The Glenwood post., 1923-08-16

swung her free arm with n violence
| and latitude that first grazed several
| astonished shoppers and then led to
somewhat freer space around the
child.
'Lettle, dear" expostulated Mrs.
Penf1eld hurriedly, remember where
you are"
I do" shrieked Lettie. "That's
what's the matter. I don't care. Some
day I'll have things-oceans and heaps
and oodles of things-milllons more'n
they've got here. ! DON'T"
Letter" There was flnallty in
the word; there was also an express
sive 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, I'm 'shamed
of you. making a scene that way.
thought you were"
"Oh, Penzie," interrupted the child,
"I'm awful sorry. But I got so full,
thinking, seemed as if I'd bust. had
to let her out, got so dangerous in
side. All them thingsl" Her voice
was freighted with suppressed rebel
lion. "Why, 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 un-
fair as that 'Tain't the folks that have
things that's happy; it's the folks that
III
you get 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'u 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, I don'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. 'I get you,"
she nodded. TITS up to me to do
something"
Eyes, Lettie, dear, it's up to you
right now, today"
"Ain't I the limit !" cried Lettie in
disgust. "All time forgetting what
I'm trying to remember! Gee, know
| Pm lucky. I'll show you, Penzie; hon.
est will"
It was long past lunch time when
| Crink returned with the tree, and he
tried many hours before he accom-
| plished a base that would support 1t
in 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 q Custard Cup ten
| ant who would be a guest at the party.
BY the following evening the prep
arations had taken q different turn.
Everybody gathered about the table In
| the living room to make blots. The
tablet paper was cut into uniform
pieces. Lettie's ink bottles had been
brought out; and q few drops of ink,
both black and red, were shaken from
pen on each paper, which was then
! folded once and smoothed fiat. The re-
sulting 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-
| nial Prue, the only neighbor invited to
| the ceremony-and that because Of
| her artistic abilities-thereupon com.
| posed a coup!et embodying the Idea
! and wrote it In beautiful letters be-
| meath the blot The rest Of the manila
| envelopes We're 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.
Lettie leaned confidentinlly across
the table. "Say. Miss Hapgood," she
inquired pleasantly, "are you having
n pretty good timer"
"Lettie, tend to your blots." put In
Mrs. Penfield firmly.
"Yes'm." Lettie subslded, but with
the vague feeling that her geniallty
had not been received In the right
spirit.
| Ia