Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-26
COLUMBUS
BY LIZZIE NJ. PEABODY.

AS Columbus stood in the uncarcd
FOR yard. which WAS filled with rub.
Dish of all sorts that fine autumn morn
Ing, his pale blue eyes wore Il dreamy
look and his thin little face was
turned toward the next yard. which
was very neatly kept. lSabclls was
running down the steps, and Isabella.
with her softly glowing dark eyes. her
pink checks. her shining brown hair.
c"mh"d smoothly. and her long. thick
braidS tied with Z bright ribbon. to-
say nothing of the pretty plaid cling
ham dress she wore. embodied lis idea
OF all that was lovely. Its my birth
day. the boy called out.
what did you get for rrcscnts?'
she asked, with eager eyes liked upon
him.
oh! 1 didn't get anything. Dad
says I'm getting too old To expect
birthday presents. I'm twelve today,
You know. and besides he hasn't had
much work lately"
"For all his bravery he spoke n hit
wistfully, and Isabella suddenly ran
away from him. calling brcathlessly
over her shoulder: Watch mcw
which was needless. as Columbus al
ways watched her when she was near.
She disappeared into tiny hen coop
and when she reappearcd her eyes
danced with delight. Mother said l
might have the egg" she said "but
You shall hive it for your birthday
present" and thrusting 1t into his
hand she ran hastily into the house.
With pleased smile the boy walked
across the yard to the opposite fence,
where kindly neighbor stood.
"A birthday present." he said. and
held 1T up for her TO see. With an ans
Swering smile she replied: And I've
just broken one which / was to put
with Asserting OF eggs. Wouldn't you
Ike to have me put 1t with tho setting
nnd let Whitley hatch it out for you?
Your chicken will be brown, but the
others will be white" she added. He
hesitatcd only a second. An egg was
very nice to eat, of course, but think
of the JOY of having a dowuy chicken
for his very Own-one he could hold
and which would pick from his hand.
II don't mind" was his difiidcn:iy
spoken answer, but his neighbor read
the truth In his sparkling eyes. ANA
placed The egg with the setting.
In due time Whitley paraded proud
~ with her family and his ncighbor
agreed To keep Brownie for while,
and Columbus carried to her all the
scanty table leavings; also all his
spare change for the benefit of
Brownie until she began laying eggs.
Then his father began taking an in
tercSt III the affair: and built Il tiny
coop from packing box. Later, he
bought two more hens, and the next
spring. having pronounced case of
hen fever. he moved into the country
where he had leased a small farm.
That was the beginning of prosper
ity for the family, and a few years
later they We're the proud owners Of
the farm.
All this time Columbus had been so
occupied with his work that he had
had no time to think OF love; but
when his twenty-first birthday came
and he started out on his usual route
with butter. eggs and poultry for sale,
he met with an adventure. He was
standing looking after an unusually
fussy customer when a thin, pale,
STABILITY dressed girl came hastily
from side street. I'D like half
dozen fresh eggs" she said. Mother
is I'll, and should have the best"
Her eyes were wistful as she asked
the price OF the smallest fowl In sight,
and the sharp eyes OF Columbus had
noted her sudden shrinking from him
rs he mentioned it, and that she held
more closely her small pocketbook.
'Tll not take the fowl today" she
shid, and turned to go; and Columbus
was really surprised to hear his own
voice saying: "Wait, pleasew The
color In his cheeks deepencd as he
said: otis my birthday, and I've SO
many things to be grateful for! I've
always thought that when things are
that way a fellow ought to be looking
around for some one to give presents
to, instead of expecting them"
It was not like him to talk in this
way TO stranger, but somehow he
couldn't bear to have her go. If she
went now he felt that he should never
see her again. and so he went on talk
ing.
"A few years ago Il pretty little girl
gave me my only birthday present
which was an egg; and that egg
changed the course Of the lives of our
whole family Much for the better,
too. Would you help me to pay n lit
tie of the debt which / owe to her by
accepting for your mother n present
of the eggs and fowlf'
tently, and as his pale blue eyes
looked eagerly into hers, for an an
swer, memory whlsked them both
no cl RI a lnyn1y autumn In ,rnp