Cinderella | Page 7

for my doll,
and a bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my papa,
and--and--that's all this time. Good-bye."
"That's a very good order," said her papa, "but kiss me good-bye, for I
must be off."
About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the maid
appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In great
excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints. The child's
delight was great, but when, in another half hour, there came a bundle
which proved to be a new pair of shoes for her doll, she was too happy
for words. But that surprise was hardly over when another package was
brought her. She opened it in great excitement, and behold there was a
bunch of beautiful pansies.
"They are for you, mama," she cried, "and now everything has come
but papa's new bicycle."
Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa coming
up the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet him,
exclaiming, as she threw herself into his arms:
"Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful, and
the man at the other end is just lovely!"
"Ah," said papa, "I am delighted he is so satisfactory."

THE RAINDROPS' NEW DRESSES.
"We're so tired of these gray dresses!" Cried the little drops of rain, As
they came down helter-skelter From the Nimbus cloud fast train.
And they bobbed against each other In a spiteful sort of way, Just like
children when bad temper Gets the upper hand some day.
Then the Sun peeped out a minute. "Dears, be good and do not fight, I
have ordered you new dresses, Dainty robes of purest white."
Ah! then all the tiny raindrops Hummed a merry glad refrain, And the
old folks cried: "How pleasant Is the music of the rain!"
Just at even, when the children Had been safely tucked in bed, There
was such a rush and bustle In the dark clouds overhead!
Then those raindrops hurried earthward, At the North Wind's call, you

know, And the wee folks, in the morning, Laughed to see the flakes of
snow.

SIR GOBBLE.
Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a year in
the country while her father and mother were in Europe. It was not that
which was troubling her. She liked the country, she loved her uncle and
aunt with whom she lived, and she heard every week from her father
and mother. But something disturbed her. As the summer passed, and
the autumn came, she had moments when she looked very sober. What
was the reason?
I will tell you.
Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey.
"There, Bessie," he had said, "that is one of the prettiest turkeys I have
ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on Thanksgiving Day we
will have him on the dinner-table."
For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling
particularly fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know her; he
not only ran to meet her when she brought him his corn and meal, but
he would follow her about just the way Mary's little lamb followed
HER about.
Her uncle often called after her: "And everywhere that Bessie goes, the
turkey's sure to go."
Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the
house itself the turkey followed Bessie.
Then why was she so sad?
Alas! she remembered her uncle's words when he gave her the turkey,
"On Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table."
Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week.
Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have told her
trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any one, although
she cried herself to sleep several nights before Thanksgiving Day.
At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the fowlyard
as usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was afraid that, if she
went, she would not find her beloved friend. Dinner-time came, and,
with a heavy heart, she seated herself at the table. Her uncle and aunt
noticed her sober face, and thought that she missed her father and

mother.
"Come, come, said her uncle, "we must cheer up; no sad looks on
Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY."
Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and something
was brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter was placed on the
table, she saw that it did indeed hold her turkey, but he was alive and
well.
She looked so astonished that suddenly her