The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-13

from January he poked the fire. Al.
most at once tho winter left and
June smiled upon the forest. Flow
ers bloomed on every side and straw
berries poked their red lusciousness
from hundreds of green plants. Clare
gathered all she could carry. and with
grateful thanks hurried home. But
there she received not so much az
thank you. and the dawn broke upon
another day only to bring more I'M
happiness. Laura must have some
apples this tsfue. And at once, so.
though IL was TOO early for even the
friendly robin TO have awakened. lit
tie Clare stepped out into the cold, and
before so very long she came upon
her friends and without much hope
told them why she had been again
sent cut TO face the cold Apples"
said January. september must help
you now" md he did As soon as
ever ne had poked the fire with that
wonderful s.sn 1t was CHEEKY autumn,
and Tree laden with apples grew
Al their very feet. Now said
Brother September 10 clare. gather
two OF them. Yon may be sure THAI
Clare lost no time in doing So and
as she thanked the kind brothers
winter settled over them once more
and Clare fastened home.
Laura did not act in the least pleas
ed because Care had brought the aP-
Pies but nevertheless she ate them
and SO good did she find them that
she determined to go to the forest
to gather more. And in spite of her
mothers entreaties. she did go,
The sun shonc brightly upon thu
elisteninG snow and at every step II
sent out delightfully."- crunching
n E.| ~
W hen the weather Is very cold. but il
didn't amuse Laura, and the little
robin. when he saw her greedy, en-
v.ous soul shining on; of her eyes.
flew or as fast as his wings would
carry him.
And finally Laura came to the fire
in the forest and the twelve strange
men sitting around it, and without
SO much as q How do YOU doe" she
pushed her way among them and
held out her hands To warm them.
What do YOU wish2" asked Brother
January
Nothing from YOU she scowlinglv
answered. January thoughtfully
poked the fire and soon great flakes
If snow began to fall covering every
thing high and deep and quite burying
the path Laura started fearfully for
home. and | don, ike to tell it--but
she was never seen nor heard OF
again
The mother at home waited anxious
'iH for her, and at last unable to
bear il longer, set out in search OF
her daughter. And it pains me TO
tell this tho. for little folks should
know only Of truth and good. love
and happiness in this world, but that
unnatural mother did exactly as
Laura had done when she came upon
he sood brothers--and the result to
her was exactly as in Lauras case!
So Clare was left alone in the little
cottage. with neither mother nor sis
Ter. But hard az they had been TO
her and cruel. she nevertheless mad
loved them dearly and she would have
been most lonely had not her friends
Of the forest comforted her. As each
month of the year appeared one paid
her g visit, bringing her gifts. All
save those OF the white boards, but
they. % truth, brought something
moro precious than gifts. for they told
her wonderful stories or other lands
And time went on and little Clare
became big Glare. and as she had
been beautiful and good little girl,
she became a good and wonderfully
beautiful woman; a prince from
far-away land saw this. and knowing
her heart, loved her and took her for
his wife. and they lived in great hap
pncss all the days Of their lives.
Selected from Primary Education.
..