The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-02-01
A BUNCH OF vIoLETs.
Story in Twenty Paragraphs and Twenty
Sentences.
By ATarr Wnc

She was such a weird. forlorn- appearing little
mite as she tripped along that bitter cold Christmas
c7c with an old pu&shat that surely was never in
iepded for any feminine head pulled down over
1er ears, and sack comfortableooking indeed. vet
ut Of all proportion to her diminutie figure. its
waist terminating somewhere in the region of her
knees its yoluminous sleeves wildly tapping III the
Wind causing her to resemble some eerie thing with
wings and lis skirt descending - her tiny feet On
which were pair III such diapidat,d-lookinq koo;e
HAT one coud b1t wonder If they had ever seen bet
ter days
It's vierlets the Tot wants now" she was think
ING; "vierlets instead o books as usual: so we'll
read they say she is-an' she shall have 'enl-yes.
says / to the Sweetheart, this mornn if it breaks
the bank
"When one of the fine charity leddies called YES
erday with a big bouquet of 'em in her BOSOM when
she had gone l. say the Tot what would she give
for bunch O vierlets for Christmas like that an
she guessed she said that the fine Teddy was going
to ball. But the Sweetheart (who used to live
among the Big Bugs told her that the Big Bugs
could have 'em every day if they wanted EN-
Twas so kind" her busy thoughts ran on. 20
Mr.. Minton to give me that eXtry half dollar this
evenin for a Christmas present, Just when [ was
wondern' how | would get 'em for her, cause they
cost more n picture books do, an though the Sweet
heart says she guesses the cheapest costs a dollar
] said l guessed they wouldn't be above making
small bouquet for half as much, an be glad enough
10 get II, too. these hard tunes J
And the air of superior wisdom with which she
uttered these last words unconsciously aloud, sat
about as well upon her as her ill-fitting garments
Arrived at a florists window, she stood for some
time admiring Its display of flowers Ito her vision
Of Heaven), with clasped hands and shining big
eyes before she could tear herself away to go in
and make a raid on en-" as she joyfully whis-
pced to herself.
'Scuse me. the snow do cake so on ones booth.
sir She said, alphabetically. to portly gentleman
walking aimlessly about with his arms behind his
back, AGAINST whom she had foundered in her zig
gag path to the counter because of the impeachment
mentioned.
The portly gentleman merely exclaimed God
bless u.s." and stared at her. while she thought what
nice thing that was to say and what fine Santa
Claus he would make with his snowy beard and rosy
cheeks and fur cap.
But alas. The cherished half dollar being
found after maddening search through the sew
eral pockets of the voluminous jacket. being
dropped twice-so did the cold little fingers of the
vould-be purchaser tremble with eagerness-and
subsequently, scrambled after and at length located
at the very feet of the portly gentleman who picked
II up and safely deposited it on the counter-alas.
Inc clerk replied to her earnest petition that they
had no volets for fifty cents and were not accus-
toned to divide bouquets for SO small sum.
II was of no use to say more for when the Mite
began timid appeal, Couldn't he now, Oh, please
couldn't be Just make up teenty tointy few" he
waved his hand impatienty, saying that be was very
busy and She would do better to try elsewhere.
The Mite mechanically reached up to the coun-
Ter and secured her scorned offering, houndered
AGAIN against the portly gentleman, whom indeed
She did not see, being blind with tears, and tried
again to say scuse me-" but found that she could
not control her voice when to her surprise he i'm
medately laid OBTAINING hand on her arm and
said gently:
Want a minute, my good little-hup1ph! wait"
She stood still, staring at him. while he went
oyer 10 the clerk and INDUCED unheard by her, in
ne following whispered dialogue:
"Wiiam-er-what would you call it now, the
making of a man or a woman
Well sir, seeing you ask me- | should say, sir,
Judging from the headgear. male. sir, yet again,
rom the Jacket female. But take 1t all IN all,
s'T we shall not look upon its like again.
William who evidently fancled himself wit,
gave utterance to a great road of laughter
me child had been striving to stay her tears
while watching the two with wondering eyes, but
a tins She started passionatey forward on run
'"ad the door while crying out:
r., Oh. You cruel man! To make fun of poor
a'ue thing like me, an Christmas Eve, too!
1e3 while the portly gentleman was saying to the
nm. Make LIP the biggest bunch of violets you can
I--iam-don't spare the expense, and give EN- to
D." poor httle-humph-gir | take 1t"
but alas! for the snow-clogged feet; Just as her
sIa was on the door, she slipped and fell heavily
~. ~a one foot twisted under her, and, Immediately
wing to rise again. fell back with a moan OF pam
To be continued.)