Middletown transcript., 1909-01-16

AstefA e SNt ~ AskAA Y g - AA1AO4A @ts ~
If yon don't sell your flowers at
once.
Linda set her baskes down to
gaze ecstatically At the bright
dime, holding her breath the
while as she dropped it into the
shabby purse as if ii were a fairy
coin and might be spirited away
at any moment. The bit Of sill
yer made the thin pocketbook
seem emptier than before; but
Linda eyed it admiringly, and
her heart swelled with pride at
sight of her first earnings.
BY and by she gathered cour-
age to offer her flowers at the
houses she was passing. There
was usually a swarm Of not over
clean children whocroWded about
her and wanted to see, but the
busy women who came TO the
door seemed half.angry at the in
terruption, and said eNo'' to her
inquiry. When the houses grew
finer, the yards trimmer and the
children fewer and cleaner, she
met With no better success. Us.
ually a servant answered her
knock, said they did not want
any flowers at that house, and
shut the door with a slam; or a
woman with a baby in her arms,
who said she did not want any,
came to the door; or a less en-
numbered mistress, vino announ-
ced that she did not care for any
flowers that day as ifshe might
some other day. It was always
t'No;" everywhere, mo.
Once a fnssY old lady came out
to the gate to see, and asked
where she gathered the flowers,
and how much they were, and
where she lived, and what her
name was, and if she went to
Sunday school. But she bought
no flowers. and Linda turned
away disappointed.
The doctor said not to be dis.
couraged, she said, changing the
basket to the other hand. ! can't
go back and tell mother l only
sold two punches. I'm going to
sell more'n that IT it takes till
dark to do it.
Coming at length out of yard
where, as usual, she had been
rebuffed, she nearly ran into q
young lady passing.
Oh! what pretty flowers! she
cried, 10 q burst of admiration
and friendliness that went to the
child's sore heart. All violets,
aren't they? If only I had my
purse With me! Have yOu sold
many9 and the kind eyes turned
to the tired, dusty little girl.
The friendly tone and manner did what
al the rehuffs bad. not done; they brought
tears to the child's eyes. Linda tried
hard to keep them back, and felt greatly
mortified when two big ones spilled over
and rolled down her cheeks.
There, don't feel bad, cried her new
friend. It is bard to try and try and not
succeed, but I'm sure you'll sell them all,
Do you know where Everette street is?
On, yes. ma'am, Linda answered.
uunld you find eight hundred and seven
do ynp think7
I'ui sure could.
Then I've plan. Let me take two
bunehes Of the violsts, white aud purple,
for / am going to see sick lady, and she
would enjoy them. Then any time after
an hour or 20 shall be at horns. and you
can come to eight hundred aud seven
Everette street and I'll pay you and buy
more il you have them. Will you do
thal9
Oh, yes, ma'am, I'd be glad to, cried
Linda, Frightening, and wishing she
could give one of the daintily gloved
hands i squeeze in her own brown paws.
Ain't she lovely! she exclaimed. look
jng after her a moment later. I'd like to
grow up like her. She'll never be like
tbst old lady,
This one success made her try again
AMI again more hopeinllyI but the 'hoes''
came so thick and fast that the brsvs
little heart grew heavy. The basket was
II
still 90 fuIli She comfofted herself by
often opening the purse and peeping 81
the wee bic of silver tucked away in one
! Of tbe dark corners.
There's cap cents there; she would say,
| and I'll have .sn moFe from the lady
that's twenty, and lot. We ogn live .
couple Of days on twenty cents; but I'd
like 20 Ret something towards the rent.
Il vas nov veil on 70 noon. Linda
was warm and tired; Remsmbsring ths
bread il her pocket, she sested hsFself on
hDrss block In Q shady place to eat End
rest. Wonderfully Refreshed by hsl
luncheon and breathing spaIl, Linda
caught np her basket With Iightsnsd heart
resolved to Try again. She took . peep
at her precious dime, saying:
| The doctor said il would be q good
] luck penny, and bring more. Well
I've twenty cents anyway. That's loEr
batter Ehan nothing.
Tha DOCTOR mpst have been : tFue
propilet. tOF The dime Eas good luck"
penny. Perhaps the fairy (if there gss
one at ths bottom ol it alp meant TO tsaeh