The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-12-04

friend Of the morning came from the
house.
Here you are!" she cried. cheerily.
"Come up here and rest while go
for my purse"
Linda sat shyly down on the edge
of a veranda chair and looked about
her. AS soon as her eye rested on the
fat baby staring at her from the rug.
she forgot all else and slipped down
beside IL. The big mastiff regarded
this as an unwarrantable liberty, and
growled threateningly until the lady
said. Its all right, Colonel when
he withdrew To watch proceedings
! from the end OF the veranda.
Are you fond of babies?" asked
the lady, seeing that her offspring
was pleased 10 regard the newcomer
, with favor.
"oh. yes, ma am; love them dear.
( ly, play sometimes with Mrs.
! Dubbs': but they're bigger. and not
I half so sweet and cunning as this
one" and Linda patted her hands be-
fore the young person in question.
who seemed nightly pleased with the
| performance.
When Miss Edith returned with
/ generous sum for the flowers, and
Linda was ready TO go. the fat baby
objected strenuouslyto her departure.
! and howled Justify when his chubby
fingers were made TO relax their hold
on her dress. Colonel accompanied
her 10 the gate. evidently suspicious
! OF shabby basket-carriers. Havins
i watched her turn the corner. he re.
turned TO his post, feeling that he
| had done all that could be expected
OF him
! Impatient to show the plump condi'
tion of her pocketbook, Linda walked
! faster and faster, and at length broke
; into a run, not stopping until nearly
1 home. Scarcely waiting 20 catch heI
, breath, she burst into the house, cry.
ing:
Look! Look! I've sold 'em all!
I've got a dollar and ninety-ive
cents"
With that she held the basket up.
side down. poured the contents of the
purse into her mothers lap, and then
| could not resist mild "Hooray!" az
she tossed her hat to the ceiling.
Day after day Linda went out with
her basket OF flowers. The merchants
and clerks and school girls grew &c
! look for "the little violet girl" at the
street corner. But there came time
when the violet plants sent up nc
more blossoms, but grew thick with
leaves and settled themselves to the
task OF maturing the seeds In theii
! plump little capsules. Linda was
sorry TO see them grow fewer. for she
I knew that when they were gone her
occupation would go also. When Mt
last she had to search along the road
and even In the pasture for enough
belated blossoms to make Miss
Edith's daily bunch. her face grew
very sober thinking that she must
find some other way OF earning money
until the dear mother should be well.
But when she told Miss Edith that
she could come with no more violets.
that young lady suggested that she
still could come each day, II her moth
or could spare her, and take care OF
the fat baby during the summer.
MY sister thinks YOU will be a
trusty little nurse and so do l." she
said. III you like, you may come
tomorrow and begin"
Linda clapped her hands with Joy
at this, and the baby crowed. and
Colonel, who had grown quite gra-
cious by this time. wagged his tail ex-
citedly and barked--a thing he never
did except under stress Of great emo
tion.
Linda hastened home TO tell OF the
good news, visions OF new hat and
calico frock mingling with dreams
OF innumerable dalnties for her moth
er. Thinking OF the pleasant result
Of her efforts TO help and how they
! were brought about, she could not re.
sist stopping. as she drew near home,
| TO look inquringly at tall mullen
! growing near the pasture fence, and
to ask:
"After all, now do you s'pose there
was an elf that day under the violet
plant? Wayerley Magazine.