The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-08
COLUMBUS
BY LIZZIE NJ. PEABODY.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sS~~e~~~~~s~sS~>4f
AS Columbus stood in the uncared
! for yard, which was filed with rub
Dish ct all sorts that fine autumn morn
Ing, his pale blue eyes wore dreamy
/ look and his thin little face was
turned toward the next yard, which
was very neatly kept. Isabella was
running down the steps, and Isabella,
with her softly glowing dark eyes, her
pink cheeks, her shining brown hair,
combed Smoothly, and her long, thick
braids tied with bright ribbon, to
] say nothing of the pretty plaid ging-
ham dress she wore, embodied his idea
of all that was lovely. "'Tis my birth
day." the boy called out.
"What did you get for presents?"
she asked, with eager eyes fixed upon
him.
"Oh! l 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 bit
wistfully, 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 wasSpear.
She disappeared into a tiny hen coop
and 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 it into his
hand she ran hastily into the house.
With q pleased smile the boy walked
across the yard to the opposite fence,
where kindly neighbOr stood.
"A birthday present" he said, and
held it up for her to see. With an an
swering smile she replied: and I've
just broken one which was to put
with setting of eggs. Wouldn't you
like to have me put it with the setting
and let Whitley hatch it 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 !!
II don't mind" was his diffidentiy
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
occupied with his work that he had
had no time to think of love; but
when his twenty-irst 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 Ill, 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
as he mentioned it, and that she held
more closely her small pocketboOk.
sIl not take the fowl today" she
said, and turned to go; and Columbus
was really surprised to hear his own
voice saying: "Wait, pleased" The
color in his cheeks deepened as he
said "'Tis my birthday, and I've so
many things to be grateful for! I've
always thought that when things are
that way fellow ought to be looking
around for some one to give presents
to, instead of expecting them"
1t was not like him to talk in this
way to a 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 lit
tie Of the debt which owe to her by
accepting for your mother a present
OF the eggs and fowl?"
The girl had been gazing at him in
tently, and as his pale blue eyes
looked eagerly into hers, for an an
swer, memory whisked them both
back to lovely autumn morning won
derfully like this, when two children
talked to each other over an old bro
ken-dOWn fence.
columbus y isabella 7" they cried
out in wonder, and Columbus, still
holding her hand and gazing into her |
eyes, discovered that for him, her face |
held even a greater charm than it had |