Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-11

By
Florence Bingham Livingston
Copyright by George h. DOran Company
CHAPTER XVII.-Contnued

her life that she had ever bought any
thing The hustle, the glitter, the end
less array, wrought havoc with her
imagination, filled her with frenzy OF
fntoxication. Little cars with wheels
that turned; dime banks that looked
like the most blooming peaches on
Mrs. Penfelds wall games, books,
toys! Marbles-imagine, twenty-four
round pieces of baked terra irma for
the ridiculous sum Of five cents How
happy Crink would bel How Thad's
soft eyes would bulge! 1t was more
than could be borne.
81 don't care!" Lettie burst into
frantic sobs that carried over a wide
circle. 81 don't care! Do you hear?
1 don't care 7" Tears streamed down
her face. She stamped her foot ana
swung her free arm with a violence
and latitude that first grazed several
astonished shoppers and then led to
somewhat freer space around the
child.
"Lettie, dear" expostulated Mrs.
Penfield hurriedly, remember where
you are"
ST do" shrieked Lettie. "Thats
what's the matter don't care. Some
day I'll have things-oceans and heaps
and coolies of things-millions more'n
they've got here. don't"
Letter" There was a finality in
the word; there was also an express
sive decision in the grasp of her arm.
With swift skill Mrs. Penfeld pushed
her through the curious crowd, out Of
the store, to the comparative seclusfon
of a cross street.
'Lettie," she said sadly, ''Pm 'shamed
of you, making scene that way. l
thought you we're"
ooh. Penzie," interrupted the child,
''Tm awful sorry. But I got so full,
thinking, seemed as if I'd bust. / had
to let her out, 1 got so dangerous in
side. All them thingsr" Her voice
was freighted with suppressed rebel
lion. "Why, Crink and Thad would be
tickled-"
"No, Lettie," interposed Mrs. Pen
field, as they went on slowly, "they.
wouldn't be one mite happier. Land,
the world wasn't never fixed up so I'M
fair as that. 'Tain't the folks that have
things that's happy; it's the folks that
know they don't want things. When
you get a little older, you'll see that
the reason rich folks are unhappy is
cause they got things and the reason
poor folks are unhappy is cause they
want things. When folks get through
twining their heart strings and their
thoughts around things, then the
world'Il be miles nearer bliss than 1t is
now"
Lettie's black eyes were wide with
reproach. "Why, Penzie, you don't
mean that Crink and Thad wouldn't
like some of those"
Goodness, no, l sdon't mean they
wouldn't like 'em but mean they'll
be just as happy without em If you
don't go and stir 'em all up with
thoughts that you've twisted in your
own head Christmas amt presents;
it's feelings. And there's one thing
you ought to keep in mind: it's
waste of good food to board any girl
If there amt at least two other folks
happier cause she's living"
Lettie's brow cleared; smile
chased across her face. Il get you"
she nodded. tits up TO me to do
something"
eyes, Lettie, dear, it's up to you
right nov, today"
'Ainr 1 the limit " cried LettIe in.
disgust. "AIl time forgetting what
I'm trying to remember! Gee, know
I'm lucky. I'll show you, Penzie; hon.
est, I will"
It was long past lunch time when
Crink returned with the tree, and he
tried many hours before he accom-
plished base that would support it
In a corner of the living room. But no
sooner was the fragrant fir in place
than every little Penfield felt that
Christmas was an assured fact.
Lettie meantime was making picture
puzzles-mounting illustrations from
Weatherstone magazines on paste
board from old boxes and cutting them
into fantastic shapes. Each puzzle
was put in an envelope and inscribed
with the name of a Custard Cup ten
ant who would be guest at the party.
BY the following evening the prep
arations had taken a different turn.
Everybody gathered about the table in
the living room to make blots. The
tablet paper was cut into uniform
pieces. Lettfe's ink bottles had been
brought out; and a few drops of ink,
both black and red, were shaken from
a pen on each paper, which was then
folded once and smoothed flat. The re-
susSing blots took varied, interesting
forms, some Of which were touched up
slightly into clearer outline.
Uncle Jerry was the umpire inter-
prefer of these blot pictures. Peren-
NAL Prue, the only neighbor invited to
the ceremony-an that because of
her artistic ahilities-thereupo com
posed a eouplet embodying the idea
and wrote it in beautiful letters be-
meath the blot. The rest Of the manila
envelopes were used to inclose these
gifts.
Lettie's keen gaze soon discovered
that the processes of interpreting and
composing led to whispered confer
ences and much laughter that was not
shared with the family; also that Un-
Gle Jerry's eyes were more twinkly
than ever, and that Miss Hapgood's
cheeks grew pink and pinker.