The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-10
THE LITTLE CRIPPLE.

| Once upon q time there lived little
| boy and girl in a large city. Their
names were Joe and Ethel She was
cripple. and their mother and father
| were both Dead so Joe had to work
| for their living. and tried to cheer
| Ethel as much as possible One even
| ing as Ethel lay on her cot up in
| tho garret she heard Joe coming In
fro nhis work. AS he came up to
see her (the first thing he always
did she said: II was Just thinking
II I could only go to tho country and
sec all of the little chickens and go
out In the woods to play. I think I
would get we'll. or at least 1 would
feel SO much better"
Joe sat down and the tears rolled
down his cheeks as he thought about
poor Ethel
After while he said, Maybe soma
day you Will be right out there in the
woods where you want to be-"
no" said Ethel, that will never
come true" Joe still sat thinking
Yes, he remembered he heard the doc
tor say the last time no came to see
Ethel that he thought II she could go
to the country and play in the woods
she would get well.
One day as Joe was going down
the street he overlook an old man
who seemed to be very tired and not
used to the city He asked Joe IL he
would please tel. him the way TO the
depot. Joe said he would, and was
very glad to help the old man, as he
was always very willing to help any
one and asked him to let him take
his suitcase. The old man was afraid
Joe wanted to steal his suitcase and
wouldn't let him have 1t.
Joe was very much insuited at the
Hnl t,a IlI
thing of him, SO he ran on down the
street and left the old man there.
Then he thought about Ethel. and
that maybe some way she might get
TO the country. as he soon found out
that tho old man was from the coun-
try He went back and asked the old
man to let him take bis suitcase to
the depot, SO they both went on down
the street. Joe told him all about
Ethel and himself. and the old man
asked him his name and address. and
said Some day I will send Ethel
a remembrance"
Joe never forgot those words; he
thought about everything, and said:
Maybe he would send Ethel some
flowers"
One day Ethel was UP in the garnet
on her cot as usual, and she heard
Joe come in the front door and say.
Just walk upstairs. madam" Ethel
could not imagine who It could be. as
they very seldom had any callers. Just
then Joe opened the door and said.
This is my sister Ethel. Mrs. Jones.!'
Mrs. Jones was very much pleased
with both Joe and Ethel. and went on
to say what Mr.. Jones had said about
Joe.
After while she said. 1T have a
little package for you. Ethel. Please
open 1t. Joe Ethel could not imagine
what 1t was but only wished 1t would
be some little plant with roots. She
could hardly wait until Joe opened 1t.
but said nothing. When he had opened
IL and showed 1t to her she was de-
lighted. 1t was a little violet bed. all
in nice little box. She. said. "Oh. II
/ could only live in the country" you
are. dear, said Mrs. Jones'" Eyes.
Ethel said Joe. "I have talked it all
over with Mrs. Jones. and we're going
to 1.-Two with her.
oh" said Ethel. isn't that perfect
ly splendid"
Mrs. Jones came again the next day
and they went back with her and lived
very happy.
NJ. MARGARET DANIEL.
Locust Hill, Va.