her SO. But I'll
tell you what I'm going to do. III
see how much l can raise among just
few of us, and We'll buy her new
hat and send it to her SO that she
won't know who it came from"
That's a splendid idea," said Mrs.
Brooks. You may count on me for
fifty cents, and maybe l can get Mr..
Brooks to give something. Well have
to keep the matter quiet, though, for
you know how proud she is, and II
she once thought of it as charity you'd
never get her to accept it,
liners errand boy knocked at little
Miss Deane's door with bandbox in
his hand.
When she answered his knock the
boy handed over the box, and started
off.
But 1t can't be for me- said little
Miss Deane. II haven't ordered any
thing. You've made a mistake"
Nope" responded the lad. "She
said it was for you, an she must ha'
know'd." And off he started again.
But there mast be some mistake"
persisted Miss Deane. Don't you
know"
Don't know nothin' bout it, 'cept
she told me to bring it here" said the
boy, and This time he made good his
departure.
Miss Dorothy Deane," was written
on the box-corner. That's my name,
sure enough" thought the puzzled lit
tie woman. "I'll look into the box.
though of course it belongs to some
one else. Then I'll take it right back
to the milliner's."
When she lifted the box coTer she
gave an exclamation of surprise, for
there was the very hat she had so
longed to be the owner of. A little
piece of paper was pinned to it. 1t
had a few words written on it. She
read:
Miss Dorothy Deane. AS a little
gift from a few friends who have long
felt under obligations to her for many
favors done. This doesn't pay the
debt, but is simply reminder that
we are not unmindful of it. We hoN
she will take as much pleasure in
wearing it as it affords us pleasure to
give It."
Dear met" said little Miss Deane.
with a rosy color coming into her
checks. 1T is mine. after all; II l
see fit to accept 1t. l wonder II 1
ought to? don't know why l
shouldn't, If it's friendly gift.-only
it makes me sure other folks have
got as tired of seeing my old hat as
l have, and this is a way they've
taken to get rid of it. II l thought
| it was charity. now"
She had lifted the hat out of the
box, and as she stopped in her SEN
tence she put it on and went to the
glass to see how she looked in 1t. She
gave little start of surprise at what
she saw there. Was that really pretty
woman herself? 1t couldn't be. for
the woman in the glass had rosy
cheeks and bright eyes. end looked
ten years younger than she did.
she felt sure. - and tho hat!
Didn't it look too sweet for anything?
1t ,ods becoming. She had felt sure
it would be, since the time she first
saw it. She took another look, and
that settled the matter. Charity or
| no charity, she would keep it.
Its a wonder to me that the old
serpent didn't tempt Eve with new
bonnet instead of an apple" thought
| little Miss Deane. He tCould IL the
| apple scheme hadn't worked. I'd just
like to sit and wear this hat all the
forenoon. l would. If it wasn't for
encouraging sinful pride"
| AS it was, she peeped into the band
| box half a dozen times before dinner
time, and every time she did so the
hat seemed to develop some new
beauty.
Dorothy Deane, be CAREFUL" she
admonished herself. Pride goeth be-
fore fall
Next day when little Miss Deane
come into church with her new hat
on. everyone thought they had never
seen her look so well. Il declare,
she's really handsome" whispered
| Mrs. Brooks to Mrs. Spencer. Il wish
I could get a hat that'd make me look
| as nice as hers does"
Now it so happened that there was
/ stranger there that day and he
noticed how well Miss Deane looked.
| and asked who sne was. And in some
way he got an introduction to her,