The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-12-15
= The Courier Story Contest
Seasonabe Fiction written by Pupils County Schools

to get something for Poppy" He
moon was sailing majestically along
and the Heavens were dotted with
ner children. the stars. Then the
clear tones OF the church bell fell
distinctly on Dawes ear, and with
sudden impulse, he rose and started
for the door, muttering to himself.
May be they might give me some.
thing like they do the other kids" He,
ran nimbly down the five flights of
stairs entered the street and walked
rapidly off in the direction of the
church. the same church that Tom
mad entered when he put the apple
in the Christmas bushel
When Dave reached the steps. he
stood for a moment undecided but
at last taking his cap off, and hold
ing it with both hands, he entered
the church and stood there bashfully.
1t was filled with a crowd Of merry
folk, and the gay dresses and bright
lights completely dazzled him.
Suddenly, he knew not how, for he
was too confused to notice much OF
anything man came up to him, and
handed him an apple from the
Christmas bushel. It was the very
apple that had been given Bob that
morning, but how different was it's
reception. It had been scornfully re-
jected by Bob, but now it lay safe
and snug in Dawes pocket. Dave
rushed out Of the church and danced
merrily along the road, singing hap
PLY to himself, ooh, Poppy, got an
apple for you. Poor girl l wonder if
she will be awake when reach
home He bounded up the five flight
of stairs and entered the room.
"Oh, Poppy" he cried, 81 got an
apple for you from Sanity truly,
have" and Dave brought to view the
apple rosy And big.
20, Dave, give it to me-" cried the
child as she eagerly stretched forth
her hand to grasp the fruit.
Nov, Dave. run get a knife and
I'll cut it in two and give you half"
Dave. protested but at last brought
her the knife, which she eagerly
\ grasped az she proceeded to butcher
the apple.
Suddenly she stopped and looked
up at Dave. 1T won't cut" she said
solemnly Wont cutsp cried Dave in.
credulously. Maybe you are not
strong enough to cut it. Let me try"
Dave took his turn and tried. in vain
to cut the apple. Il cant under
stand it, he said" I'll have to break
it open" and this he proceeded to
do with great alacrity. The apple
broke and then Dave saw what had
prevented the carving of the apple.
There, in a small crevice, lay a gold
piece. Dave was not good reader
but he managed to make out that it
was worth $4,000. 1t had been sliced
in the apple with small thin knife.
; For "a moment Dave stood COM
pletely dumfounded. Then it slowly
dawned on him that he was the &C.
tual owner of $4,000.
Without a word of explanation he
left the room and in a few moments
had entered a store.
Please sir he said addressing a
clerk who stood near him, / have a
sister home an we amt got no pres
ents nor lights nor warm cloes an
J we amt got no coal left but l have
got twenty dollars, and please send
down every thing you can with that
money. that will be needed to give
my sister the first Christmas she
ever had"
, For. amoment the clerk stood un'
> comprehendingly. holding the money
!, in his hand. Then Dave told him the
story of the apple.
3, alright, my boy" said the clerk
hastily, "Tll do just as you say"
e Then hastily turning, he proceeded
T. to have the order filled out. The
: bill far exceeded 5000 but the
8 kind hearted clerk paid that out Of
S his own money saying to himself as
e he did so, For inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these
(. my brethren, We have done 1t unto
II me-
!. Then placing a five dollar bill in
u with the rest Of the goods he ordered
1t to be sent to street.
. There was Joy in the tenament
E house that evening, as Poppy stared
e IN at the fairy land that had so sud
Il denly opened upon her-joy that lii
y up the room with light Of love
a divine. and as the start" The for
u get-me-not's Of the Angels" looked
d at the window they seemed to twinkle
Is with renewed light and the moor
e seemed to pause for a moment in hel
II restless sail and the calm Heavens
looked down on the earth and seemed
to whisper softly peace on earth
IT good will to men,