The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-04-14

inclined. had formed q very definite
scheme OF plunder by which his stom'
ach was to be substantially benefited.
In furtherance OF his scheme he had
gathered his band OF juvenile waits
and strays and had supplied them with
flags. with which they were nightly
tickled. The last soldier he enlisted
was Little Make-Believe.
He found her sitting disconsolately
on doorstep. She was in truth in the
saddest Of moods.
IL was seldom that her good spirits
deserted her, but she had not tasted
| food that day. and she had, besides,
even a stronger cause for dependency.
In the morning she had left, from
her stock Of the previous day, four
boxes of matches.
These she had sold for twopence,
with which she had purchased food for
Saranne, taking IL home 10 her sister,
and sitting patiently by it while IL
was eaten, touching not morsel Of ii
herself
"It amt 'arf enough" said Saranne;
"ny stomach's as empty as bandbox
with nothnk in IT,"
"Whatd yer like for supper" asked
able assumption Of cheerfulness con-
siderlng the state Of her own stomach.
"a pie" replied Saranne, her lips at
work in anticipation, "a meat pie"
"All right" said Little Make-Believe,
"I'll get yer one, Saranne."
She spoke with the air Of q person
who possessed magic ring, with
which she intended 10 go direct TO an
Aladdin's cave filed with meat pies.
She had firm faith in her own re-
sources, and believed, If they failed,
that something would turn up 10 lead
TO the fulfllment Of Saranne's wish.
AS she went out into the streets she
INDUCED In delightful visions-saw
shops crammcd with meat pies, smOk'
ing hot, and man with a beaming
countenance behind the counter, 10
whom she appeared and said. ERE,
old chap, give US arr DOZEN
She went home and laid them before
Saranne. who said, you're s0methink
like a sister! Take a bite at one yer.
selfw
The ariest OF airy imaglnations.
The afternoon waned and the meat
pies were as far off as the Promised
Land.
Then she began 10 despair. Not for
herself Hunger she had borne, and
her own pangs, but from Saranne's.
She looked upon ii as crime that
she could not satisfy Saranne's long
ing.
Her loving heart made her self-tor
menting most unbcarable.
She tried hard, very hard, to obtain
n copper or two; went to the shop
where she bought her matches, and i'm
plored the man to give her credit for
a dozen boxes. Strengthening her ap'
peal by the solemn declaration:
"May ] never drink another drop o
water If don't pay yer honest to'mor
how morning I'm sure to sell 'em,
sir. If | stop out all night Wont yer.
sir, wont yerf"
No. he would not, and he was not 10
be blamed for it, being himself a strug
Cling man with an enormous family
triplets the last presentation, for which
he received three pounds from Her
Majesty the Queen.
Mournfully Little Makc-Believe left
the shop, and il is not too much to cay
that if Satan himself had suddenly ap
pcared and had proposed to make
bargain with her il that birthstone
depot she would have jumped at any
reasonable offer.
She ventured in the streets to pull
the coat tails Of benevolent looking
gentlemen. but she was inn atiently
shaken off, and each time fell back,
fearful lest dreadful consequences
should follow her boldness. The per
sons from whom she endeavored to oh
tain practical sympathy for her silent
agony were not in the main of an un'
kindly nature, but these appeals were
so common, the streets were so full OF
imploring faces. If 10y miracle il
could one day happen that angels
should descend from Heaven and 10y
a simultaneous Divine movement lift
the weight of suffering from the hearts
of those in want of food. n flood OF
such sweet sunshine would illumine
the narrow thoroughfares of the mod
ern Babylon that this City Of Pair
would suddenly become very garder
OF glad souls!
ON the doorstep sat Little Make-Be
lieve. worn ont and exhausted by tht
struggle TO her. accompanied by the
children he had enlisted in his enter
prise. familiar faces all OF them, ap
pcared Dot-and-carry-
To be continued.