The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-20
MARY AND THE STRAY NEWS
PAPER.

Mary lived in the slums of the large
city Of s.. Her father was dead and
her mother was sick, so 1t fell on
Mary's shoulders TO take care of her
mother, her little sister and herself.
She ran errands. begged and did
everything she possibly could to help
her mother.
il was nearing Christmas and the
shop windows We're dressed with
many beautiful things Dolls and toys
Of every description were there. In
walking the streets in the snow Mary
often stopped to gaze in the windows.
She longed, oh. how she longed for
those beautiful things. Especially she
wanted some things for her little sis.
ter MFor she was fondly expecting
Santa for he had always visited her
before Mary knew that he couldn't
visit her unless she got some money
In some way
Three DAYS before Christmas, as
Mary was going home she found an
evening paper She at once picked 1t
up, then she found a sheltered place
and turned to the advertising sheet
in hopes of finding some way of getting
work In the lost and found column
an ad caught her attention and she
read IT, 1t read:
I.ost--0n Tuesday morning a small
French poodle, between Fourth and
Sixth streets. on b street. The
poodle wore collar and license. Ii
found. please return 10 No. los E C
street"
"Oh. I would like to find the poor
doggie." she thought Then she hur-
ried on. She had gone only short
distance when she saw small. white,
long haired dog in the street. She
hoped it was the lost dog and called
tyru m
friendly manner She picked 1t up and
started at once for the address given
in the ad She was soon there and
rang the bell. 1t was answered at once
by the maid Mary asked to see the
mistress of the house. She was ush-
cred into the library where she was
met by the mistress, who was over
toyed at seeing the dog. "Oh. you
naughty Frisk," she cried. The dog
at once sprang from Marys arms to
those of his mistress. The owners
name turned out to be Miss Strong.
Noticing Mary's ragged clothes she
asked her for her story. Mary
told 1t all TO her-how they
had been very we'll off until her
father. died, then how her mother had
worked until she fell sick; how she
had begged and worked. and how she
wanted to give baby nice Christmas,
and last OF all how she had found the
paper and then the dog. Miss Strong
gave her s25. which surprised and
pleased Mary very much.
Next day Mary went Christmas
shopping. and such a time as she had
She bought few presents and many
things that they needed She went
home early ard hid her presents. Then
the other things began to arrive. Such
a grand surprise pig It was for mamma
and baby, and such a time as they had
opening the bundles. Mary had saved
the money for the doctor and had sent
for him. He said that her mother
would soon be all right If she had the
proper food and care. He would take
no money but gave them some.
They had very merry Christmas
and Mary's mother improved rapidly.
The day after Christmas Miss Strong
called upon her mother and asked her
IL she could come and live with her as
her housekeeper. OF course her
mother consented and they moved at
once.
Ever aftarward Mary said that their
good luck was due 70 Frisk and the
stray newspaper. To put it in her own
words, "All Of our good luck is due to
Frisk and somebody's stray news
paper"
DOROTHY WINFRFY.