Middletown transcript., 1909-01-16
HOW LINDA HE; PED !.
BY NJ n CHILD

ind violet,
Linda was disappointed She
had meant to ask the elf to help
her; and now, instead of d good
natured fairy inclining i listening
ear to her troubles, there was
only a violet plant! and what
could lido! But the violet really
did something; it suggested the
pleasantest of ideas. Linda broke
into a laugh aud clasped her
hands.
Oh, if only ! could she cried
But doubts followed
fast. They're only violets, she
said, regretfully. Anybody could.
come here and pick EN-. ! don t
believe anybody'd buy EN-.
But the violet plant shock its
leaves in the breeze, and the bright
blossoms peeped out as if to say,
We are waiting.
This plant was butoneof many
about the Lany cottage. In the
woods, in the road between the
wagon ruts, myriads Of blue and
purple flowers peeped out at one.
Over in the pasture, too, they
grew, and the COWS nipped them
off with the tender grass as un-
concernedly as if it were Of small
account, this dining off flowers.
Stupid creatures! But there we're
SO many Of them, SO very many
IuUre than Linda the III little little
Dnbbses ever thoughtof wanting
that there was no reason why the
old Brindles and Whitefoots and
Spotties should not try a few.
Only | am afraid they did not
appreciate their privileges.
I'm going to do it! Linda cried,
raptprously. It's the only single
solitary thing that ] can think Of,
and I'm going tol It 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 pronounced it ''a
foine ideer and offered to look
after Mrs. Lany while Linda was
"a sellin " her violets.
3rightand early the next morn.
ing the little girl was out in the
May sunshine. filing her basket
with the trembling dew vet bios
SONS. Up and down she boobed !,
here and there she peeped, search.
ing for the largest and fairest,
while all the time q robin sang
near by as if to assure her that
heapproved of the plan. A squir-
rel, too, safe in the crotch of a
Free, peeped out at her, his bright
little eyes shining with interest.
When her basket was full of
loosely piled aoWers and leaves,
shl withdrew to,a faVerite shady
nook to arrange them. What
pleasant work it was, sitting. ip
the cool green wood, With the
mass Of blue and purple, yellow
and white, in her lap, the sun
shine shimmering in dancing
Hecks through the trees. The
breeze came now and then to see
what was going on, and the robin
nearly sang himself of his perch
in the intensity of his admiration.
There! now they re done; and
amt they prettyG she cried, look
ing up at the two friends who
had watched her with such graft
flying attention. The squirrel at
once withdrew, deeming disera-
tion the better part of valor, but
peeped out again as Linda scam
pered of. She returned with her
arms tillad 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 ipto the moss to keep
them fresh.
Mrs. Dubbs left her washing
and ran over to see how she had
''tixed the Violets, and to prom
ise she would see to Mrs, Lany's
dinner if Linda were not ct home
By noon. The child was sure to
be back before then, but con.
septed to slip piece of bread in
her pocket, to serve as luncheon
if needed.
Giving o gSsd6y Kiss to bel
mother, Linda trRdged hERyely
of, clutching In one hand tlad
basket, and in the other, a ashabby
pocket. book. At the end Of the
half miis stretch Of level, treelesa
country lying between her home
and town, she INST the doctor.
Who pulled upfis horse u eRaze
meat at the sight Of the qUssl
little fguRa cornin0 towards him