The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-21

VIM Don came home from following the hurdy-
gurdy man, 1T was almost dark. AS soon as he
ate his supper, mother put him to bed
Next morning early billy stole downstairs She
had thought beautiful plan. She would color the
Easter egg the loveliest blue and give it to mother
for an Easter gift. Blue was mothers fayorite
color.
The Kitchen was and cosey. Dly laid
the dye on the table. Then like little Old Mother
Hubbard, she went to the cupboard And when
she got there, still like Old Mother Hubbard sba
couldn't find what she wanted. There was no egg
There wasn't even any basket A bit of pink wool
lay on the shelf And, look she would in her
cupboard, in Don cupboard, all over the kitchen
TINS was all she could find of her precious egg
When mother came, billy was still looking
Motner looked everywhere billy had looked and
everywhere else, 1t seemed. The egg might have
been one of Dilly's dreams so completely had it
vanished
Never mind, dear" said mother eft rous+ be
somewhere. Anyway, you shall have another egg &"
Put mother didn't quite understand. How could
she? She couldn't know that it was over her part
that Dilly felt the worst.
The ducks egg was to have been roo+bor, 1,o+o
gift. Now, if mother did give her ano+bar
egg she couldn't very we'll give 1t back to her
Dilly ate a roll which had big Jumps in it, She
drank milk which tasted salty Then when q
seemed that sob must come anyway something
else came instead. 1t was an odd tearing cracl
Ing noise. 1t came again and then again D1Iv
looked up at mother. Mother looked down at
Oily
Crack-crack-crack!' The sound came from
the direction of the kitchen stove Then before
mother or Dilly could do more than think and
wonder there was queer, quaverng questioning
httle "Quack! After a second it came again
teuack! Then out from under the stove drag
glng itself slowly along bits of broken she'll stick
ing to its funny feathers, came a forlorn little
duck
"Oh, obi" screamed DlIy 40 mother i+,s .
duck! It's duck! mother!"
But even Dilly's mother couldn't answer the
questions IN Dily's eyes and voice. And the duck
mad all he could do to live without answering ones
tfons. He had to be put to bed in pink wool and
taken care of. Every minute it seemed he grew
bigger and stronger
When Don came into the room a while later he
was greeted by lusty "Quack" "Quack"
20 Dflly," cried Don. what a pretty cbic,en,
Where did you get hfm?"
TITS a duck, Donnie" said DilIy TITS D11v,s
own dear little duck. Donnie" she exclaimed sud-
denly did take Dillys egg?"
Il didn't play wiz it, cause it would break. Dill
ly' said Don. IT only just took it down. Then
the hurdy-gurdy came and put it under the
stove. Did it get broken, Dilly?"
"The duck broke it," laughed DiIv. "Don,+ sco1d
him. mother. I'd much rather have nv ducI,
than colored egg. wouldn't you mother?" she
added anxiously
Hell last longer, perhaps" said mother
I'm so glad you like him, mother" said Di11v
she brought the duck in his basket to rno+ber,s
sfde-"'c cause he's really yours Voc yoi J..
give you blue Easter egg-but instead its q
white duck-for your Easter present"
Mother laughed as she took her queer gift But
she kissed Dly. 'T know so little about d,cl,s ,,
she said I'll have to ask you Dilly, to take all
the care of him, just as If he was yours VIII +bat
do" '' VIII thaC
exactly said Oily. you do think Of the
IoVehest plans mother! And when don't know
can ask Mrs Brown. What shall Won nar,o H.
will Easter do or Lily?" '''''
Mother looked at her ,,e1,, ,,1,,5 mn, -