The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-05-25
BY
Florence Bingham Livingston
CHAPTER xvII.-Continued.

Imagination, filed her with q frenzy o.
intoxication. Little cars with wheels
that turned; dime banks that looked
like the most blooming peaches OF
Mrs. Penfeld's wall; games, books
toys Marbles-imagine, twenty-foul
round pieces Of baked terra firma fol
the ridiculous sum Of FIVE cents Hoy
happy CrInk would bel How Thads
soft eyes would bulgei 1t was more
than could be borne.
81 don't carer Lettie burst into
frantic sobs that carried over a wide
circle. II don't care Do you hear?
don't carei' Tears streamed down
her face. She stamped her foot ana
and latitude that first grazed several
nstonished shoppers and then led to a
somewhat freer space around the
child.
'Lettle, dear" expostulated Mrs.
Penfield hurriedly. remember where
you are"
81 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 l don't"
'Lettie ~ There was fnality in
the word there was also an express
elve decision in the grasp of her arm.
With swift skill Mrs. Penfield pushed
her through the curious crowd, out of
the store, to the comparative seclusion
of cross street.
''Lettie." she said sadly, ''1'm 'shamed
of you, making scene that way.
thought you were"
ooh, Penzie," interrupted the child.
"Im awful sorry. But / got so full,
thinking seemed as II I'd bust. had
TO LET her out, I got so dangerous In
side. All them thingsl" Her voice
was freighted with suppressed rebel
lion. -wby, Crink and Thad would be
tickled--"
mo. 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 little older, you'll see that |
the reason Itch folks are unhappy Is |
cause they got things; and the reason
poor folks are unhappy is cause they /
want things. When folks get through /
twlning their heart strings and their
thoughts around things, then the
world'll be miles nearer bliss than II is
now" a
Lettie's black eyes wora ride Nth
"Why, PEN fyo4 don't
nean that Crink anA4iind wouldn't
ike some Of those"
Goodness, no, I don't mean they
like 'em; but I mean they'll
be just as happy without 'em If you
ion't go and stir 'em all up with
thoughts that you've twisted in your
,wn head Christmas ain't presents;
It's feelings. And there's one thing
Tou ought to keep In mind: It's a
waste of good food to board any girl
( there amt at least two other folks
happier cause she's living"
Lettie's brow cleared; smile
hased across her face. 81 get you,"
he nodded. ats up to me to do
"Yes, Lettie. dear. It's up to you
light now. today"
"Ain't the limit I" cried Lettie In
isgust. "All time forgetting what
m trying to remember Gee, | know
m lucky. I'll show you. Penzie; hon
st. Will"
1t was long past lunch tine when
rink returned with the tree. and he
led many hours before he accom-
lshed a base that would support 1t
a corner of the living room But no I
,oner was the fragrant fir In place .
ian every little Penfield felt that n
hristmas was an assured fact. d
Lettie meantime was making picture "
illustrations from II
eatherstone magazines on paste Il
,ard from old boxes and cutting them
TO fantastic shapes. Each puzzle a
rs put in an envelope and inscribed Ell
III the name of a Custard Cup ten "
Il who would be guest at the party. pl
by the following evening the prep a
ations had taken a different turn.
Terybody gathered about the table In tn
llNlIlk TODiil To Uluht uiOlS. lHt
blet paper was cut into uniform la
sces. Lettie's Ink bottles had been yc
ought out; and few drops of ink. ST
tn black and red, were shaken from wi
pen on each paper, which was then to
ded once and smOothed fiat. The re- yo
ltlng blots took varied. interesting fe
rms, some of which were touched up tn
Chilly into clearer outline. w,
Uncle Jerry was the umpire inter I'M
eter of these blot pictures Peren-
Il Prue. the only neighbor invited to st'
2 ceremony-and that because of be
r artistic abillties--thereupo COM Gu
sed coupIet embodying the idea
d wrote 1t in beautiful letters be- go
nth the blot. The rest Of the manila Ca
velopes were used to Inclose these ne
is. bla
settie's keen gaze soon discovered wi
Il the processes Of interpreting and Sc
nposing led 10 whispered confer sui
'es and much laughter that was not Ing
red with the family; also that Un- tur