The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1909-04-10

they might have spared little, Moody
was ailing, and there was nothing to
spare from.
Poor old Moolyl Bernie had watered
her and fed her and MIXED her the
whole year, and he felt so sorry when
he saw her standing there. dumb and
quiet. not touching the sweet clover
hay lie had brought, that he forgot all
about Easter eggs.
He thought he would stir up some
bran aud see II she wouldn't eat that.
So be brought the water and measured
the bran into the pail and then looked
for the clean. smooth paddle he used 70
mix t. IL was nowhere In sight.
Guess the rats have dragged Il OF
again." said Bernie. II must keep It in
the feed box after this" and he looked
under the manager and behind the door
and around the haystack.
why. where is that paddlei" said
Bernie. and he climbed over n pile of
old lumber TO look In the farthest cor
ner behind a crippled wheelbarrow.
well. II l every' cried he. What in
this living world" and or came his
hat. and down he went on his hands
and knees In the dusty straw. Two.
four, six, eight. ten" He counted them
into bis hat. for there under the old
wheelbarrow was the cutest hens nest
ever you saw, with ten eggs.
BY the time Bernie had taken a good
long look at that lovely hatful, think
ing how they would seem all bright
ened up with gay colors and gilt stars
for Easter, II came over him that they
weren't his eggs, after all. They must
be Mrs. Bales or maybe Mrs. Ora
hams. They both kept chickens that
often came into this yard TO scratch
IN the straw.
SO II was rather sober little boy
that appeared in the kitchen soon
after and said: "Just look ut that,
mommie! Don't l wish they were
Oursl Can you spare me right now
10 take 'em over to Mrs. Bale'sr'
And when she had heard the whole
story his mother said: why. bless
your heart, Bernie. of course can
spare you. Take 'em right along I'm
glad you knew that was the only way"
When Mrs. Bale received a caller
with a hntful OF eggs she looked very
much pleased. She asked all about II
and just where the nest was, and then
she said. IT'S very good Of you TO
bring them over. Bernie. but how do
know whether they're mine or Mrs.
Graham'sr'
"You might divide, you know" said
Bernie.
why, so l can" said Mrs. Bale. 81
hadn't thought Of that"
And she brought little pail for
Bernie to put the eggs in and didn't
so much as offer him one for his
trouble.
Well, Easter Monday came, and
Moody was better and ate her hay with
good relish. Bernie had made a new
paddle, ard after ne stirred the bran
for her he thought again OF his search
for the old one and Of finding the
hens nest. So Of course be climbed
over the lumber, for the third or fourth
time since Saturday. TO see II another
egg had been laid.
"oh. my" he cried as he peeped un-
der the wheelbarrow. ooh, my oh,
rnommie, mommie. do come aud look"
And then without waiting for her to
come be counted them into his hat
again, with all their bright colors and
GIT stars and tiny pictures.
"Oh. mommie." be painted as he
rushed IN. my nest was full Of Easter
eggs, And can you spare me right
now to 60 and thank Mrs Bale? And
likely Mrs. Graham did part Of II.
Wasn't 1t good Of them TO think OF TT
And now we've got Easter eggs after
an"-Youth's Companion