Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-02-09
BY ETHEL HOLMES,


| mrS. anu MT. van W1nKie were pre-
pairing for breakfast. They were ricl
the Van Wrinkles; in fact, they ha
never known a time when they had no
been rich. There was one thing, how
ever, which money could not buy 70
William Van Wrinkle, and that wa
good health for his dearly loved wife. i
order to give her every advantage the,
lived almost entirely at their beautiful
country home, where she could spen,
her entire time in the fresh air.
Then, too, Mr.. Van Wrinkle and hi
wife were very fond of country life
and devoted much of their time to tn,
cultivation of rare flowers and fruits
Their roses were the finest in the coun
tryside, and every morning his wife
found beside her plate at breakfas
fresh flowers.
On this especial morning early II
June not only were magnificent roses
waiting for her at her place at the
table but some of the finest and most
luscious strawberries from their own
garden. The breakfast table was sci
in the pagoda, which at this time in
the year was covered by mass OF
roses, in full bloom. AS Mr.. Van
Wrinkle entered the pagoda the butler
reported that the strawberries ha>,
been stolen from the table while the
maids were indoors.
"These brats who live about here /"
Mr.. Van Wrinkle exclaimed. "Let me
know if it happens again, John, and
We'll catch the thieves, even If l have
to hire special detectives for the pur-
pose"
The next morning as Mr.. Van Wrinkle
was returning to the house from a
walk before breakfast he espied the
figure of child some distance away
darling through grove of trees. In
moment the stolen berries came to his
mind and he made a dash in the direc-
ton of the flying figure. He soon
caught up with little girl just as she
was outside his hedge and close to the
door of nearby dilapidated house,
which was evidently her home.
"Stop, you little thief"
The child came back, and in pite-
Gus voice said:
"Please, sir, don't let mother hear;
she's sick and can't eat the food we
have. Good food costs too much now.
thought these berries would help
make her eat"
where is your father?" asked Mr..
Van Wrinkle.
Father died last winter
"Who supports you and your
Il have big brother; fifteen; he
earns six dollars week; but somehow
there never seems enough to get mother
nice little things to eat" There was
Diteous look of distress on the thin,
bale face.
"How old are your
mine and half, sir"
Come up to the house every morn
ng and / will leave orders with the
gardener to give you fresh berries for
'Our mother, and cream as weIl.7
Mr.. Van WfRkle had always been a
lard man to the poor Born rich him.
elf, he looked down on those in pow
,rty as of an entirely different species !
rom himself, devoid of the same feel |
ngs as the rich. He had once sent a
,oOr man to prison for a small theft |
md felt that he had shown himself an
good citizen by so doing.
This morning he had the awakening of |
lis life. Was not the mother Of his
wn children delicate? On reaching
Ome he went upstairs to his wife's
DOM.
Louise" he said, "you know thai
were stolen from the
reakfast table yesterday morning. 1t
again this morning and 1
aught the thief"
"Oh I am sorry for that / wish he
ad escaped. What did you do with
imp"
"The thief was a little girl about a
ear older than our Ruth. What | did
18th her was to tell her to come every
forming and fresh berries would be
iven to her."
ooh how love you for that" cried
is wife. ''Do tell rae about it."
BY the time the story was told there
'ere tears in the eyes Of Mrs. Van,
Vinkle. Her husband seeing her dis
ress and for the first time harboring,
similar feeling, told her that he
'ould provide ample funds with which
he could provide for the little girl and
err sick mother while he would look
ut for the boy himself.
"lf find him to be promising lad"
e continued, Il can easily place him
l position where he will have a
nance to RISE"
The next spring Mrs. Van Wrinkle
1as much improved, and the woman
he and her husband had helped hsd
ntirely recovered- One morning the
tile girl appeare at the Van Wrinkle
reakfast room, tiny bunch of wild
God vi0lets in her hand, which she
ED out to Mrs. Van Wrinkle and said:
They're the first Of the season; I
licked them for you"
The woman took the child in her
rms.