Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-10

Indian summer had come.
White clouds like soft heecy
blankets could be seen in the blue
sky. The sun had touched the for
est leaves and made them red and
gold. The boys and girls were 60
ing to school in happy little groups
that played and chartered gayly on
their way.
But one little girl was not happy
at all. Indeed. she was very sad.
For she was i'll and had to lie in bed
while through the open window she
could hear the merry voices Of her
friends as they went ON their way
TO school. And she could not see
the beautiful blue sky with the
feecy white clouds nor the forest
leaves all red and gold. And be-
cause her eyes ached SO, the shades
OH the window were drawn SO even
the sunshine could not come in.
But one merry little sunbeam who
loved the little girl found a tiny little
crack and in he came and danced on
the polished floor. He was a lively
little sunbeam and the little girl for
got how sick she was as she
watched him play.
The sick little girls name was
Elizabeth. But that is such very
long name for such a little girl
that everyone called her Bettykins.
Bettykins was very pretty. She had
brown curly hair and brown eyes
and beautiful pink cheeks and every
one loved her because she was SO
kind.
Bettykins watched the sunbeam
dance on the floor until he went
out OF the same crack he came in.
Il wonder where he went" said
Bettykins. perhaps to visit some
other little sick girl" After the
sunbeam went away Bettykins lay
very still and looked at the blue
birds on the wall and at the gay
pink roses on the bed quilt. And
although she tried ever so hard, two
little tears trickled down for Betty
kins did so want to be out in the
SUNSHINE.
Laughter Versus Tears.
lust then in came Bettykin's
mother. And when she saw those
two little tears, she whisked them
away so quickly that Bettykins had
tc laugh. ....
"What do you think ] have for
your" asked Bettykin's mother. d,
you can have three guesses to tell
me what it is" Then Bettykins be-
came very happy, for she knew her
mother had brought her a gift. y
guess it's a soft little gray kitten" ,
said Bettykias. NO." said her
mother. Guess again, Bettyklns'
Bettykins thought very hard; Then
she asked, as it an orange" Dear,
no." said Bettykin's mother, its
ever so much nicer than an orange,
"Oh. what can it be-" wondered
the little girl. Finally she cried out
with delight, y know what is IS;
mother, it's a dear little dolly" III
tell you what it is, Bettykins," said
her mother, 'for you have had your
three guesses and you have not told
me what 1t u.s." .'. s
The Surprise.
So Bettykins' mother slowly drew !
her hand from behind her back and
what do YOU think she held up be-
fore the eyes of the delighted little
girl? It was the cunningest little
teapot YOU ever saw. II was very
round and fat and around the top
was a wreath of purple grapes, But
the evry incest part was the PIC
ture OF little girl in the center She
had on a tall cap Of white that was
fastened to her head with gold pins,
II locked much like a sunbonnet,
but it was very pointed at the top
From out this cap her short black
curls could be seen. She had on a r
white waist with very short sleeves.
Over this waist was neatly laced
black bodice with velvet straps over
the shoulder. A short red skirt,
heavy looking white stockings and
pair Of wooden shoes completed this
strange costume.
what a quer little girl" said
Bettykins. Wherever do you sup.
pose do little girls dress like that"
Mother, do please tell me about
her. 81 will, my little Bettyk,ns,, ,
said her mother, "after you look
and see what is in the bottom OF
the teapot. | will bring you your
lunch, and while you are eating II
viii tell you about the little girl
on the teapot and the country where ,
she lives" /
Bettykins looked in the bottom S
of the teapot and there to her sur
prise and delight she found a shin ,
ing silver dollar.
"Mother, motherl" cried Betty I
kins, rs i r, really miner To do with .
"Yes, DEAR" said her mother" to .
do with just as you like, Bettykins,
and hope you will use i well. I
Now, you lie quietly and ! will take I
the teapot and bring you your lunch.
You shall pour your tea from it." = !
Bettykins lay very still while her 2
mother was preparing her lunch and !
felt the smooth piece of money and !
thought of all the lovely things she b
could buy. There would be new
dolly, some candy, handkerchief {
for mother and pipe for daddy. \