Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-01-17
AUNT MINNIE'S STORY
FOR THE CHILDREN
Continued from Page p


pearl of great worth. And the worst
of it is. that it does not belong to
me. l only had It in my keeping for
my best friend for short while. Well,
must keep on seeking until find
it. 1t must be around here some
where. Goodbye little girl, God bless
YOU" She sighed and limped off.
Gladys stood very still where the
old waman had left her. Her face
was white and she trembled all over.
The stone burned and burned-surely
by this time the handkerchief must
be burned to pieces. God bless you"
oh, no, she could never, never again
pray for the blessing of God for now
she knew that she was thief and a
very mean one-bereaving the poor
old woman the priceless pearl which
belonged to her friend. What shall
do, oh, what shall l do?" sObbed
Gladys in great agony. Rum" an
swered her heart and conscience as
one voice: Run as fast as you can
and give the woman her pearl" Then
the cunning little brain lifted its
voice: Eyes run, run home as fast
as you can and hide your pearl. Why
should you give it back to the careless
old woman? She will probably drop
it again and someone else will find
it and keep it," Run" shouted the
other voice, before it is too late
and Gladys turned and ran AS she
had never run before, suffering great
ly from fear, lest she should not be
able to overtake the old woman. When
she. after what seemed long, long
time but really was but few minutes,
reached the woman she sank down
beside her and wept, stormily and
broken hearted.
The kind old woman sat down be-
side her and put an arm around the
quivering little body: There, there,
what is the matter, poor little dear?
Tell me, will your" and Gladys poured
out the whole woefull tale about the
big. beautiful doll, and all the other
nice things, the sickness and poverty
at home and the temptation to keep
the pearl, or Maybe sell it and get
money to buy" "To buy medicine
for your poor little brother, dear, is
that what you mean?"
"Yes-no-yes, and. and a doll like
Lenahs," whispered Gladys.
The woman stroked the yellow curl
ed head gently: Poor little girl.
Well, we will see"
She arose and helped Gladys TO her
feet: 'Now you must hurry home as
your mother will be anxious for you.
Gladys looked at her and burst out:
"Oh, how you look like my grandma,
like the big picture we have of her."
do you remember your grandma.
dear?"
Eyes l do but not very clearly. |
was only four when she died-but she
was so good, so good"
Il suppose she was not always
good" smiled the old woman
"Oh, yes, she was" insisted Gladys,
mother says So"
The woman smiled again: Nobody
is good all the time, but if you want
to be good, do what is right as that
is what counts. And l wish you to
remember one thing. dear. there is
nothing in the whole wide world,
riches or other great or fine things,
that can compare with pure, clean
heart. If you have that you are rich,
and if you loose it you are poorer
than the poorest, even if you own the
whole world. Will you remember
that dear?'
Il will, oh, / will always and al
ways. But-but-can't you go home
with me and stay overnight. You
must be very tired"
Very tenderly the old woman kissed
her: mo, | could not do that, even
if [ wanted to, but l am very glad
you asked me. am not tired-nOw.
Good bye dearest, and thank you"
and again she said, God bless you,
forever" and was gone.
Bewildered Gladys stared after her.
Why, she didn't seem old any more;
she was young-and beautiful-and
oh, what is it? She is no ordinary
woman. She is-she must be fairy.
Still more bewildered the girl looked
at something in her hand, something
hard and round in her hand, which
the woman had pressed into it when
she said, Good bye"
Oh dear, oh, dear-now Gladys
could not see her any more but the
air seemed filled with little tinkling
silver bells-and it was not dark any
more. The stars had come out
thousands and thousands of them.
Quickly Gladys turned and ran, ran
as if there were wings on her heels
and in few minutes she was home
and in the arms of her mother who
had worried about her. Look, moth
err, look! See what Grandma-no, the
fair RI