Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01
CHARITY.
BY ROSA SHIPPEN,

1 b1 nOSA ot1lRfEN.
She had such q queer name for a little
girl-Charity. Perhaps you think she was
named for her grandmother: or perhaps
that she was one of three sisters named
after the three graces, Faith, Hope and
Charity. But no, little Charity was, as far
as she knew. an orphan. The town of
Lyndhurst had just completed its new Or
phans' home. The minister had just held
the opening exercises. at o'clock one
| night. when some one heard a noise on the
| steps. and opening the door found there a
| little starry-eyed baby cooling at the moon.
She was the very first occupant Of the
home. and when the trustees saw the baby
and found no clue to any name, they named
her Charity, because they thought they
| would have her brought up in the home as
the first act of charity its records.
The ladies of the town thought Charity
| beautiful name, too. and said they knew
such dear little baby must grow into q
| lovely girl to prove that Charity and love
are the same thing.
But. oh, dear. Charity did not grow into
| such lovely girl at all. She was bright
| child and smart one. but she had such
| very bad temper that she was punished
continually and the matron often said she
| would have to shut her away from the
with them.
| So 1t happened that the other children
| told her she ought to have been named
| temperance: that they might call her tenn
pot. Pepery-pot, how is your temper, Miss
| Red Hot?" 30 tauntingly that it made her
| temper even worse. and one day Charity
resolved she could stand it no longer; run
| away she would from the home
1t was an easy thing to do, and she slip
ped out Of the gate and into the public
| road without being seen. Then she turned
TO the right, away from the town, and was
| had two big slices Of bread and some cheese
| tucked In her waist and she had no Idea
where she was going. Poor little Charity,
| with no one to love her and care for her
and only her bad temper to keep her com
pany!
| The afternoon passed quickly and Charity
| enjoyed her freedom. She played hide and
| seek with the little squirrels on the fences
and chased the butterflies and picked great
| punches OF flowers as she walked toward
Nowhere. But when night approached en-
s ssn Inn was a diherent matter and she
pery-pot." She knew If she only walked
| far enough she must come to a house where
the people would take her In. But no house
| was in sight. Instead there was a black
| spot on the road in the distance. which
| turned out to be a wagon. with a sleepy
| old gray horse harnessed to 1t. There was
| no man nor woman nor house to be seen,
| Charity ran to the old gray horse, and
burying her head in his name sobbed as If
her heart would break. The old horse
| whinnied softly. putting his nose around
caressingly, and Charity kissed him over
| You will take care Of me, won't you,
dear old gray?' she whispered, and then
she climbed into the wagon, and making
| herself comfortable on the bags In the
back, she fell asleep.
Charity was awakened by the Changing of
| bells and footing Of whistles the next morn
ing. and wher her blinking eyes opened she
nofrh
houses built close together. and cars and
people dashing this way and that A burly
man was driving the old gray horse. Char
ity's heart beat hard and fast. Where was
| she! what would become of her? Did the
| man know he had a passenger? AS she
crouched in the bags. quaking with fear,
the old gray turned corner, his mas
! ter pulled him to standstiIl before a store
and jumping out. entered. Quick as a flash
| Charity slipped to the ground kissing the
| old gray horse an affectionate goodbye she
ran down the street. and in her fear
| imagined she was being chased. Faster and
| faster she ran, this little waif from the
country home, until her feet would carry
her no more. then she crept into dark
| hallway and huddled trembling there
| Pretty soon the sound of voices near her
startled her again and she drew further
| Into her corner. But there was nothing to
fear-only three little girls about her own
| age, who ran laughing and chattering up
| the stairs without seeing her.
Charity kept quiet for few minutes
longer.
They would be good to me- Pm sure. ["
my red hot temper, and can try to con-
| troll it, ~
Then she tiptoed up and peeked through
| door partly open at the head of the stairs
from which came sounds of music
There were the three little girls in the
| midst OF group of older people, all won
derfully dressed. and a man in black was
talking loudly and waving his hands vio-
I lently.
Charity had thought she had reached
| fairyland at last. One beautiful lady was
/ dressed in white satin and a long VEIL with
diamonds glittering at every motion, and
| the men were in bright velvets with span
l giles. The little girls were dressed in white
with beautiful shiny silk sashes-but the
| one looked happy.
"Celestel Is Celeste never conning?, he
cried. What does 1t mean that she dares
/ to disappoint me this way? I tell you,
"Mr Block" interrupted the beautiful
lady in white. ELSIE here says that Celeste
Is so sick she cannot come. Won't three
| dor"
| I'VE must have all for q dress rehearsalr'
Numbered the fiery little man. 1--WE must
rehearse exactly as we are to perform. We
| must have Celeste-or some one to take her
less than four. Hurry. get some one"
The fiery little man was near the door
and before Charity could draw back In the
shadow he had seen her.
trembling with fear, Charity obeyed
| why" said the beautiful lady with the
veil. 'she Is just the right size, Mr.. Block.
| and she is pretty, too"
Charity blushed and hung her head. It
was the first time she had ever been called
| pretty, and she was conscious of her ging-
| ham apron and copper-toed shoes.
| do you dance, child? What Is your
Manner
| Charity shook her head. 1--WE never
1 tried" she said. "They call me Charity"
Let her use Celeste's clothes. Mr.. Block.
and try" suggested the young lady. whom