Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-29
AN UNSELFIsH LITTLE GIRL.

On, my, | do wish | had new
doll said little Helen. ] broke my
other one the other day and am so
lonesome. | have no brother and no
sister to play with. have one little
tiny doll but she is too small"
MY, Helen, it has only been a little
over a year that you would not play
with your big doll at all. You wanted
to play with the small one" said her
mother
yes, but she was new then and now
she is getting old and | nm tired of
her. | want new one, mamma. 1t is
so near Christmas time that ! will
wait and maybe old Santa Claus will
bring me one
! Yes said her mother, Il will write
to old Santa and tell him to bring you
one. | am sure he will"
Christmas was not far off, only about
week and half. and everybody was
getting ready for a big Christmas tree
in the park.
There was going to be program
and all the little children were to help
| in it. Little Helen was to speak
piece about Old Santa and The Mouse.
She had it good and though she was
but 5 years old, she could speak a
piece as well as an old child could
There was to be an old Santa Claus
and he was to give away the presents
when the time came. Now old Santa
was a good old man and knew how to
please little children. HeIen's mother
had written to him and told him that
her little girl wanted a new doll, one
of the largest he could find.
Ch,cfy,,c Oft 1,s I 10
Helen was getting ready to go. She
was to wear her pretty golden hair in
curls down her back with big ribbon
with holly leaves in it. She was a
beautiful sight. She was going I'D
town with her mother and her little
friend. They were both dressed just |
alike.
ooh. mamma. do wonder if old !
Santa will leave me my pretty big /
doll"
do not worry, Helen, for he will
leave it,"
They reached the place where the
program was TO take place. A large
share of the children were there. OF
course. many people from the country
were there: in fact, people from all
around were there. :
It came time for Helen to do her
part. She got on the stage and spoke
out clear and distinct and when she
resumed her seat the house fairly
rang with clapping of hands and
shouting. 4,
At last it came time 10 go to the
park. They all marched. two and two.
and oh. my. what long string Of chill
iren. Yes. and there were children 5
rom the country, too.
The fourth name was Helen Gray d
and she was the happiest girl that
aver lived
Well, they were about ready to go
nome when Helen saw a little girl
With torn and ragged coat and hav [
ng 10 mittens on her hands Her
little hands We're red as fire with cold. a
Helen asked her name and she said c
t was Dolly Jacobs and that her par L
'nts were very poor. e
What did old Santa give you.
)olly?" asked Helen t
He has never given me anything h
'et and I did so want new doll. I
haven't anything to play with. MOI
,rothers and no sisters. What did he s
i've vou?' she asked Il
He gave me big doll | have t
title one at home hut | do not like a
0 play with her" |
Helen turned to her mother, NAM a
IA" she said. '1ook at this little girl O
Ter papa and mamma are so poor that
hey cant huv her any warm clothes g
, wear. We have more money than g
hey. Let us go and get her some Il
arm clothes. II
So they went to the shoe store and h
OF her some warm shoes and stock W
lgs and then they went to a drygoods e
tore and got her a coat and some nit d
ans Then. Helen said, Mamma she 10
asn't any brothers and sisters and t.
0 dolls and have one at home. Let
10 give her this Cne.' tic
why, Helen, you nave been asking al
" this one for over week and now S.
nfcre you even get it home you want II
, give it away. But if you want to n,
ou may" said her mother.
So Helen gave Dolly her big doll and
i'll should have seen her face light up
SO Dolly went home happy and
ellen went home happier than if she d
I'D kept her doll. She never said
lother word about the little doll but It
aged with her all the time. ~.
Leila Lorena Walker. Age 13 o,
F. d. l. West Grove. Iowa.
oW PEOPLE ARE MADE HAPPY. N