The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-12-04
HOW LINDA HELPED. j
. ....................''.'.
ny VI. II. CHILD.
By VI. H.. CHILD.

peeped out at one. over in the pas
ture. too, they grew. and the cows
nipped them off with the tender grass
as uncoacernedly as II il were OF
small account, this dining of flowers.
Stupid creatures! But there were SO
many OF them. so very many more
than Linda or the little Dubbses ever
thought OF wanting, that there was
no reason why the old Brindles and
Whitefoots and Spotties should not
try few. Only l am afraid they did
not appreciate their privileges.
I'm going TO do it," Linda cried,
rapturously. Its the only single
solitary thing that ! can think OF, and
I'm going to. II won't be begging.
either; but earning. fair as can be-"
When the plan was submitted to
the two other members OF the ways
and means committee, her mothers
eyes frightened. and Mrs. Dubbs pro-
nounced il "a foine idee." and offered
90 look after Mrs. Lany while Linda
was "a-sellin' her violets.
Bright and early the next morning
the little girl was out in the May
sunshine. filling her basket with the
trembling dew wet blossoms. Up and
down she bobbed, here and there she
peeped, searching for the largest and
fairest, while all the time robin
sang near by as If 10 assure her that
he approved OF the plan. A Squirrel,
too, safe in the crotch OF tree,
peeped out at her, his bright little
eyes shining with interest.
When her basket was full of loose
ly piled flowers and leaves, she with
drew TO a favorite shady nook TO ar
range them. What pleasant work 1t
was, sitting I'm the cool green wood,
with the mass of blue and purple, yell
low and white, in her lap. the sun
shine shimmering in dancing fiecks
through the trees. The breeze came
now and then to see what was going
on, and the robin nearly sang himself
off his perch in the intensity OF his
admiration.
There! now they're done: and
ain't they pretty?" she cried, looking
up at the two friends who had
watched her with such gratifying at
tention. The squirrel at once with
drew, deeming discretion the better
part of valor, but peeped out again as
Linda scampered off. She returned
with her arms filled with moss. soft
and green, which she fitted snugly
into the bottom of the basket. Then
she saturated it with water and laid
in the flowers, pressing the stems
into the moss to keep them fresh.
Mrs. Dubbs left her washing and
ran over TO see how she had fixed the
violets,' and to promise she would
see to Mrs. Lany's dinner IL Linda
were not at home by noon. The child
was sure she would be back before
then, but consented to slip piece of
bread in her pocket, to serve as
luncheon il needed.
Giving a good-by kiss to her moth
er, Linda trudged braveIy Off, clutch
ing in one hand the basket, and in the
other, a shabby pocket-book. At the
end of the half-mile stretch OF level,
treeless country lying between her
home and town, she net the doctor,
who pulled up his horse in amaze
ment at the sight OF the queer little
figure coming towards him.
Good morning. Going 10 market?
he said.
Linda blushed, then pulled the
paper from her flowers.
mo, sir. I'm selling violets. -
"Oh," said the doctor. Aren't
they pretty? How do you sell them? "
feeling in his pocket.
Five cents bunch. sir" she an
swered. eagerly, and tried not TO show
the full extent of her JOY at the bit
OF coin slipped into her hand.
"Ive change for only two bunches; ;
but you can call IL good luck
penny, and maybe IL will bring more.
Keep at 1t, and you'll go home with
an empty basket; so don't get discour-
aged II you don't sell your flowers
at once"
Linda set her basket down TO gaze
ecstatically at the bright dime, hold
ing her breath the while as she
dropped It into the shabby purse as If
1t were a fairy coin and might be spir-
tied away at any moment. The bit OF
silver made the thin pocketbook seem
emptier than before; but Linda eyed
IL admiringly. and her heart swelled
with pride at sight of her first earn
ings.
BY and by she gathered courage
to offer her flowers at the houses she
was passing. There was usually a
swarm OF not over-clean children wno
crowded about her and wanted 20 see,
but the busy women who came TO the
| door seemed half-angry at the inter
ruption, and said NO" 20 her inquiry.
When the houses grew finer, the
yards trimmer and the children fewer
and cleaner. she met with no better
, success. Usually servant answered
her knock. said they did not want any
flowers at that house, and shut the
/ door uffh a elara. Cr "A ,rpvaou NTH