The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-09
THE SALE OF DAVID.
By FRANCIS BENT DILLINGHAM;.

THE SALE OF DAVID.
BY FRANCIS BENT DILLINGHAM;.
Eliza was tired of taking care OF
David. Eliza was eight and David
was two. In the morning before she
went to school Eliza washed and
dressed him and gave him his break
fast. When she came home at noon
she gave him his dinner when school
was over at night Eliza took entire
care of David till his bedtime.
Eliza's mother was a very busy
woman with little money and seven
children to clothe and feed. There
was baby younger than David ;
there were three children older than
he and younger than Eliza, and only
Eliza and Mary, girl of twelve, to
help the mother, Eliza should have
been grateful that she was required
to take care of David only.
But Eliza sometimes got very tired
of David, very though of course she
was fond of him. This afternoon she
was more than usually cross as she
trundled him down the street in the
cart her father had made out of soap
box on four squeaking, wriggling
wheels.
Eliza tugged resentfully at the rope
fastened through hole in the box and
David grinned delightfully."- at the sun
shine, and enjoyed the squeak. Not
SO Eliza. Amy Winters had invited
the girls to her house that afternoon
to make candy. She had told Eliza
she could not come if she must bring
David. This was not so unkind Of
Amy as seems at first, for the girls
were fond of David, who was the best
last candy pull David had attended, !,
he had upset on his head cup Of
molasses just ready for the stove. So,
while the other girls had pulled the
candy, Eliza had to wash David S
face and hair.
Eliza went fast past Amy's house,
beating up a cloud of dust about her
downcast eyes. She walked on to-
ward the postofice. Here some boys
were playing marbles. One of them
stopped and greeted Eliza.
"Hullo, how's your kid today?"
The boys all called David "Eliza's
kid"
Eliza did not deign to answer; she
tossed her head and the wagon wheels
creaked ominously.
"Kid for sale, kid for sale," called
another. smiling good naturedly at
David's happy face.
The silent Eliza went on faster than
ever. When she had turned the cor
ner, and was out of sight of the boys,
she looked back at David. She wished
he was for sale; she wished some.
body would buy him. With his soft
red curls and round blue eyes, he was
pretty enough for anybody to buy,
Now she remembered she had heard
her mother say that very morning
she wasn't rich in anything but chill,
dren, and she wished somebody would
buy some OF them.
Eliza's mother was so busy moving
about that a speech begun in one room
was likely to end in another, so that
Eliza frequently did not hear the END
of her mothers remarks. Eliza die
| not hear her mother add that there
wasn't child she would part with
for less than ten million dollars. Elizs
thought that perhaps her mother
would be glad to sell David.
"I'll find him good place." sale
Eliza, with a kind, rich old lady
and she'd pay a good deal, and
wouldn't have to take care of him
I'd want him to have nice big
house." @
The cart, the baby and the little
girl went up the hill, where were some
| of the pleasantest homes in the town
Elize stopped in front of one of these
On the side piazza sat pretty lady
dressed in black. Squeaking, squeak
ing, the cart came up the path. The
diplomatic Eliza left David at the
front and went around the side patti
toward the lady. David did not cry
David seldom cried.
"Are you the lady that lives bereF
said Eliza.
The lady took moist handkerchie
down from her eyes and looked will
a start at the small Eliza standing a
the foot of the side steps. She nod
ded.
would you like to buy babyP
"A-whatl" asked the lady in {
strange voice.
"A baby. l haye one to SELL"
The lady sat up very straight
How much is it worth 1''
ri don't know Til let you SCI
him and then perhaps you can tell
Eliza trotted around to the front
gave David's red curls rub in th'
right direction, sighed at his dirt,
hands, then pulled the cart around t
the side.
$50 that is the baby" said tn
lady. "Take him out and let m
look at him.
Eliza pulled David out of the boz
and tugged him, Imply Indifferent
up the steps. The lady looked a
him. She held out her hand AM
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