Randy and Her Friends | Page 5

please with, but fer my own opinion, ye well know I've always said
'twas' better ter give than receive.' This time ye have both. Ye've known
the joy of receiving the prize, and now ye plan ter use it ter make
another happy. I'm proud of yer choice, and I guess yer mother thinks
as I do. I'm well able now ter give ye all ye need, and if winning and
giving yer prize makes ye twice glad, why what more could we ask?"
"I'm so glad you like my plan," said Randy, with sparkling eyes.
"Molly is such a nice girl, and the way I'm going to send the gift, she
will never guess where it came from, I waited until Prue was asleep to
tell you about it.

"She never could keep the secret, and a secret it must be, for Molly is
proud and shy and must only think that some one has sent her a nice
gift."
"That's right, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "but do ye think it can be
managed so that Molly won't dream where it came from?"
"Oh, yes," Randy answered, "I shall get Jotham to help me, and he will
be sure to do my errand just as I direct."
"Wall, I guess that's sure enough," said Mr. Weston, with a chuckle,
which Randy heard on her way up the stairs to her little bed-room.
The bright color flushed her cheeks as she thought of Jotham Potts who,
since they were both little children, had been her ardent admirer,
faithful and eager to do her slightest bidding. She admired his frank,
truthful character, appreciated his kindness and valued his friendship,
but she made no one friend a favorite, striving rather to be friendly and
cordial with all.
In her dreams she sent her gift to Molly many times, and as many times
wondered if it pleased her, and when she awoke in the morning she
could hardly believe that it had not yet been purchased.
"I'm glad it was just a dream," thought Randy, as she stood before the
tiny glass drawing the comb through the curling masses of her light
brown hair, "because I've yet the pleasure of choosing the gift and of
buying and sending it to her.
"I believe I'll go down to Barnes' store to-day, for now I've made up my
mind what to do, I can hardly wait to do it."
It seemed as if everything favored Randy's scheme. The first person
whom she saw as she ran out to the well and commenced to lower the
bucket was Jotham, whistling as he strode along, deftly cutting the tops
from the roadside weeds with a switch.
"Hi, Randy! Let me help you," he said, vaulting lightly over the wall

and hastening toward her as she stood smiling in the sunlight.
"You can help in another way to-day, if you will," said Randy. "Come
and sit upon the wall while I tell you about it."
"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy,
that I'd do anything for you."
"Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking
earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes.
"And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell
you all about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't."
"I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a
question."
"Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it.
You meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll
tell you then what I wish you to do."
"All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of that."
"O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too."
"See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could
assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at
four o'clock."
"Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and
her look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a
topic made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily.
"Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be
going down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with
my Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool."
Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the
door-yard and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore

a blue-checked pinafore, below which could be seen his short
snuff-colored trousers and little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a
large straw hat with a torn brim through which the sunlight sifted,
where it lay, a stripe of gold upon his