The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-03-11

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 bed
time.
EliZa's mother was very busy
woman with little money and seven
children to clothe and feed. There
was a 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, wrig-
Cling wheels.
Eliza tugged resentfully at the rope
fastened through a hole in the box.
David grinned delightedly 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
natured baby in the world; but at the
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 cloud of dust about her
downcast eyes. She walked on to-
ward the postofIice. Here some boys
were playing marbles. One of them
stopped and greeted Eliza.
"Hullo, how's your kid to-day"
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
Davids happy face.
The silent Eliza went on faster
than ever. When she had turned
the corner, and was out of sight of
the boys, she looked back at David.
She wished he was for sale; she
wished somebody would buy him.
With his soft red curls and round
blue eyes, he was pretty enough for
anybody to buy. Now she renew
bered she had heard her mother say
that very morning she wasn't rich in
anything but children, 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 did not hear her mother add
that there wasn't a child she part
with for less than ten million dol
lars. Eliza thought that perhaps her
mother would be glad to sell David.
I'll find him a good place." said
Eliza, with 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 q 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. Eliza stopped in front of one
of these. On the side piazza sat a
pretty lady dressed in black. Squeak
ing, squeaking, the cart came up the
path. The diplomatic Eliza left Dav-
Id at the front and went around the
side path toward the lady. David
did not cry; David seldom cried.
"Are you the lady that lives here?"
asked Eliza.
The lady took a moist handker-
chief down from her eyes and looked
with start at the small Eliza stand
ing at the foot of the side steps. She
nodded.
? would you like to buy baby?"
"A-what?" asked the lady in
strange voice.
"a baby. l have one to SELL"
The lady sat up very straight.
"How much is it WORTH"
II don't know; I'll let you see him
and then perhaps you can tell"
Eliza trotted around to the front,
gave David's red curls a rub in the
right direction, sighed at his dirty
hands. then pulled the cart around to
the side.
$50 that is the baby" said the
lady. Take him out and let me look
at him."
Eliza pulled David out of the box
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