The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-01-05


warm like summertime, their black eyes
were shining, too.
10 the Union depot" Elsie had told
Jerry Flynn, and at the station they
shortly alishted. How much?" asked
the girl, holding in her hand the crisp
new two-dollar bill her father had
given her that morning.
WELL ma'am, my rates is a quarter
apiece, began the smiling Jerry.
quarter apiece Elsie made a
rapid mental count. "Oh. | won't have
any money left to buy them something
to eat"
But seeing it's New Years" went on
the hao oman, give me half dollar
ma am, an We'll call it square" and
Jerry Flynn was rewarded by the smile
In Elsie's eyes.
IL was as warm as summertime. and
on, so beautiful. At first the little
guests could only sit in a solemn little
row, staring wide-eyed at the marble
pillars and glittering chandeliers. They
maze the quaintest picture, and every
one stared and then smiled; and after
awhile the Washingtons began to smile
too, and to feel less strange and to nudge
one another and whisper together in the
1olllest way. Elsie, meanwhile, was
holding earnest conversation with the
proprietor of the lunch counter.
But you see,' she said. Il have only
a dollar and half, and must keen
something to get back with. Six cups
OF coffee at ten cents would be 60 cents.
and six pieces Of pie at ten cents-oh,
how can | ever buy enough for those
poor children!"
Beg pardon. ma'am, but didn't
know you was buyin' for that orphan
asylum over there. Possibly | could
find enough for you for a dollar. How s
that? I'll take the contract of film
them up for dollar"
And Elsie was glad to accept thl.
really generous offer. They had pie and
coffee and sandwiches and pork and
beans. Some of the articles, of course
were not as salable as they might have
been a few days before, but the Wash.
ingtons did not mind this in the least
but just ate and ate, pausng every now
and then to smile tenderly at Elsie.
When at last no one would have an
other piece OF pie or another orange
the children rolled up on the soft cush-
ions and went to sleep for all the world
like coy little kittens. Elsie took the
queer bundle from Martha's tired arms
and fixed her own coat against the bench
that the girl might rest better Then
she sat for a long time looking about
her at her charges and thinking what a
funny way ii was to spend New Year $
day. The station policeman who had
came forward now. Were you waitin'
for train, ma 'am?" he asked, touching
his cap.
"No-oh. no, thank you" said Elsie,
looking sweetly up at him.
His words put an anxious thought
into the girls mind. What were they
waiting for, after all? Where could
they go now? She listened to the ris-
ing wind and saw the sleet driven
against the window. Oh. how could they
face the storm-poor Martha Washing
ton and these little ones? What could
they do but wait? And for whom-un-
less 1t be the Father Of the fatherless ?
1t was comfortable thought. and when,
after another space of anxious watch
ing, the policeman again came forward
and said kindly, Wont you tell me Who
you're waiting for?" Elsie smiled
through the tears that would come. and
answered solemnly. Were waiting for
the Father of the fatherless. "
He was a very kind-hearted police
man, and perhaps was remembering a
little bue-eyed girl Of his own as he
listened to the simple story, for hr
drew one rough hand across his eyes and
said: We'll, little girl, | guess you
don't need to worry about them kids no
longer. for I'll just call up the patrol and
take them over to the police station in
no time. and In the morning we'll see II
we can't get them into tho colored
orphans home. | guess the Father OF
the fatherless was lookin' out for them
all the time. so you needn't worry no
more"
Elsie stayed just long enough to see
them tucked away In little white beds
by the kind hearted matron. then the
policeman took her back to the school.
Miss Morgan WAS looking anxiously
from one OF the windows as the strange
pair came up the long stairs
why, Elsie Lawrence, she cried,
what on earth Is the matter? Where
have you been?"
When she heard the story, Miss Nor
gan sat silent for long time, and there
was a suspicion OF tears in her voice as
she said. We'll. little girl. think you
have had very happy New Year, in
deed. Detroit Free Press.