Middletown transcript., 1909-01-16

and Linda. remembering Tie young atf
turned her steps toward Esefpils sttpss.
The po0ketbaok was no longer empty;
one would never have dkeamed il was the
same thin purse Of The morning, 50 plump
and wsll-conditioned had it grown.
Linda peeped ID tlltougH the fsace II
she honse she was looking for, admirine
the beautifui home with ths wide, we'll
kept lawn, its garden as tbe side bright
with flowers, and the ane old trees cast.
ing over ali their generous shade. a
lady sat reading on QUE Of the yerandas,
and ct her feet, on 3 large rug, baby
was tutnbling about. Growing gleefully..
Liuds thought the fat baby would have q
ine place to grow up In.
Finally slis yentursd in, glancing rue.
fully at her. dusty shoes and sorry -Iookine
frocE. Hallway up the walk she stopped
in terror, for q big mastiff, which had
been asleep on tbe grass, arose, stretched
himself and came toward her, acting as n
be would have preferred flushing his
nap, but must attend faithfully to tres
passers. Linda trembIed at sight OF the
great tawny fellow with his huge body
and square, black muzzle, and felt ia.
clined 70 flee. But after good stare he
stopped q few feet from her, and as she
ventured on again, swung behind her in
great dignity, as il to say, "I'Il not eat
yon up this time, but, understand, allow
no nonsense.
Linda was at The steps before the lady
looked up. She glanced careIessiy al she
little girl.
don't think We have anything for yCu
child, she said, not unkiudly.
The hot blood surged into Linda's face.
FL amt begging, she said, quickly.
At the sound Of her voice her friend Of
the morning came from the house.
Here you arel she cried, cheeriIy. Come
up here and rest while go for my purse.
Linda sat shyly down on The edge Of q
veEanda chair and looked abont her. Az
soon as her eye rested on the fat baby
staring at her from the rug, she forgot all
else and slipped down beside it. The big
mastif regarded this as All understandable
liberty, and growled threateningly until
the lady said, '.It's all right, Colonel, !"
when he withdrew TO watch proceedings
from the end Of the yeranda.
Are you fond Of babies? asked the lady,
seeing that her offspring was pleased to
regard the newcomer with favor.
Oh, yes, ua'am; love them dearly!
play sometimes with Mrs. Dubhs'; but
they're bigger, ami not half so sweet and
cunning as this one, and Linda pattsd
her hands before the young lady in ques.
ton; who seemed nightly pleased with
the performances.
When Miss Edith returned with gen.
erous sum for the flowers, and Linda was
ready TO go, the fat baby objected ssrsn-
uously to her departure, ani howled
Justify when his chubby fingers were
made to relax their bold on her dress,
Colonel accompanied her to The gate,
evidently suspicious Of shabby basket
carriers. Having watched her turn the
corner, be returned to his post, feeling
that be had done all that could be ex-
pected Of him.
Impatient to show the plump condition
Of her Pocketbook, Linda walked faster
and faster, and at length broke into run,
not stopping until nearly tl,uir Scarcsly
waiLing to catch her breath, sue burst
into the house, crying:
LookI Look! I've sold 'eln al! I've
got dollar and ninety y.tive cents!
With that she held tue basket upside
down, poured the contents OF the purse
into her mothers lap, and then could not
resist mild "HoorayF' rs she tossed her
hat TO the ceiling,
Day after day Linda went out with h
basket Of flowers. The merchants aud
CLERKS and school girls grew to Look lpr
..the little Yiolet girl" at ths street CORNER.
But there eame q time When the violet
pIanta sent up no more blossom, out
grew thick with leaves aud settled lllrlll-
selves TO the task of maturing the sssds
in their plump Iittle capsules. Liuda y u
cory TO see them grow fewer. lor slls
knew that when they we're gme h nj
occupation would 60 also. When at last
she had to search along the road aud even
in the pasture for enough beialed bIus.
SONS to make Miss Edith's daily bunch,
her face grew very sober thinking that
she must find some other way Of earning
money until the dear mother stlpuid u
well. But when she told Miss E 9TH that
she could come with no more vioI9ts, that
young lady suggested that she still could
come each day, il her mother could spare
her, and take care Of the fat baby during
the suEpmer:
Ny sister thinks you will be Z ttssty
little nurse, and 60 do I. she said. II
you like, you may come tomorrow and
begin.
Linda clapped her hands With jly at
this, and the baby .crowed, and Colonel,
who bad grown quite gracious BY this
time. wagRed his tail excisedly and barksd,
"a thing be never did except under
ssFsss RI great emotion.
tinda hassstspsd h0ERe to tell 81 the
good news, visions Of . new hst sAd
CALICO iFock minglinR with dreams Of
IRnRmeFsble daiRsiss for her mother.
Thinking ni The pleasant result oG her
efforts to help and how thsy RsFs hEDasht
about, she could not resist stopping, as
she drew near home, to look inqnlTingly
at q tall MULLEN growing near the pasture
fence, and 70 ask:
After oil, now do yon s'pose thers was
an ELF that day under the violet plsnt7
E0TICE TO TAXPAYERS
gF