Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
A DAY OF MIRACLES.
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graders, about the young lady who at
tempted to pick up the colored walters
thumb, thinking il a chocolate cake, left
her perfectly unmoved although the others
were shrieking. l was delighted the other
day, thinking she had really whispered, but
1t was a false alarm. She will never resist
temptation by yielding. l feel sure. Do you
think it's because she's Scotch, or just be-
cause she's Janet?" and Miss Lucy laughed
heartily over the matter. Think what a
life is before her. with no fun in It, and
with no sins to be forgiven or to forgive?
And Miss Lucy, who got whole comedies
out of every day in school, went to her
class room to be besieged by her pupils for
a sleigh ride.
Only $500 having been collected, two per-
suasive boys We're dispatched to interview
the livery man. who firmly demanded his
pound of flesh, which was So, and who was
adamant to che almost convuls.ve eloquence
of Johnnie, who wound up with the inco-
herent statement that Everybody father
wasn't working, everybody couldn't go.
and teacher wouldn't let anybody pay more
than ten cents" Even the sight of s4.Go in
cigar box all in dimes and n!ckels, left
him unmoved. The snowballS with which
he was pelted and the opprobrious names
applied to his rig" by the defeated plead
ers, who kept at a safe distance, moved
him, however, to such a state of dancing
wrath that he shrieked that no price would
get his sleigh for such set of villains and
that he was going right over to see the
teacher"
This sobered the young men, who, upon
their return, made such sighting remarks
about the appearance of the horses and the
capacity of the sleigh that Miss Lucy de-
cided to patronize rival establishment,
saying she would pay the deficit and invite
four guests.
She'll invite some one who hasn't paid"
said the big girl to the crowd, and Sammy
Immediately hid his 10 cents with which
he had been trying to part all morning
Anyway. she'll let everybody go-the
teachers always do At which Janet, at
the edge Of the crowd, felt her heart leap,
although her impressive little face showed
no emotion whatever
She and her mother had spent the whole
evening before trying to plan how the 10
cents could be spared, and had at last de-
cided that it could not be, since two good
places" had been lost. the ladies doing
their own washing. owing to the hard times.
Janet had not demurred She knew her
mother would crafty her if she could, but
her whole conversation after the decision
had been of the miracles she had heard of
at Sunday school, and her mothers heart
bled knowing the reason why.
So when Janet heard the big girl pro-
claim that perhaps every one would go her
hopes arose, only to be dashed by Miss
Lucys announcement that of course no
child who had not paid or been paid for
could go. No one ought to indulge in what
he cannot afford she said. TT is no dis
grace not to be able to afford to go, but it
would be very great disgrace for chill
dren who have not paid their way or been
invited to co.
Then she read the names of her guests
the children with the poorest averages in
arithmetic for the last month. The chill
dren looked around, amazed, although Miss
rLucys queer ways were well known to
them. AS each guest explained she had
already paid, Miss Lucy said: Select any
big girl whose .arithmetical ability was
small, but whose heart was large, said,
Janet" Janet felt sure every one in the
room must hear her heart beat.
night, but I'm afraid you can't go tomor-
row. Mrs. Brown sent for me to wash, and
1 can't leave Donald alone"
"Oh, mother!" said Janet, in anguish.
''Oh, I can't stay at home now, when I've
been thinking all day of going: never
wanted anything much in my life. Why
can't you take Donald with you?"
Il can't, dearie. Mrs. Brown doesn't like
children. and can't afford to lose her good
will You must be patient, child. l know
it's hard. Donald is so mischievous can't
ask the neighbors to take care of him.
Maybe there will be another time
mo, there never will be-" sobbed Janet.
when Alma said. Janet thought mir
acle had come true. And two miracles
could never happen to me. When the milk
man gave me ride one day l thought l
would rather be in sled than go to
heaven Yes, did, and 1 would she said.
passionately. ,,,,x
him. such bad boy nobody will have
you around, SO have to lose my ride. L
almost hate you.
go to bed Janet" said her mother,
sternly land never mention the sleigh ride
again. 1t has made wicked girl OF you
A strained look around the determined
little mouth was the only evidence next
day of the outbreak of the night before.
On her way to school she said: Donald,
I'm going to the sleighing party this after
neon. If you don't go near the tracks
nor play with the stove When I'm gone
III give you ride on the p0aro IN
give YOU a rabbit and I'll take you to see
the elephant in Lincoln Park in the sum-
mer''
II want to go to the party, too whined
Donald.
..You can't It's only big children, and
YOU have to be invited. Now, stop crying
this minute, or I'll get the principal to
shake you
81 do believe Janet really cares about the
ride" said Miss Lucy at recess. Il thought
Alma's kindness was wasted, but Janet
actually made two mistakes this morning
and lost her place in reading. She's i'm
proving Maybe she'll be real human
little girl sometime before she's seventy,
and she laughed gleefully.
"Janet just told me she can't go this
afternoon, because she has to take care of
her brother said Alma. Isn't 1t TOO BAD?
She never has any fun
Miss Lucy hurried to the stairs and called
Janet back.
rs 1t the little fellow in the kindergar-
ten?' said ISIS Lucy. TN just tuck him
under my cape, where he'll be as snug as
bug In rug and We'll drive around to
Mrs Browns and tell your mother"
Then Miss Lucy received a shock. Janet
threw both arms around her teachers neck,
and said with a face as bright as any
other little girls, but with sob that shook
her body, 1--WE been so bad. / thought I'd
go anyway but 1 couldn't-mother trusts
me. Miracles do happen, don't they?
YES every day." said Miss Lucy, kissing
her with twinklng eyes.
She's such a dear little thing, but so
queer" said Alma. What do you suppose
she meant by saying that about miracles,
Miss Lucy?"
'I'm sure don't know said Miss Lucy.
refectively.