The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1919-12-26
COLUMBUS
ny LIZZIE M. PEABODY.

AVi Saiu, WHICH was uileu with ri
Dish OF all sorts that fine autumn NOR
Ing. his pale blue eyes wore a dream
, look and his thin little face WI
turned toward the next yard. whie
, was very neatly kept. Isabella wa
running down the steps, and Isabel,
with her softly glowing dark eyes, he
, pink cheeks. her shining brown hal
combed smoothly, and her long, .thic
braids tied with a bright ribbon, (
say nothing of the pretty plaid gins
ham dress she wore, embodied his Idle
OF all that was lovely. "'Tls my birth
day." the boy called out.
what did you get for presents !?
she asked, with eager eyes fixed upol
him. tM
"OhI I didn't get anything. Dat
says I'm getting too old to expec
birthday presents. I'm twelve today
you know. and besides he hasn't hat
much work lately"
| For all his bravery he spoke BIZ
wistfuliy, and Isabella suddenly ran
away from him, calling breathlessly
over her shoulder: watch me -
which was needless. as Columbus al-
ways watched her when she was near.
She disappeared into a tiny hen coop
land when she reappeared her eyes
/ danced with delight. Mother said
might have the egg" she said, "but
you shall have 1t for your birthday
present" and thrusting 1t into his
hand she ran hastily into the house.
With a 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 an
swering smile she replied: Sand I've
just broken one which / was to put
with setting Of eggs. Wouldn't you
like to have me put 1t with the setting
and let Whitley hatch 1t out for you?
Your chicken will be brown, but the
others will be white" she added. He
hesitated only second. An egg was
very nice to eat, of course, but think
Of the Joy Of having downy chicken
for his very Own--one he could hold
and which. would pick from his hand
Il don't mind" was his difiidently
spoken answer, but his neighbor read
the truth in his sparkling eyes, and
placed the egg with the setting.
In due time Whitley paraded proud
ly with her family and his neighbor
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
terest in the affair; and built tiny
coop from a 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 small farm.
That was the beginning of prosper
ity for the family, and few years
later they were the proud owners of
the farm.
All this time Columbus had been so
with his work that he had
had no time to think OF love; but
when his tweDty-frst birthday came
and he started out on his usual route
With butter eggs and poultry for sale.
ne met with an adventure. He was
looking after an unusually
ussy customer when thin, pale,
dressed girl came hastily
rom a side street. I'D like half
lozen fresh eggs she said. Mother
8 III. and should have the best"
Her eyes were wistful as she asked
he price Of the smallest fowl in sight,
nd the sharp eyes OF Columbus had
oted her sudden shrinking from him
s he mentioned It, and that she held
,ore closely her small pocketbook.
I'll not take the fowl today" she
aid, and turned to go; and Columbus
as really surprised to hear his own
dice saying: wait please!" The
DIOR In his cheeks deepened as he
hid: "'Tis my birthday, and I've so
ANY things to be grateful for! I've
ways thought that when things are
lat way fellow ought to be looking
round for some one to give presents
y hStV"u VI SApcCtiuB tnciu.
1t was not like him to talk in this
ay to stranger. but somehow he
,uldn't bear to have her go. II she
ent now he felt that he should never
'e her again, and so he went on talk
&.
"A few years ago pretty little girl
i've me my only birthday present
hich was an egg; and that egg
anged the course Of the lives of our
hole family. Much for the better.
o. Would you help me to pay lit
, of the debt which I owe to her by
cepting for your mother present :
the eggs and fowl?"
The girl had been gazing at him In
ntly, and as his pale blue eyes
oked eagerly into hers. for an an
'er. memory whisked them both
OK to lovely autumn morning won
rfully like this. when two children
Iked to each other over an old bro
n-down fence.
columbus I" ''IsabellaI" they criet
in wonder. and Columbus. still
lding her hand and gazing into he, :.
es, discovered that for him. her fac ! r